The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 197

For a moment, Winona couldn't place the voice.

All she knew was that the chest she pressed against felt broad and steady, radiating warmth—a cocoon of safety she hadn't known in a decade. No one had offered her shelter like this in years. For a fleeting instant, she wanted to stay, greedy for comfort, letting herself lean in, just this once. She was exhausted.

Between caring for her frail grandmother, and raising Mia and Zane alone, the pressure never let up.

When Tiana had left her battered and broken, she'd needed somewhere to lick her wounds. And now, after years of carefully planning her project, only to have the Nicholson Group snatch it away as if it were nothing, she felt even more drained and helpless.

Was it so wrong to want someone to lean on, just for a moment?

This chest—this embrace—felt so right.

But as soon as she recognized the voice, Winona jerked out of the man's arms and shoved him away, hard. "What are you doing? Get away from me!"

Her face twisted with disgust. She scrubbed at her arms and shoulders as if trying to wipe away something filthy, as if his touch had contaminated her.

Julian had seen her like this twice before. Both times, he'd caught her to stop her from falling, and both times she'd recoiled, slapping at herself as if she'd been touched by something repulsive.

Last time, he'd asked her why, but couldn't remember what she'd said. Now, the question slipped out again: "Am I really that disgusting to you?"

"You're not disgusting? You think you're not?" Winona snapped. "Stay away from me, or I'll be sick!"

Julian's face flushed red, then pale.

Zachary, who'd just gotten up off the ground, stepped between them, his expression guarded as he faced Julian. "Mr. Nicholson, this is a construction site. Please show Nona a little respect."

Julian bristled.

Felicity's smile was tight, brittle. But with so many eyes on her, she couldn't make a scene. She forced a hollow laugh. "Of course, Julian. I'll be inside."

She turned on her heel and disappeared into the office.

Julian turned back to Winona. "Winona, there's no need for you to be here. It's winter. Even down south, the cold bites, and a construction site is no place for you—dangerous, uncomfortable. You should be at home. If it's about the project shares, I can give them to you. However many you want."

Winona stared at him, stunned.

All these years of marriage, he'd never given her a penny. Even when his lawyers had called about the divorce, the settlement had left her with nothing. Why the sudden generosity?

But as she thought about it, everything clicked into place.

A cold laugh escaped her. "Mr. Nicholson, is this your way of buying me off? Hoping I'll drop the divorce suit if you throw some shares at me? Let me tell you, I can make my own money. I don't want a cent from you."