The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 418

Hearing that Winona had come straight from work and hadn't eaten a bite, Wynne felt a surge of anxious protectiveness.

"Absolutely not. Your work is incredibly demanding—skipping meals is terrible for your health. Come on, I'll go to the dining room with you."

She took Winona's hand and led her to the dining table. Seeing that the madam was finally willing to eat, the maid happily hurried to the kitchen to have the chef prepare two extra dishes.

Ryder and Ophelia arrived home shortly after.

Seeing Wynne and Winona dining together, a rare, tender smile softened Ryder's stern face. In the past, whenever Wynne received bad news about the search, she would lock herself away and starve for days before returning to reality. Yet, with Winona here, she was already eating and smiling.

Inviting Winona over had been the absolute right move.

Seeing them sitting side by side, the uncanny resemblance in their aura and mannerisms struck him harder than ever.

The thought resurfaced, loud and undeniable.

What if Winona was Wynne's biological child?

He had already given quiet instructions to the maid: if Winona visited, she was to discreetly procure a strand of her hair. With that, he could run a covert DNA test.

Ophelia, however, watched the scene with bitter resentment.

Since being adopted into the Powell family, Wynne had treated her well, ensuring she had the finest clothes, education, and luxuries. But their relationship always felt distinctly polite and distant. No matter how much Ophelia tried to bridge the gap, Wynne maintained a polite wall between them.

But with Winona, it was entirely different. Wynne looked at her with a profound, unconditional adoration—a look Ophelia had never once received. Winona had effortlessly claimed the affection Ophelia had spent years chasing.

Knowing that Stefan Goddard also favored Winona, a toxic wave of jealousy threatened to consume Ophelia whole.

Spotting Ryder and Ophelia, Wynne waved them over to join the table.

Ryder took the seat beside his wife. Shedding the ruthless boardroom titan persona, he spoke with absolute tenderness. "Wynne, I've booked an appointment for a full medical checkup for you tomorrow. I've also had the kitchen prepare some restorative soups. If you're feeling cooped up, I can clear my schedule for a few days and take you somewhere to relax."

Wynne shook her head, amused by his constant overprotectiveness. "There's no need for all that. I'm just exhausted from the long flight. Two days of rest and I'll be perfectly fine. Don't cancel your meetings on my account. Just eat."

The second the door swung shut, she held out her hand. "Give it to me."

The maid flinched, playing dumb. "Miss Ophelia? I don't know what you mean."

"I saw you taking something off Winona's coat," Ophelia snapped impatiently. "Hand it over right now, or I'll have my mother fire you on the spot."

Terrified, the maid reluctantly placed a single strand of hair into Ophelia's palm.

"Mr. Powell asked me to get it for him."

Ophelia's mind raced. "Why does my father want Winona's hair?"

Then, a horrifying suspicion slammed into her.

The color completely drained from her face. Gritting her teeth, she snatched the hair.