The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 211

Julian looked at Tiana, puzzled. "Just now, in front of your aunt and Miss Felly…"

"I love them! I love them all!" Tiana wiped away her tears, her eyes earnest as she met Julian's gaze. "I really love Auntie, and Grandma, and I love Miss Felly most of all."

She stumbled over her words, desperate to explain herself.

She was not even six years old yet—her every gesture, every thought, was transparent to the adults around her.

In that moment, Julian understood exactly what Tiana was going through.

She could already sense that, whether it was Grandma, Auntie, or Felicity, none of them treated her with the same gentle care her mother once had. But living in this environment, Tiana had no power to change anything. Of course she was scared.

There were no choices left to her. She could only say what the adults wanted to hear, even if it meant betraying her real feelings.

It was, in the end, a child's instinct to survive.

Julian's heart felt as if it were being torn apart—unbearable, agonizing pain.

His own daughter.

And yet he hadn't been able to protect her. She was so young, and already she'd learned to be afraid, to say whatever she needed just to get by.

It was his fault. All of it.

"Are you afraid of Daddy?" he asked her softly.

Tiana's wide, innocent eyes stared up at him. "Daddy loves Miss Felly the most. I love Miss Felly, and I love Daddy too."

Julian fell silent.

She couldn't even bring herself to speak the truth.

She'd already realized that, without her mother, she was never truly safe with her father and his new wife.

"I'll talk to your mom," Julian said gently, trying to soothe her, desperate to win back her trust. "I'll do my best to convince her to bring you home. Would you like that?"

Tiana's eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Of course."

He understood now—he saw through her words.

Lately, he'd felt uneasy about some of Felicity's behavior.

The way she called Winona a mistress at every opportunity.

The time she insisted on buying the antique crucifix, only for Julian to learn later that she'd done it just to spite Winona.

And just now, the way Felicity subtly manipulated Tiana, making her believe that Winona was to blame for not saving Victor.

All of it left a bitter taste in Julian's mouth.

And then he realized: hadn't he been the one to plant these ideas in the first place?

Whenever Winona had even hesitated to help Victor, he'd refused to allow it. He'd branded her unforgivable, convinced himself she was selfish and cruel.

But had he ever offered her the smallest kindness in return?

Looking back, it was his own coldness—his relentless, unfeeling treatment of Winona—that had taught everyone around him to trample over her, to insult, demand, and hurt her without the slightest hesitation.