The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 213

Tiana froze, unsure how to respond to Zane's interrogation.

Shame washed over her, hot and prickling.

Little kids, when they're ashamed, have a way of bursting into tears. In the next instant, Tiana's voice broke as she pleaded, "Please, Zane. Let me talk to Mom, just for a second? Please?"

Zane hesitated. He remembered all too well how things had been when they'd lived with the Nicholson family. Tiana had never really treated him like a brother; she'd always clung to Victor, her cousin, as if he were the real sibling. As for Victor—sickly, pale, always needing blood transfusions from Mom—Zane had never liked him. The boy seemed to suck the life out of everyone, especially Mom.

And yet, Tiana adored him.

"You said before that I'm not your brother. Victor is the only brother you want." Zane's voice was cold.

Hearing his rejection, Tiana's sobs broke loose in earnest. "I just want to hear Mom's voice! I won't lie to her again, I promise. I just want to warn her—Felicity wants her blood again, and I need her to stay away. I don't want anything bad to happen to Mom!"

Tiana's cries were heart-wrenching.

Deep down, Zane felt a twist of guilt. But then he remembered what had happened last time—Tiana had sounded just as desperate, just as pitiful. And Mom had fallen for it, only to be humiliated by the whole family. They'd called her a mess, mocked her for looking so disheveled, never understanding that she'd dropped everything to try to save Tiana. And Tiana—she'd laughed along with them, even insisted that Mom become a servant for her new stepmother.

"I don't trust you!" Zane snapped. "Last time, you tricked Mom. You let them all make fun of her, just because she wanted to help you. You even told Mom to be your new mom's maid! Go away!"

Just thinking about how Tiana had sided with her stepmother against their own mother made Zane's fists clench; he wanted to give Tiana a good smack.

He didn't want to play with her anymore.

Better that way—less chance Mom would get hurt.

"I'm hanging up!" Zane said, his voice tight with anger, and he ended the call before Tiana could say another word.

Sitting on the couch, Winona glanced up from where she was massaging Grandma's feet. "Was that Tiana on the phone, Zane?"

She had done right by her daughter.

While Zane's family gathered together in warmth and laughter, Tiana was left sobbing, her heart aching with hurt.

She buried her face in Sue's arms, her words coming out in choked gasps. "He hung up on me. My brother won't let me talk to Mom. He said I lied to her… Does that mean my mom and my brother will never trust me again?"

Sue was silent for a moment.

Watching the little girl cry so desperately tugged at her heartstrings.

But she couldn't really blame Winona. She knew what Tiana had put her through—how the whole family, led by Tiana herself, had bullied Winona. Even though Sue wasn't in Winona's shoes, she could imagine just how deeply it must have hurt.

Sue hugged Tiana closer, her voice gentle. "Tiana, you have to believe in your mom. Most mothers love their kids more than anything. Your mom used to love you so, so much, didn't she?"