The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 73

Winona's heart clenched, but her voice stayed cool. "I have nothing to do with Tiana. She just has a fever and an IV drip—it's nothing serious. Her father, her grandparents, her aunt, even her new stepmother will all look after her. In the future, please instruct the Nicholson family staff not to call me about this."

She was about to hang up.

"Nona, wait! Please, just hear me out," Mia's tone was unusually urgent.

"What is it?"

"Your sister-in-law's kid, the one who… passed young—he had a blood disease. It started with constant fevers, too—"

There was a loud clatter.

Winona's phone slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor.

"Nona? Nona!" Mia's voice echoed through the fallen phone.

It took Winona ages to gather herself and pick it up, her voice trembling. "Mia, do you know which hospital Tiana is in?"

"I… I'm not sure—"

Winona abruptly hung up and immediately dialed the landline at Julian's house.

Someone answered almost instantly.

Winona recognized the voice—the new housekeeper who'd called her last time. "Ma'am? Is that you? I'm sorry, Mr. Nicholson instructed us not to contact you, so I didn't dare. But I found your friend's number at the house, so I called her instead…"

"What's wrong with Tiana, really?" Winona pressed.

"She's running a high fever that won't break, and she's been vomiting. She's delirious—she keeps calling out for… her mom."

"My daughter… Which hospital is she in? Do you know?" Winona's worry broke through her composure.

Tiana had hurt her so many times.

But hearing her daughter was sick, feverish and crying out for her mother, Winona's heart ached all the same.

She ducked into a corner of the hallway, hidden around the bend, and sat down.

The Nicholsons' voices carried clearly.

"Julian! You can't let anything happen to Tiana. If anything goes wrong, I won't make it either! What's the point of those housekeepers, anyway? Four or five of them, and not one could look after a child? Fire them all!" Janetta, sobbing, lashed out at her son.

She clasped her hands in desperate prayer. "I only have one grandson and one granddaughter. My grandson's already sick beyond hope. My Tiana—she can't have anything happen to her."

"Mom, Tiana's going to be fine. The doctor said it's just acute gastroenteritis from a weak stomach—that's why she's got a fever," Julian tried to reassure her.

Shera chimed in, trying to deflect blame. "You can't blame the staff, either. Winona always insisted on handling all of Tiana and Julian's meals herself—she wouldn't let anyone else help. This is her doing. She just wanted Julian and Tiana to depend on her."

Janetta's voice sharpened. "And where is Winona now? How could she be so heartless? Ignoring her own daughter when she's sick! Call her—have her come look after Tiana. That's her responsibility as a mother! Call her, now!"

It seemed Janetta had conveniently forgotten all the times she'd coached Tiana to keep her distance from Winona.

She turned to look at her son.