The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 250

Winona eventually gave in. She opened the container of pasta and began taking small, quiet bites. Before she realized it, she had finished the whole thing.

Setting her fork down, she picked up her phone and sent Stefan a text.

"Thank you, Mr. Goddard."

His reply came almost instantly: "You're welcome."

The next morning, Helena arrived to relieve her. "Go home and get some sleep. I've got things handled here."

Winona nodded, standing up to stretch her stiff muscles.

Helena suddenly grabbed her arm, leaning in to whisper, "The nurses told me that gorgeous man outside stood guard for you all night. Does he have a thing for you?"

Winona's face flushed. She had no idea how to explain the situation.

Helena nudged her encouragingly. "Honestly, he seems like a great catch. If you think there's a spark, you should see where it goes. Don't let a piece of trash like Yulen ruin your faith in love. Hell, if I met someone that hot who treated me that well, I'd remarry in a heartbeat!"

Winona: "..."

If Helena knew that "gorgeous man" was the heir to the wealthiest family in the capital, would she still be pushing so enthusiastically?

Out on the balcony, Stefan was on the phone with Hayes.

"Stefan, you move insanely fast. You literally just finished wiping out your uncle's cronies, and you're already back in Riverton? Miss Winona that much? It hasn't even been two weeks!"

Over the past fortnight, Stefan's people had systematically dismantled the rival branch's network and forced their two most profitable shell companies into bankruptcy liquidation. It would be a long time before his uncle's faction dared to make another move.

Stefan ignored the teasing and got straight to the point. "My mother caused a mess while I was busy. Get someone to scrub all those engagement articles from the press."

"Consider it done. Honestly, I am in awe of your mother's mental gymnastics. What was she thinking, trying to force you into a marriage with Ophelia using public opinion and guilt?"

Spotting Winona walking out of the hospital room, Stefan lost all interest in Hayes's commentary and hung up.

He walked straight toward her.

Winona sat in the passenger seat, her lips pressed into a tight line.

Suddenly, Stefan's phone rang.

It was Violet.

"Stefan, you're back in Riverton? Ask Winona if she's free. Bring her over for lunch."

Stefan smiled. "She's in the car with me right now. I'll bring her straight over."

He hung up and turned to her. "Winona, my grandmother expects us for lunch."

Winona felt like he was deliberately blurring the lines. Frowning, she said firmly, "I really wish you'd clear things up with Violet. There's nothing going on between us."

He still had a complicated, unresolved history with Ophelia. Plus, they weren't dating. They weren't anything. Going to his family home to meet his grandmother felt entirely inappropriate.

"Nothing going on?" he repeated softly. He held her gaze, a dangerous, magnetic amusement swimming in his eyes. "Winona, I refuse to believe you don't know exactly what my intentions are toward you."