The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 102

"I tried to reach out to Julian. I gave him a chance…" Winona's voice was barely above a whisper.

"I see!" Zachary Shaw interrupted, a wave of conviction rising in his tone. "Miss Perkins, I may not be the wealthiest man in Greenwood, but I've never truly admired anyone—until you. You have my respect."

Winona managed a weary smile. "Thank you… Thank you so much."

Yves Prescott stood frozen, lost in thought.

He remembered the charity gala for the city's elderly just a few weeks earlier. Winona had approached Julian that night, but Julian had thrown her out in front of everyone. Yves had been there too, and he'd even added salt to her wound with a few harsh words of his own.

Now, recalling it, Yves gave a self-deprecating chuckle.

"Miss Perkins, I won't be accepting any more invitations from the Nicholson Group," Zachary continued. "It's obvious they're doomed to fail, and if I get involved now, I'd just be jumping into the fire myself. But with the pressure the Nicholson Group is putting on you, nobody in their right mind would believe in you, let alone invest. Even if I do invest on my own, it's just a drop in the bucket…"

He trailed off, and then an idea struck him. "That's why you crashed Mrs. Shepherd's birthday party tonight, isn't it? I'm the only one, an ex-carpenter turned contractor, who actually understands your plans. Only if I back your project will others believe it's really your work, right?"

Tears streamed down Winona's cheeks. "Yes, Mr. Prescott. I had no choice. I came by your office several times, but you refused to see me. If I had any other option, I wouldn't have forced myself into the Shepherds' party tonight just to get a word with you."

Zachary's face was full of remorse. "I'm sorry. I really am. I should've listened."

Off to the side, Yves remembered her voice from earlier that evening, the way she'd told him in that desolate tone, "The script I got in life is the opposite of Felicity's. Every man in this city is helping her work against me. I have nowhere left to turn."

Now, replaying those words, he felt the weight of her loneliness and struggle settle heavily in the air.

"Mr. Shaw, I don't need an apology," Winona said, turning to him with a glimmer of hope. "What I need is for you to invest in me, and—more importantly—show other investors that I have what it takes. Can you do that?"

Before Zachary could answer, Yves spoke up. "I'll invest."

Winona looked at him in disbelief. "You… believe me?"

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