The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 421

Seeing that Helena had thought this through carefully, Winona finally felt at ease. Naturally, she fully supported her aunt.

"If you're short on capital, I have some savings. I can help front a portion of it."

Helena smiled. "That won't be necessary. I'm opening the salon with a partner, so the financial pressure is cut in half. You don't need to worry about me."

Remembering what Greta had secretly told her, Helena asked, "Are you and that Stefan Goddard really dating?"

Winona nodded.

Helena felt a mix of joy and concern. She was thrilled to hear from Greta that Stefan was a great guy who treated Winona well. It proved Winona had completely walked out of the shadow of her past toxic relationship and wasn't afraid to love again. But she was worried because the Goddard family's background was simply too intimidating. The gap between their worlds was massive, and the Goddards might not accept Winona.

Knowing exactly what her aunt was worried about, Winona smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry about me. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm not the naive little girl I used to be. Deciding to be with him was a choice I made after a lot of serious thought."

Helena nodded. "That's good. Winona, whatever you decide, I will always support you. Next time you come over, bring Stefan with you so we can all meet him."

"I've been planning to, but I need to test the waters with Nikita first. If she's against it, I'm not going to subject Stefan to her lectures. Regardless of what she thinks, though, I'm staying with him."

Helena chuckled. "I've noticed your mindset has really shifted. You used to hang onto your grandmother's every word, terrified of making her angry or stressing her out. Now, you just tell her exactly how it is, good news or bad."

Winona thought about it and realized her aunt was right.

"I guess I used to just carry everything on my own shoulders. I thought shielding my family from the bad stuff was the best way to protect them. But I'm starting to understand that if I never voice my true thoughts, Nikita will never get the chance to understand me. Sometimes, a little argument is just another form of communication. It's definitely better than the silent treatment."

She used to fear conflict, habitually bending over backward to accommodate others. Now, she was done suppressing her own needs just to spare someone else's feelings. It was too exhausting to live that way.

She sighed heavily. "Winona, when it comes to settling down, it's best to find a normal guy. What about that nice boy who was always so sweet to you? Zack Charlton, right? He might be a little younger, but he seems so genuine and grounded. You should be looking for someone like him. As for this Mr. Goddard... his world is too rich for our blood. Aren't you worried you'll just end up getting played by another wealthy family?"

Greta suddenly chimed in, "Stefan is nothing like Yulen Locke! You'll see once you meet him."

Nikita scowled. "What do kids know?"

Seeing that her grandmother was resistant, Winona didn't push it. She simply said in a calm, measured tone, "If you don't like him, I won't bring him around. But things are going really well between us, and I have no intention of breaking up with him. So please don't bother setting me up on any blind dates, because I won't go."

Nikita let out a sharp huff, puffing up her cheeks in silent protest.

Noticing the tension, Helena smoothly changed the subject. "Mom, I mentioned before that a coworker and I are quitting to start our own business. You'll have to come help me keep an eye on the shop! It'll save me from having to hire extra staff."