The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 289

At the private dinner party, Stefan had just finished making the necessary rounds with several elder business partners and sat back in his seat, quietly nursing his drink.

Hayes Yarwood was sitting next to him. Noticing Stefan seemed to be in a grim mood, he was about to ask what was wrong when he saw Maeve Mallory approaching.

When Maeve wasn't acting completely unhinged, she actually presented herself as a perfectly refined socialite.

She was undeniably gorgeous with an incredible figure, and there was no shortage of wealthy heirs chasing after her, but she only ever had eyes for Stefan.

"Stefan." She sat down right next to him and casually reached for his wine glass.

Stefan slammed his hand over the glass, pinning it to the table. His voice was freezing. "Maeve. Sit somewhere else."

Maeve looked thoroughly embarrassed by his blatant rejection.

"Stefan, I was just having an episode before when I said those things that made you mad. I just want to sit next to you. Is that a crime?"

Stefan looked visibly irritated.

"I don't like your perfume."

She had threatened to end her life in front of him over fifty times.

Every single time she pulled a stunt, he was the one who ended up dealing with the collateral damage.

If she honestly expected him to be madly in love with her after all that, he would have to be a literal saint.

Maeve's expression stiffened, but she forced a sickeningly sweet smile. "If you don't like it, Stefan, I'll definitely wear a different one next time."

She shifted her chair an inch to the right, showing zero intention of actually leaving.

Stefan ignored her and continued drinking in silence.

Seeing him downing drinks so heavily, a devious plan began forming in Maeve's mind.

As long as she could find a way to get rid of Hayes later, she could easily take a drunk Stefan back to a hotel. Once they were there, whatever happened next would be entirely up to her.

She cursed herself for being so stupid in the past, actually listening to Ophelia's manipulations and hoping to mold Stefan into a devoted, protective partner who would dote on her every whim.

But Stefan had only ever viewed her as a business alliance and treated her with nothing but freezing indifference.

The more she acted out, the more she drove him away.

Rhea asked her, "I honestly think Zack is a great catch. Sure, he's a bit younger than you, but he's genuine, totally devoted to you, and smart. His family background is practically top-tier for normal folks. Why won't you even consider him?"

Winona was silent for a moment before replying, "I just don't feel that way about him, and I refuse to string him along. Besides... I can't have kids. He's young; he definitely hasn't fully grasped what giving up a family really means..."

"Maybe he's open to being child-free," Rhea pointed out. "It's the modern era, plenty of young people don't want kids. Plus, your ability to reproduce isn't your only value as a woman."

They kept chatting as they walked down the street.

Outside a high-end restaurant, they spotted Stefan, Hayes, and Maeve.

Stefan looked completely wasted, leaning heavily against Hayes.

Seeing that he was being looked after, Winona averted her gaze and said to Rhea, "Let's go."

"Are you sure you don't want to go say hi?" Rhea asked.

Winona shook her head. "No need."

They were just about to turn away when the eagle-eyed Hayes spotted them.