The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 257

Winona walked out with two steaming bowls of noodles and called toward the living room, "Mr. Goddard, dinner's ready."

When he didn't move, seemingly lost in thought, she called out again, "Mr. Goddard?"

Stefan blinked, snapping out of it. He walked over and sat at the dining table, looking at the perfectly cooked dish in front of him. Keeping his voice casual, he remarked, "Your phone lit up earlier. Might want to check if it's important."

Winona grabbed a paper towel, dried her hands, and walked over to the sofa. Seeing the text from Zack, she paused in surprise.

Since she had helped interview him for the institute, Zack had messaged her a few times with highly technical questions, which she had politely answered when she had the time. She certainly hadn't expected him to ask her out for dinner.

They barely knew each other, and going out alone felt completely unnecessary. She quickly typed out, *"Congratulations, but I'm afraid I'm too busy right now,"* hit send, and slipped the phone into her pocket before sitting down at the table.

"Work stuff?" Stefan asked smoothly.

"Just a junior candidate I interviewed a while back," Winona explained. "He's very ambitious and likes bouncing technical theories off me."

"Ah," Stefan replied, pretending to lose interest as he picked up his fork.

After they ate, Winona loaded the dishwasher and tied up the trash bag, intending to take it out on her way downstairs.

When she turned around, she saw Stefan sliding his feet into his shoes.

"Are you going somewhere?" she asked.

"I'm walking down with you to take out the trash," he said simply.

Winona laughed softly. "You don't have to do that."

"I'm coming."

They walked down together, tossed the garbage, and ended up taking a slow stroll along the river walk before heading back.

Out of nowhere, a food delivery driver on an electric scooter zipped recklessly past them on the sidewalk.

Stefan instinctively wrapped his good arm around Winona's waist, yanking her flush against his chest to get her out of the way.

Enveloped in the crisp, masculine scent of his cologne, Winona felt a hot flush creep up the back of her neck.

"Careful," he murmured, slowly releasing his hold on her.

"Thanks," Winona managed to say, trying desperately to sound unaffected.

"What do you want?" Winona asked, her tone instantly freezing over.

"You've got some nerve, Winona," Willow sneered. "Yulen is in the hospital, and you didn't even bother to show up."

Not giving her an inch, Winona fired back, "You're his own mother, and you aren't there caring for him. Why would you expect a total stranger to do it?"

"You—!"

Every time Willow spoke to Winona lately, she ended up practically hyperventilating with rage. She couldn't understand how this once meek girl had turned into such a vicious, unyielding headache.

"Was there a point to this call? If not, I'm hanging up," Winona said flatly, completely done dealing with the Locke family's drama.

"Wait!"

Willow quickly changed tactics. "Come over to the villa right now."

"No," Winona said without hesitation.

Willow gritted her teeth. "Your aunt Helena is up for a major promotion at her hospital right now, isn't she?"