The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 385

Tiana's sobs stopped abruptly. "…"

Her mother used to dote on her. No matter how difficult, she would grant Tiana's every wish. All that unconditional love had been repaid with nothing but insults. Her mother's heart must be completely dead to her now to refuse her so bluntly.

The court had been perfectly clear. She was to live with her father, and her mother had paid a lump sum for all her child support until she turned eighteen. Her father, grandparents, and new mother had done everything they could to alienate her from Winona and push her closer to Felicity. She had followed their plan perfectly.

Emotionally and financially, her mother owed her nothing.

"I'm sorry, Mommy. I shouldn't have called so late to ask you for something," the little girl said, her voice weak. When you are powerless, the only thing you can do is be polite and obedient, hoping it will earn you a shred of pity from the adults.

Even though Winona's response was cold, Tiana's tone remained respectful.

Winona's heart ached, but she remained unmoved. The truth was, after being stabbed in the back by Tiana time and time again, her heart had scarred over. Given how Julian doted on Felicity, Felicity would surely dote on Tiana in turn. The three of them had always been a sweet little family. Her own mother was the outsider.

So Winona couldn't tell if Tiana's late-night, tearful call was just another trap.

She spoke calmly, trying to guide her. "Tiana, your new mother is pregnant now, so she might not be able to give you as much attention. You're getting bigger now; you need to learn to be more considerate. The only way you'll find happiness is by getting along with your father and mother, do you understand?"

"Yes, I understand, Mommy," Tiana replied, her voice trembling with barely suppressed fear.

Worried, Winona added one last piece of advice. "Tiana, no matter what happens, the first person you should go to is your father. Remember that. He loves you, okay?"

"I know. Goodbye, Mommy." After politely saying goodbye, Tiana ended the call.

Alone in her room, she felt as if it were the end of the world. A profound fear washed over her, and her small body began to tremble uncontrollably.

"I called my mommy… I wanted to go to her, but she doesn't want me…"

Sue sighed heavily. "Tiana," she said, her voice grave, "your mother once sold her own blood for you. She was so afraid you would suffer here that she left you every last cent she had—eighteen million dollars. She walked out of this house with nothing."

"And how did you treat her?"

"You wanted to throw her out! You acted as if you wished she would just disappear from the face of the earth!"

"You told her, in no uncertain terms, that you didn't want her anymore. You wanted to call Felicity ‘Mommy.'"

"And even after all that, when you called her in the middle of the night, she came without a second thought. I saw it with my own eyes that morning. She was frantic with worry for you. But you, your father, and your new mother… you broke her heart."