The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 168

The first time had been at Julian's daughter Tiana's birthday party.

Back then, Xander assumed Tiana's mother had left Julian right after Tiana was born, which explained why Tiana and Felicity got along so well.

But Winona kept glancing over at Tiana and Julian.

He remembered how Julian had wrapped a protective arm around Winona in the bathroom—at the time, it seemed like he was just afraid she might slip and fall. But Xander's instincts told him there was something unspoken between Julian and Winona, something complicated.

He'd convinced himself then that Winona had deliberately chosen to throw her own birthday celebration for her child at the same venue, on the same day as the Nicholsons, because she had an ulterior motive.

It wasn't until this very moment that he finally understood—Winona was Tiana's biological mother.

Imagine being a mother, forbidden from attending your own daughter's birthday party, forced to watch from the sidelines as another woman sat beside your husband, as your daughter called someone else "Mom." What kind of pain was that?

That little boy celebrating his birthday alongside Tiana—he must have been the adopted son Julian and Winona shared.

In that situation, neither Winona nor her son could return to the family, simply because another woman had taken her place in her own home.

And he, Xander, had gone so far as to see Winona as the intruder, the homewrecker.

How utterly ridiculous.

As he drove, Xander pounded the steering wheel with his fist, his mind in chaos.

He remembered the second time he'd met Winona, at a charity gala for the elderly. He'd confronted her the moment they met, warning her harshly and self-righteously, his words full of disdain.

Winona hadn't even bothered to argue with him. She'd only replied, with cold contempt, "Just make sure you don't lose any sleep over your conscience. Make sure you won't regret this."

At the time, he hadn't understood what she meant. He'd thought she was just playing the victim.

Now, thinking back, he realized just how much restraint and dignity Winona had shown.

And what had he done to a woman he'd never really known, who had never wronged him in any way?

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