The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 195

“Hello, you’ve reached the Goddard Manor. Are you trying to reach Mr. Goddard?” a woman’s voice asked politely. It was the housekeeper, Bess.

“Yes, is he available?” Winona asked.

“Mr. Goddard is in the study with Ms. Powell,” Bess explained. “He said not to be disturbed. He left his phone in the living room, which is why I answered. Please try calling back later.”

“Oh. Okay, I will,” Winona said, a wave of disappointment washing over her.

After hanging up, she took a cab home. As she was about to unlock her door, the apartment opposite hers opened, and Ophelia stepped out. She was wearing a sexy slip dress, and faint, tell-tale marks colored the skin on her neck. She picked up a bag of takeout food hanging from her doorknob, then looked up and saw Winona.

“Winona,” she said with a bright smile. “Were you the one who just called Stefan? Did you need his help with something?” She then casually pulled a small box from the takeout bag. Winona’s eyes instantly recognized it: an emergency contraceptive.

Her heart tightened, and a sour, unfamiliar feeling churned in her stomach. So, Ophelia and Stefan were even closer than she had imagined. Stefan had already done so much for her. It wouldn’t be right to burden him with Nikita’s problems, especially now. She certainly didn’t want to get in the middle of whatever was happening between him and Ophelia. Forcing a smile, she said, “It’s nothing. The issue is already resolved. I’m just going to go get some rest.” She quickly let herself into her apartment.

Ophelia watched her go, a scornful smile playing on her lips as she recalled the pained look on Winona’s face. She turned, slipped a coat on in the entryway, put the pillbox in her pocket, and began discussing dinner plans with Bess, acting every bit the lady of the house.

When Stefan emerged from his study and saw Ophelia, his brow furrowed. “Ophelia, what are you doing here?”

After she was gone, Bess sighed. “Mr. Goddard, your mother will be very upset when she hears how you treated Ms. Powell.”

Stefan ignored her comment and asked sharply, “Where is Zora?”

“Your mother sent Zora home,” Bess said meekly. “She said I would be staying here to look after your daily needs from now on.”

Stefan’s jaw tightened. Zora had been a gift from his grandmother and was loyal to him, not his mother. Bess, on the other hand, was his mother’s spy. Her presence would only cause trouble. He knew his mother was determined to set him up with Ophelia, but it was never going to happen. Every time he tried to explain this, she would accuse him of being ungrateful and sing Ophelia’s praises. Sending Bess away would be pointless; his mother would just send someone else. He sighed. It seemed this was a job for Violet.