The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 3

When Julian saw the words "divorce agreement," he didn't even blink.

Tiana, who couldn't read yet, poked at the paper and looked up at her father with big, curious eyes. "Daddy, what does this say?"-

He replied offhandedly, "It's your mom's apology letter."

An apology letter?

Had belittling her become second nature to him, something he did without a thought?

"Mommy, you have to apologize to me, Daddy, and Miss Felly, or Daddy and I won't let you back in!" Tiana declared, her big, innocent eyes wide with seriousness.

Hearing this, Winona found she didn't even feel the hurt anymore.

Her heart felt so numb, so utterly empty, that speech seemed to die before it could reach her lips.

Her voice was hollow and tired as she managed, "Please sign it as soon as possible."

She turned, climbed back into her car, started the engine, and drove away without looking back.

Tiana's little voice piped up, brimming with indignation. "But she can't go yet! I didn't get to tell her to go! Why did Mommy leave?"

"She's on a business trip," Julian replied calmly.

"That's not fair!" Tiana huffed, crossing her arms tightly. "If she's gone, who's going to do my bath and stories? She knows I'm little! And she doesn't even have a real job to go to! It's a fake trip!" She stuck out her bottom lip in a profound sulk.

She was fine with her mom leaving, but only if Miss Felly moved in to replace her. That was the deal. Otherwise, who would take care of her?

Julian scooped her out of the car and carried her into the house.

Gemma, the housekeeper, came up to report, "Sir, your wife left with her suitcase…"

"I know." Julian didn't break stride, heading straight upstairs.

He didn't even glance at the divorce papers in his study, just fed them directly into the shredder. Within seconds, the machine hummed, reducing both copies to confetti.

He pulled out his phone, found Winona's number, and set it to Do Not Disturb.

He wasn't going to coddle her or play into her drama. Let her sulk. He'd just silence her on his phone and save himself the hassle of those pathetic midnight pleas for reconciliation.

With that done, Julian called Gemma to help Tiana with her bath.

But not long after they entered the bathroom, a shriek echoed down the hall. "It's too hot! It's burning me!"

Julian's concerned voice came from outside the door. "What happened?"

"I'm so sorry, sir, the water's a bit hot. I'll fix it right away!" Gemma stammered.

Later, after Tiana was bathed and tucked under her comforter, she demanded a bedtime story from Julian.

"Where's your storybook?" he asked.

That was his real reason for ignoring the papers. He wouldn't dignify her drama with a response, wouldn't give her the satisfaction of feeling she'd made a decision that mattered.

"Mommy tells better stories…" Tiana mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

Julian left her room and went to his own.

The next morning, he rose at his usual time, washed up, and called Tiana down for breakfast.

When he sat at the table and took a sip of the porridge, he immediately noticed something was off.

Tiana spat her mouthful right back into her bowl. "Yuck! That tastes awful!"

Julian frowned at Gemma and asked, "What's going on?"

Gemma twisted her hands, flustered. "I'm sorry, sir. That porridge was a special recipe Winona made for you and Miss Tiana. She always handled the ingredients and timing herself. This was my first time trying to make it…"

Gemma never called her "Mrs. Nicholson," always just "Winona."

"Get your things," Julian said, his voice cold. "Get out."

Without another word, he took Tiana out for breakfast, dropped her off at preschool. Then he drove to the office.

He didn't turn his phone back on until he was sitting at his desk.