The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 413

"And let's not forget Margaret's scandalous past," Yvette continued in a hushed tone. "Her first marriage—eloping like that—was the talk of high society. Then she married into the Goddard family with all that pomp and circumstance. The other women in the family play nice to her face, but they all gossip behind her back. Because she's alienated from the main Goddard social circle, she constantly relies on her maiden family, the Shepherds, for support.

"Over the years, the Shepherds have been trying to sink their claws into the Goddard empire, putting them completely at odds with the other branches of the family. The tragedy with Evander Goddard? That was entirely rooted in the vicious infighting between the Shepherds and the Goddards... I don't know all the details, but the family politics are a total bloodbath. You couldn't explain it all if you tried."

After chatting a bit more, Yvette was pulled away to greet other guests, leaving Winona and Phoebe to find a quiet spot in the lounge.

Phoebe looked at Winona sympathetically. "What happened to Evander is an open secret here. It was a casualty of the war between the Goddard branches and the Shepherds. But look at them now—they still attend events together and pretend they're one big happy family for the cameras. If you step into that crossfire without a bulletproof vest, they'll skin you alive."

Winona felt a cold knot of dread form in her stomach. She was just a normal person. Could she really survive in a family this toxic and ruthless?

But she had made a promise to Stefan. She had sworn she would face whatever came their way and wouldn't give up on him at the first sign of trouble.

Perhaps they could establish boundaries. She was deeply in love with Stefan, but she had absolutely no desire to involve herself with the Goddard empire. All she wanted was a life with him. She didn't care about their money or their power.

Once she anchored herself to that thought, the heavy pressure on her chest eased. She sat back, quietly enjoying a plate of fruit.

Because it was Yvette's birthday, the crowd leaned younger and the atmosphere was vibrant and relaxed.

Just then, a hush fell over the room as two figures walked through the doors.

One was Ophelia Powell, dressed in an understated yet luxurious black gown, exuding an icy, untouchable elegance that immediately drew stares. Beside her stood a tall, imposing older man. His sharp gaze and commanding presence made it clear he was someone of immense power.

Phoebe leaned over. "That's Ryder Powell, the CEO of the Powell Group. And that's his adopted daughter, Ophelia."

Winona realized instantly that this was Wynne's husband. He looked infinitely more reliable and formidable than Sylvan Scully.

Mr. Powell was close business associates with Yvette's in-laws, which was why he had taken the time to attend. Yvette's family rushed over to welcome him.

Ryder was a man of few words, offering a brief, polite greeting before moving to a secluded seating area. Ophelia remained near the entrance to chat with Yvette.

Winona finished her fruit and stood up to get more food from the buffet.

As Ryder walked toward the same area, his eyes landed on Winona's face. He froze.

He cleared his throat. "Wynne is flying back to the Capital the day after tomorrow. As you probably know, her trip to Yelden Country didn't yield the results she was hoping for. She's going to be devastated. If you're still in town, I'd greatly appreciate it if you could visit her."

He gestured for his assistant to hand over a sleek business card.

"My assistant will send you our home address."

Winona took the card gracefully. "Of course. I'd love to."

When Winona returned to the lounge, Phoebe was practically buzzing. "What were you and Mr. Powell talking about?"

Winona quickly summarized the encounter.

Phoebe laughed. "Looks like you have some serious heavy hitters in your corner here."

Meanwhile, Ophelia drifted over to Ryder's side, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Dad, who were you just talking to?"