The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 192

After finishing his sentence, Xander stood up and left.

As he walked away, it suddenly hit him—trying to apologize to Winona was just forcing her hand. He had no right to be so overbearing.

Winona was absolutely right.

Time and again, he'd judged her without knowing the facts, punished her for things she hadn't done, and nearly got her killed. There was no world in which she could simply forgive that.

She barely even knew him, and yet he'd hounded her relentlessly. Why on earth should she forgive him?

Without looking back, Xander strode off, which left Winona a little surprised.

She'd expected him to badger her for ages.

But as the thought settled, a cold ache seeped into her chest.

For all his faults, Xander was still a man of integrity—too much so, really. Yet it was people like him who ended up as Felicity's friends, not hers. Winona had always felt, deep down, that she wasn't born to be part of that world.

But she still had Wesley, and Yves Prescott, and Mr. Zachary Shaw—people who stood by her unconditionally. That had to be enough.

Right now, her only job was to take care of Yves Prescott and get the project up and running as soon as possible.

She was determined to give Julian nothing to complain about.

Stepping out of the office, she spotted Claud and Mayo down the hall.

Winona walked past them without so much as a glance.

"Winona…" Mayo called softly behind her.

"What is it?" she shot back, not stopping.

"I'm sorry!"

"Really, Mr. Johnston, there's no need. I can promise you I'll never get involved with your nephew's eczema again—no matter how severe it gets."

Mayo was left speechless, cheeks burning with embarrassment. He felt like he wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

Winona kept walking.

Winona threw herself into the middle of it.

Back when she was sixteen, working as a hospital aide, she'd learned more than a few lifesaving skills. Now, all of that training came flooding back.

She didn't care about the mess or the exhaustion. One moment, she was doing chest compressions; the next, she was cleaning wounds or comforting the terrified.

At one point, when an elderly woman in her eighties stopped breathing, Winona didn't hesitate—she performed mouth-to-mouth, fighting for the woman's life.

All of this was witnessed by Xander, Claud, and Mayo, who had followed her and now stood silently at the edge of the chaos.

Mayo watched, his expression grim as he turned to the other two men. "Gallagher, McCarthy—don't you think, after everything we've done to Winona, we deserve to be struck by lightning? She's always been a good woman—never once did anything to hurt Felicity, never! Damn it."

Claud and Xander said nothing.

The rescue effort lasted for three exhausting hours.

By half-past four, every patient had been tended to, and Winona was so drained she collapsed right onto the floor, parched and breathless.

"Here, rinse your mouth—have some water." Xander was suddenly beside her, holding out a bottle of spring water. She hadn't even noticed him sit down.