The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 95

"Hehe, Nona, see? Didn't I tell you you're lucky? You're the living proof that luck favors the underdog—you've got both Julian and Yves Prescott, the two most eligible bachelors in all of Greenwood City, wrapped around your little finger! Why don't you split the week between them? Monday, Wednesday, Friday for one, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday for the other. Sundays, you can come home, bring us some of that allowance, and treat Grandma and me and Zane to something nice. What do you say?"

Mia was on a roll now, practically glowing with excitement, having conveniently forgotten the mess she'd landed Winona in earlier that day.

Winona ground her teeth. "I don't want either of them. You can have them both!"

"Deal, deal!" Mia's eyes shone with glee, but then her face fell. "I mean, I'd love to have both, but the problem is—they don't want me. Maybe you could put in a good word with them?"

"Mia Summers, I swear I'll strangle you!"

Mia zipped her lips and fell silent.

Just then, peace returned. Helga came back, holding Zane's hand, a plate full of treats in the other, clearly delighted.

She beamed at Winona, eager to share. "Nona, these friends of yours really know how to treat a lady. I walked around with my darling great-grandson, and everywhere we went, folks were nodding and smiling at me, making a fuss like I was royalty—better than back in our own village!"

Winona could only sigh.

"And Nona, I still haven't asked, what's going on with you and Julian? He was all grumpy with us today, but that friend of yours—what's his name again? What's your relationship with him? Listen, as your grandmother, I have to remind you: you're a married woman now. Don't let me down. Was your husband upset today because you're seeing someone else?"

"Helga Perkins!" Winona called her by her full name.

Helga jumped, startled. "Yes, Nona? What's wrong?"

"Tonight, I'll take you back to your little country house, and unless I say otherwise, you're not allowed to come to the city again!"

Helga's eyes grew shiny with tears; she looked pitiful. "Nona… no need for you to drive me home. I can walk just fine. Anyway, the sweet potatoes at home will be ready to harvest soon, and I was thinking I could bring you some..."

Winona's anger instantly deflated. "Helga Perkins, do you really like that no-good Julian so much? Do you really like him?"

"You're seventy-two and still living out in the sticks—of course you're a bit old-fashioned!" Winona rolled her eyes, but her smile softened the words.

"And this Yves Prescott fellow—he's actually willing to play second fiddle? Be… the other man?"

"He is!" Winona declared.

Helga's jaw dropped.

Winona shot her a look. "And it's not just Yves—Julian's willing to be the second, too. He'd even stand up for you if you needed it! You saw it yourself—if not for him, we'd have been tossed out of here like dogs by your ex-grandson-in-law!"

At last, Helga began to laugh. "You're right, you're right…"

"Listen, Helga—tonight, with you, Zane and Mia, we're the stars of the show! You can eat whatever you want, do whatever you like, and if you want to make that mistress jealous, just do it! We're here to have a blast—got it, Helga Perkins?"