The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 67

Winona regarded the man before her with a cool, composed expression.

He stood as tall as Julian, with striking features and an air of uprightness about him. Everything about him suggested he was a good man, a doctor with integrity and a strong sense of responsibility.

Yet it was clear he harbored a deep prejudice against Winona.

"Mr. McCarthy, before Felicity's birthday party, had you ever met me?" Winona's voice was steady as she asked the question.

"Why would I have?" Xander shot back, his tone tinged with suspicion and obvious disdain.

"If you didn't know me, then on what grounds do you keep insisting I'm trying to sabotage Felicity and Julian's relationship, Mr. McCarthy?" Winona's calm never faltered; she simply asked, her voice level and even.

That was her nature—unruffled, self-possessed, her emotions always tightly in check. It was a trait forged when her world was upended at sixteen, forcing her to grow up overnight.

"At the party, I saw you with my own eyes—in the hallway, in Julian's arms. If that was just a coincidence, then what about today? You knew Julian and Felicity would be here, and yet you came anyway?" Xander pressed.

And yes—Winona was here because of Julian.

"That's right," she admitted plainly.

"You—" Xander was momentarily lost for words, thrown off by her candor.

He gave a cold laugh, then sighed, his tone growing sharper, righteous anger seeping into every word. "A woman like you could never understand what Felicity's been through—the pain, the trials, the years it took for her to rise from the ashes. Everything remarkable about her, she earned ten times over, through sheer effort.

Do you honestly think Julian loves her just because she's beautiful?

You're wrong.

Never accept his apology? What was that supposed to mean?

He was a doctor. His life was about saving people, not hurting them. The only reason he confronted Winona was out of anger and a fierce need to protect Felicity. He could never see himself bullying a woman, not for any reason.

So why would he ever need her forgiveness? The idea was absurd.

As he watched Winona disappear into the ballroom, Xander resolved to keep an eye on her—to make sure she didn't get the chance to come between Julian and Felicity.

The two of them entered the ballroom one after the other.

Inside, the place was buzzing—an ocean of sharp suits and dazzling gowns, the air thick with the hum of business and polite laughter. These charity galas and foundation events were always the same: an arena where the city's power players mingled, and the women turned the gathering into a vibrant competition of beauty and style.