The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 116

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Seeing Tiana like this made Winona's heart ache all over again.

She couldn't help it—her emotions tossed and turned, torn between wanting to keep her distance from Tiana and feeling a fierce protectiveness for her daughter. The inner struggle wore Winona down, leaving her drained and gloomy.

She didn't say a word to Yves Prescott the entire drive.

Yves watched her quietly from the driver's seat. He'd seen her at her strongest—when she was fighting for survival, when she'd pleaded with him for the safety of those three burdens she called family, when she'd moved heaven and earth to find Zachary. There was something indomitable about her, a vitality that refused to be extinguished.

But now, she seemed so deflated, fragile, and utterly defeated by the world.

How many stories did she carry beneath that tired exterior?

Yves found himself drawn to Winona against his will, and that realization irritated him. He turned away, fixing his eyes on the scenery outside the window instead.

The car eventually rolled to a stop in front of Winona's apartment complex.

Winona stepped out and headed home, leaving Yves sitting in the car, staring after her for a long time.

Once inside, Winona gathered Helga, Mia, and Zane. Together, they set out for the hospital.

By coincidence, today was the day Tiana was being discharged.

Janetta had come to pick Tiana up.

As Winona, Helga, Mia, and Zane walked down the hallway toward the hospital room, they suddenly spotted Janetta leading Tiana out, followed by a group of bodyguards carrying suitcases.

Instinctively, Winona ducked behind a row of hedges, peering through the leaves to watch Tiana.

"Grandma, why did you come get me? Where's Dad? Where's Miss Felly?" Tiana's big, dark eyes looked up at Janetta with confusion.

Janetta, her patience worn thin, tried to soothe her, "Your dad and Miss Felly are busy with work, sweetheart. The project just started, so they really couldn't make it."

"No one loves me anymore!" Tiana's voice trembled as her eyes filled with tears.