The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 380

Winona nodded slowly. "Yeah. I'll work on getting used to it."

Seeing how overly serious Winona looked, Rhea couldn't resist reaching over and playfully pinching her cheek. "Win, loosen up! Being in love with someone you're actually attracted to is supposed to be amazing. Just enjoy the ride! Do you know how many people go their whole lives without ever meeting someone who genuinely makes their heart race? They end up settling for someone they don't even like just because society tells them their clock is ticking."

Winona frowned, puzzled. "Why the sudden doom and gloom?"

Rhea chuckled dryly. "Occupational hazard of being a lawyer. You see enough bitter divorces and ruined lives, and you end up getting a little cynical."

After they finished the fondue, Rhea headed home. Winona relaxed on the couch for a bit before grabbing a shower.

Just as she stepped out, her phone lit up with a text from Stefan.

*My stitches tore. Can you come disinfect it?*

Winona didn't even bother changing out of her pajamas. She threw open her door and rushed straight to his apartment.

Stefan was sitting on the sofa, his dress shirt discarded, leaving his intensely sculpted chest and abdomen on full display.

Spotting fresh blood seeping through the bandage on his back, Winona hurried over, panicked. "I thought this was already healed! You've been going to the office with torn stitches? Do we need to go to the hospital?"

"Don't panic," Stefan said smoothly. "I just stretched a bit too far while working out and tore the scab."

Winona glared at him. "You aren't fully healed! Why are you working out?"

Seeing how genuinely frantic she was over him, a slow smile spread across his face. "I was stuck in bed for weeks. I felt like I was rotting away. Getting some movement in actually makes me feel better."

"That doesn't mean you can push it! No heavy lifting until you're cleared," she scolded, though her hands were incredibly gentle as she grabbed the first aid kit.

She carefully cleaned the wound with an antiseptic wipe, applied fresh ointment, and secured a new bandage.

Stefan watched her quietly, his voice dropping to a magnetic, dangerous register. "Since you're already showered and in your pajamas, why don't you stay the night? I am an injured patient, after all. I need supervision."

Unable to meet his eyes, Winona murmured a soft, "Okay."

That night, she retreated to the guest bedroom.

A soft knock sounded before Stefan opened the door.

Winona sat up against the headboard. "Is everything okay?"

Stefan walked over and sat on the edge of the mattress. "The wound is throbbing. I needed a painkiller."

"Nobody. I tore it open myself," Stefan replied casually.

Hayes stared at him like he had grown a second head. "Are you into self-harm now?"

Thinking of how frantic and worried Winona had been, the corners of Stefan's mouth lifted. "She gets worried. And when she's worried, she stays with me."

It took exactly two seconds for Hayes to process the sheer level of manipulation at play. He let out a breathless laugh of disbelief. "I never thought I'd see the day you'd weaponize your genius for romance. With you playing the victim like this, Winona doesn't stand a chance."

Stefan smirked. "I just want her to fall for me."

Winona looked soft on the outside, but underneath, her boundaries were made of steel. If he pushed too hard or came on too strong, she would bolt. But if he played the vulnerable card, it triggered her protective instincts and made her physically incapable of walking away.

Hayes shook his head in awe. "Love has completely rewired your brain. This is honestly terrifying to watch."

Once the IV drip was finished, Stefan stood up and pulled on his jacket.

"You're not planning to keep ripping yourself open, are you?" Hayes asked. "The sympathy play has a shelf life."

"I know what I'm doing," Stefan replied, his tone turning serious. "She was deeply traumatized by her last relationship. She physically cannot handle diving headfirst into a new one. Since she's struggling to adapt to being my girlfriend, this is the only way to lower her guard and force her to get used to me being around."