The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 455

Tiana's accusation fell like a bomb, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Henrietta's head snapped up, a furious retort on her lips. "You little brat, how dare you accuse me?" But she bit the words back just in time. To lash out now would be to admit her guilt.

Instead, she adopted a pitiful tone, addressing the police. "Her father remarried my daughter, which makes me her grandmother. When a child misbehaves, it's a grandmother's duty to provide a little discipline."

"Henrietta, I knew you'd say that," Winona said with a cold smile. "We'll deal with you later. First, my daughter is getting her room back."

She had anticipated this exact response. Henrietta was brazen enough to abuse Tiana in the first place, so of course she would deny it when confronted. Tiana was too young to articulate the full extent of the abuse, and Henrietta had terrorized her into submission. Even now, Tiana was so frightened she would try to appease her abuser.

Winona had seen the faint, triumphant smirk on Henrietta's face just moments before, when Tiana hesitated.

The fact that Tiana had found the courage to speak up to the police was a massive step forward.

There was no need to rush. Henrietta would get what was coming to her. If she wanted to cling to a sliver of hope, Winona would let her. She planned to cripple the woman before sending her to prison.

Winona knelt down to face her daughter. "Sweetheart, Mommy's here now. I'm going to get rid of all the bad people who hurt you. We'll start with the small ones first."

Tiana met her mother's gaze and nodded with newfound determination.

She turned to the officer. "Sir, I want my room back. I was only gone for a week, and when I came back, all my toys, my clothes, and my storybooks were gone."

This was exactly the kind of domestic squabble police hated getting involved in. Family matters were always the messiest. But how could he refuse the plea of this five-year-old girl? She looked so helpless, so desperately in need of an ally. She was only five, and not only had she been abused, but she'd had her own room stolen from her after being away for just one week.

It was fundamentally wrong.

Before Catherine could react, Zane gave her a hard shove.

"Oww!" Catherine collapsed onto the floor, wailing.

Hearing her daughter's cries, Felicity shakily made her way upstairs. "Didn't you see that, Officer?" she demanded. "My daughter was just assaulted!"

The officer looked utterly exasperated. "Ma'am, both children are under ten, and your daughter tried to push this poor little girl first."

Felicity was speechless.

Seeing her daughter's room being invaded by so many people, she tried another tactic. "Let's not even get into whether this room belongs to Winona or my husband. For now, my daughter is living here. She's been here for a week! You can't just barge in and throw her out! Where is my daughter supposed to live?"