The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 5

"I'm not going." Winona's reply was just as cool and distant.

On the other end, Julian froze.

Winona said no?

He'd never even considered the possibility.

His voice grew sharp, edged with authority. "Are you sure? You've thought this through?"

"Yes." Winona replied calmly.

What was there to think about? She'd already given up her husband and her daughter—why would she bother saving the life of someone who meant nothing to her?

"The divorce papers—" Winona was about to ask if he'd signed the divorce agreement.

But Julian hung up on her.

"What's wrong, Julian?" Felicity asked gently, sitting beside him.

Julian had invited Felicity over for the evening. Tiana kept fussing, refusing to settle. "I want Mom to read it! Where's Mommy? Why hasn't she come home?" Three days was an eternity, and Julian was running out of ways to explain.

He couldn't answer her. The truth was, Julian was just as surprised by Winona's prolonged absence.

How dare Winona stay away for three days? Wasn't she afraid he'd actually throw her out for good this time? Where had she found the nerve?

Since Winona wasn't coming home, Julian hadn't planned on calling her again.

Luckily, Tiana had Felicity's company, and over the past three days, she hadn't really missed her mother as much.

"Victor needs a blood transfusion." Julian explained, dialing out on his phone. "Check every hospital in the city—find a match for AB negative!"

After giving the order, he finally turned to Felicity and Tiana. "It's alright. I'm handling it."

"Is it because Mom wouldn't give Victor her blood?" Tiana asked, her eyes red-rimmed as she looked up at him.

Julian nodded.

"My mom is so mean! If Victor doesn't get Mom's blood, he might die! I hate her—she's the worst!" Tiana burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably.

This time, the call went to Yates, the family accountant and the man who managed all finances for the Nicholson estate. When he answered, his tone was almost reverent. "Mr. Julian, is there something you need?"

"From this month on, Winona receives nothing. Cut off every cent of her allowance. Not a penny more."

Yates paused. He hadn't paid Winona a single cent; the command had come from the top, with strict instructions to keep Julian in the dark.

"Of course, sir," Yates replied, his tone carefully measured. "I understand completely. I will ensure that Mrs. Winona receives nothing from this moment forward."

Julian hung up without another word.

"Six years, not a single cent for that woman they never wanted..." Yates muttered, shaking his head. "How does she manage? She's certainly one of a kind."

While he was pondering her resilience, the woman in question—Winona—was seated in a bright downtown café, meeting with her lawyer, Louis.

Louis regarded her seriously. "Nona, the Nicholson fortune runs in the billions. Why aren't you claiming a single dollar?"

Winona smiled weakly and replied, "I know Julian. He hates me too much to ever give me anything. Sure, you could fight for it, but I don't want my daughter to grow up watching her parents tear each other apart over money."

"Look, I get it, you don't want their money," Louis pressed on, "but you're giving all your own millions to Tiana? With Julian as her father, she's not exactly going to be scraping by, you know?"