The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 277

He saw them before he even got out of the car. His parents and his older sister, Shera, were all there.

So was Felicity. And she was holding Tiana's hand.

Julian's brow furrowed in deep annoyance. He had already dragged out this divorce for three long months, pushing Winona to her breaking point. Then, right before the hearing, he had practically held her hostage and allowed her to be smeared all over the internet. He knew that any misstep in court today could unleash her fury. Now that he knew she had once saved his life and had suffered for six years in his family, all he wanted was to accommodate her. He was prepared to meet any demand she made, anything to de-escalate the situation.

That was why he had explicitly told his parents, his sister, and Felicity not to come. He didn't want any more complications.

But here they were. And Felicity had brought five-year-old Tiana with her.

What was she thinking? Did she want Tiana to watch her own parents dissolve their marriage in the most humiliating way possible? Or did she simply not consider Winona to be Tiana's mother at all? Was this a power play, a way to taunt Winona by showing her, *See? Your daughter isn't close to you. She's close to me.*

As Julian opened his car door, he heard Felicity's soft voice. "Tiana, when you see Winona in a little while, you must remember to be polite. No more saying mean things to her, do you understand? You're a big girl now, and you need to have manners. If you're rude to Winona, Miss Felicity will be very upset."

She spoke as if she were Tiana's mother, instructing her own daughter on how to behave. She referred to Winona by her first name, not as "your mother." It was a deliberate, calculated demonstration of dominance.

Janetta had never respected Winona, let alone considered her a daughter-in-law. To her, Winona was a homeless girl with no background, no education, and no family to speak of. How could she possibly be worthy of a Nicholson? They had wanted to kick her out for years, and now, to add insult to injury, she was the one suing them for divorce. It drove Janetta mad with rage.

Winona and her group approached. She gestured to the stranger. "I'd like you all to meet my lawyer, Mr. Louis. He's been out of town handling another case for the past few months, but he's back now. Mr. Nicholson, if you have any questions, you can direct them to him."

"You? A lawyer?" Shera spat, her voice dripping with venom. "You're an illiterate, professional mistress who can barely read. What do you need a lawyer for? Lawyers are for legal battles, not for you to seduce! You've brought a whole parade of men you've slept with. Good. The judge can order you to return every last penny you stole from the Nicholson family to pay for your lovers!"