The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 49

"Zane, how did you get here so early? Why didn't you wait for me to pick you up?" Winona asked in surprise.

At the same moment, Zane spotted Julian. He looked up, voice trembling as he called out, "Dad… Daddy?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, uncertainty flickered in his eyes. Not knowing how Julian would react, Zane quickly hid behind Winona.

Six months had passed—since when could this child speak in full sentences?

Julian was taken aback.

Zane bore his last name and had pretty much grown up under his roof, but Julian had always been hazy about the boy's milestones.

He simply hadn't been paying attention.

For the longest time, he'd assumed Zane was deaf and mute.

It wasn't until Zane turned two and managed, after much effort, to say, "Dad… Dad," syllable by syllable, that Julian realized the boy could speak at all.

After that, Winona often took Zane to therapy sessions. With age, Zane began using hearing aids, and worked hard to improve his speech.

That meant Zane spent most of his time in hospitals and at the Recovery Center, rarely at home.

Julian, busy with his own affairs, all but forgot he even had an adopted son named Zane.

Now, hearing Zane call him "Daddy" dredged up a flood of memories—and a flicker of tenderness he'd long ignored.

He crouched down, about to give Zane a hug, when Felicity's voice rang out behind him, "Julian, some guests have just arrived. We should go greet them."

Julian straightened, turning away with Felicity to head for the ballroom.

The manager hesitated. "Miss Perkins, can you please not make things difficult for us…"

Winona fell silent, a wave of humiliation washing over her.

But with the staff and Zane's friends watching, she couldn't afford to lose her composure.

Forcing a smile, she said quietly to the manager, "We'll use the banquet hall, but since it's two kids celebrating, could you at least give us a bit of distance from the other party?"

"Of course, ma'am. Right this way." The manager quickly led Zane, his friends, and their mothers toward a private area beside the main ballroom, where Tiana's birthday bash was in full swing.

Trailing behind, Mia tugged at Winona's sleeve. "How can we celebrate in the same place as them? We'll look so shabby by comparison! Their party's probably huge. And besides, Felicity is such a snake—I wouldn't trust her as far as I could throw her!"

Winona sighed. "The kids and parents are already here; we can't back out now. Mia, today is about Zane. His happiness comes first. Whatever the Nicholson family does, we're not playing their games. Focus on Zane, okay?"