The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 492

"Dad, Winona won't acknowledge us," Jason said, his voice breaking. "Not only that, she called the police on Mom. She gave them evidence of Mom abusing Tiana, and... and she refuses to be a donor for you..."

At that moment, Jason was consumed by regret. Why had he joined his parents in beating his sister all those years ago? He searched his memory, trying to find a single instance of kindness they had shown her. If, over the past decade, any of them had offered Winona even a shred of affection, things might not have come to this. It didn't matter if she was the 'real' or 'fake' daughter. As Winona had said, it had nothing to do with blood ties. It had everything to do with the fact that the entire Shepherd family was rotten to the core.

Winona, despite all her suffering, was the lucky one. She had escaped her toxic family, breaking free from the suffocating sludge of their cruelty. As for the rest of them...

Teague's body trembled as Jason's words sank in. He gasped for air, and dark spots began to bloom on his skin.

The doctor rushed to his side, shouting at Jason as he began emergency treatment. "The patient is in this state, and you, his family, don't visit for days! Then you show up just to agitate him? You're murderers, you know that? Murderers!"

But despite the doctor's efforts, it was too late for Teague. Hope is a fragile thing for the sick. The loss of it, combined with the sudden family crisis and the shock of it all, was a triple blow that proved fatal.

He clung to life by a thread, refusing to let go, his breath rattling in his chest. "Winona... Winona..." he wheezed. "I need to see Winona... my daughter..."

Jason quickly called her. After all, Teague had raised her for sixteen years. He was the man she had called 'Dad' for most of her life. So, she came.

"Nona..." he rasped. "Dad... Dad is so sorry. I'm sorry... I'm sorry... for breaking your ribs back then... Does it... does it still hurt?"

"Thank you," Winona said softly.

Outside the door, Winona paused, but she didn't turn back. Tears streamed down her face, a silent waterfall of grief. "Dad..." she whispered.

"Goodbye, Mr. Teague. May we never be bound as family again, not in this life, nor any other," she murmured. The tears on her cheeks grew cold as she walked away, each step taking her further from the past.