The Billionaire Ex-Wife and the Beggar He Became novel Chapter 238

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Winona's eyes were still hollow, as if all the light had been drained from them.

Frank felt a wave of helplessness. He was running out of ways to get through to her.

Desperate, he suddenly remembered Winona had three people she cared about—her so-called burdens, as the rumors put it. Stories went that these three meant everything to her. Clinging to that hope, he said, "You don't have to speak, but what about the three you're protecting…"

"Don't hurt them," Winona broke in, her voice shaking. "They have nothing to do with Felicity. They've never stood in her way. All three of them are blameless. One is over seventy, she doesn't have many years left. The other is just a child, barely five, harmless as a lamb. The last is in her thirties, but… she's not all there, mentally. They're innocent."

It worked—Winona spoke at once. The moment the words left her lips, tears slid down her cheeks.

She couldn't drag Helga, Mia, or Zane into this. Helga and Mia had saved her life. Zane was her only comfort, her only friend. How could she let them suffer because of her? She'd never been able to give them a good life—was she now supposed to let them pay for her mistakes?

Frank seized the moment, pressing his advantage. "Then answer me! Why do you keep ruining Shepherd's happiness? Why, over and over again?" He towered over her, his anger barely contained.

Winona gave a bitter, empty smile, lips trembling but no words coming.

How could she answer him? Should she tell Frank that she'd never so much as touched Felicity's happiness—that it was Felicity who had stolen her husband, her child, and that she herself had never harmed Felicity? Would he ever believe her?

Of course not. Frank was practically family to Felicity, as close as a father and daughter. Felicity would have told him everything—at least, everything she wanted him to know. Even if he knew Winona was Julian's real wife, Frank would still insist she was the one who destroyed Felicity's happiness.

So what could she say?

If she dared to tell Frank, "I'm Julian's wife," he'd probably snap her neck right here and now. She wasn't ready to die—at least, not like this.

She'd been racking her brain for a way out. If escape was impossible, then she'd die on her own terms—head held high, never begging.

Her voice was hoarse, her tone bleak. "Mr. Frank, you love your niece, Felicity. So in your mind, no matter what I do—or don't do—you'll always believe I'm the one standing in her way. If that's how it is, then I'm willing to die for it."

"All I ask is that you spare my family. They're innocent—old, sick, or helpless. If you slaughter innocents for Felicity's sake, if you use your power to crush the weak, aren't you afraid of retribution?"