The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 96

She'd already handed her fate over to Yves Prescott—at the very least, she was determined to let Helga, Mia, and Zane make the most of tonight's gala.

Helga was absolutely over the moon.

Her mood flipped in an instant. "That's my granddaughter! Two of Greenwood City's most influential men are head over heels for her. She's so much better than that homewrecker's granddaughter!"

As she spoke, she grabbed Zane's hand and marched off on a mission to hunt down the best snacks at the party.

Whenever someone greeted her, Helga would beam and brag, "My granddaughter is the prettiest, the brightest. Two powerful men in Greenwood City are crazy about her! She's leagues ahead of that homewrecker's granddaughter, isn't she?"

The poor souls she cornered could only force out awkward smiles, not daring to respond.

Once Helga had bustled away, someone muttered under their breath, "How did that old show-off get so ridiculously lucky?"

The words drifted over to Winona's ears. At first, it sounded bluntly honest. On closer thought, it was still just the plain truth.

Those three in her family—every single one of them—knew how to draw attention.

The old one was a spectacle; the young ones, just the same.

Not far away, a little girl in a frilly princess dress was standing in front of Zane, reaching for a snack. In a voice full of innocent wonder, she asked, "Why do you have hair on one side and a big bald circle on the other?"

"My mom says it's the coolest hairstyle in the world! All the kids in my class love it. Haven't you seen anything like it before?" Zane replied with perfect confidence.

The little girl shook her head.

Zane sighed, "Maybe you're just a country bumpkin."

The girl looked up at him, a little uncertain. "Will you still be friends with a country bumpkin like me?"

Zane considered for a second. "I've got loads and loads of friends, but I'll be your friend too. Next time it's my birthday, I'll invite you. How about that?"

"Do I make you that uncomfortable?" Yves asked, something sour twisting in his chest. He'd once arrogantly believed Winona would do anything to cling to him.

"We're hardly close, are we, Mr. Prescott?" Winona shot back.

"And yet you dared to seduce me, to use me for your own ends? Do you even know what that could cost?" Yves said, his smile cold and sharp.

Winona saw right through him, as always. "Is there something you want to say, Mr. Prescott?"

"If the chips you're trading with me aren't worth my time, do you know what I'll do to you?" Yves's smile didn't reach his eyes.

"I do." Winona's gaze never wavered. "You've got a factory on the border between Mexico and the States. I know the kinds of games that go on there—inhuman, brutal games."

"Doesn't that scare you?" he pressed.

Winona's lips curled in a sad smile. "Of course it does. But I'm not Felicity. She always has some guardian angel looking out for her—every man in Greenwood City would jump to protect her. Me? My script is the opposite of Felicity's. I... I have nowhere left to run."