The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 22

Grandma Helga and Mia had to rely on Winona.

"Tiana might not be my real great-granddaughter, but Nona loves me—and that means her husband and child have to love me too! Unlike you, I'm nothing like you, Mia—you're not even her real sister!" The old woman looked smug as she poked at Mia's pride.

"So what if I'm not? Nona still spoils me more! Just the other day, she promised me a huge wedding gift to make sure I marry well!" Mia shot back, chin held high.

"Nona loves me the most!" Grandma Helga shouted.

"She loves me more!" Mia retorted.

"She's my real granddaughter!"

"She's my real sister! And Zane's my real nephew!"

Winona and Zane exchanged a look.

Winona couldn't help thinking—what a patchwork family they were. None of them bound by blood, just cobbled together under one roof.

Julian probably looked down on them more than anyone. And yet, here were Grandma Helga and Mia, still dreaming of becoming family with Julian.

"Grandma, if you keep arguing with Mia, your cornbread's going to burn!" Winona shot her grandmother an exasperated look.

Grandma Helga spun around and hurried back inside. "Oh my goodness, my cornbread!"

"Mia, the apple cake you made for Grandma is probably falling apart by now," Winona said with a huff.

Without missing a beat, Mia scampered after Grandma Helga. "Gran, the apple cake I made is super soft and delicious, I swear…"

She caught up, tucking the apple cake into Grandma's arms, then whispered a few words in her ear. Instantly, Grandma Helga's face lit up. "Really? You mean it?" she asked.

"Of course!" Mia grinned, smug as ever.

Mia shrugged. "Look, I just feel sorry for Helga. She spent her youth taking care of her in-laws, only to be abandoned by her husband, left with no children and no one to stand up for her. People in the village used to walk all over her—until you married Julian. She's seventy-two. Who knows how much time she has left? After all she's been through, can't she have a sweet little fantasy for once?"

Winona's eyes grew misty. "Mia, thank you—for Grandma's sake."

"She's your grandma, but she's mine too!"

Winona nodded, her throat tight with emotion.

By late afternoon, Winona said her goodbyes, bundling Zane into the car with Mia and waving to Grandma Helga as they drove away.

As the car vanished from sight, Grandma Helga's eyes welled up. She murmured, "Is my granddaughter's husband really leaving her? I have to call little Tiana and find out. My granddaughter is such a good child… Oh, God…"

With trembling hands, she dialed Tiana's number on her phone.