The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 148

For the first time in his life, Julian realized—truly realized—that his family was gone.

The family of three he'd always seen as a cage.

The very home he'd avoided, the place he never wanted to return to, not even for a minute. Now, it had shattered.

And only when it was truly gone did the ache finally hit him.

"Nona…" he called softly from behind her, his voice drifting through the hallway.

Nona.

He almost laughed at the sound of it. How ironic.

Only her grandmother, Mia, ever called her that.

Julian had always known her real name was Winona, but in six years of marriage, he'd never once used it—not even once. Now, in this moment, he called to her with a nickname, as if they were close.

A chill ran down Winona's spine, leaving her unsettled and uncomfortable.

She ignored him, leaning closer into Yves Prescott's arms, and kept walking away.

"Winona! Stop! I need to speak with you!" When she didn't respond, Julian's tone turned cold and commanding, brooking no argument.

Winona and Yves Prescott both halted, turning in unison to look at him.

"Mr. Prescott," Julian said, his voice tight, "Winona and I are still legally married. Publicly embracing my wife like this—it's an insult, don't you think?"

The look Julian gave Yves was icy, sharp enough to wound.

But Yves Prescott had never been one to back down from a fight. He just smirked.

She turned to leave again.

"Winona!" Julian's voice cracked, raw and desperate.

It was enough to make their daughter, Tiana, shrink back, clutching tighter to her father's neck, frightened by the pain in his voice.

In that moment, the two of them looked so heartbreakingly small.

Winona turned back, her gaze empty as she looked at father and daughter.

"For Tiana's sake, can't we just talk?" Julian's tone softened at last. "We share a child, don't we?"

He wanted to talk, needed to say something—anything.

Winona's eyes were tired and hollow, her voice even more ragged than his. "Mr. Nicholson, did you just realize today that we share a child?"