The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 366

Valor emerged from his study and instructed the housekeeper to pour some coffee. After listening to her pitch, he offered a polite but firm rejection. "I have no plans to take on any new students at this time."

He had already seen Karina's resume. Her qualifications were painfully average, and he knew she wouldn't be able to keep up with his curriculum. Taking her on would be a waste of his time.

A truly gifted student only needed a little guidance before pushing forward to make their own breakthroughs. A student lacking that innate drive could be taught for a lifetime and still only grasp the absolute basics.

Refusing to give up, Karina pressed on. "Professor, I am incredibly dedicated to learning. If you just agree, I'll pay whatever tuition you ask for."

Valor's brows knit together. "Do you take me for someone who can be bought? Ms. Shepherd, it seems we simply aren't suited to be mentor and student. Please see yourself out."

He signaled the housekeeper to show her the door.

Furious at being so casually dismissed, Karina lost her temper and blurted out, "You were willing to take someone like Winona, but you won't take me? Is there some shameful, unspeakable reason for that?"

It was a blatant accusation that he lacked professional ethics and had taken Winona on for completely inappropriate reasons.

Valor scoffed coldly. "With a daughter like you, the Shepherd family's fortune is truly running dry. Since you clearly have such a low opinion of my character, there's no need for you to ever step foot in my home again."

Seeing the pure disgust in his eyes, the gravity of what she had just done finally pierced through Karina's anger. Her idiotic outburst had just permanently burned a very important bridge.

A wave of regret washed over her for being so impulsive. But she still felt she was right. In what universe was she inferior to Winona?

Storming out of the Bell residence, she immediately called Margaret.

"How did it go?" Margaret asked eagerly. "I had several people pull strings just to get him to see you. You must have discussed plenty of research topics today, right? Did he say you had a gift? Is he taking you on?"

"He barely asked me anything before kicking me out," Karina grumbled, utterly deflated.

"That's impossible. Your undergrad credentials are solid. That doesn't make sense."

Winona looked up at the towering, opulent gates of the estate. They felt insurmountably high—so high they filled her with a profound sense of dread.

She shook her head with a soft smile. "No, I need to catch my flight."

Linda sighed. "Alright. Have a safe flight, Ms. Jowett."

On her way back inside, Linda decided she had to tell Stefan, so she headed straight to his wing.

Winona sat in the backseat of her taxi, staring blankly at the passing scenery. Her mind was racing with every small moment she had shared with Stefan.

Glancing in the rearview mirror, the taxi driver frowned. "Those two Maybachs have been tailing us for a while now. Miss, they wouldn't happen to be following you, would they?"

Startled, Winona spun around to look out the back window.