The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 226

Ophelia was absolutely thrilled when she heard Margaret was coming to town. She went straight to the airport to pick her up.

After a half-hour wait, Margaret finally emerged from the terminal, the very picture of old-money elegance.

She wore a stunning sapphire-blue vintage dress, a dazzling diamond necklace resting against her collarbone. With her hair swept up in a flawless chignon, every step she took practically radiated aristocratic grace.

"Margaret," Ophelia greeted her, stepping forward with a warm smile and linking arms with the older woman.

Margaret gave a clipped nod, her brow furrowing instantly. "I texted Stefan and told him to meet me here. Where is he?"

Ophelia replied softly, "I'm not sure. He's probably just tied up with work."

Margaret let out a cold, sharp laugh. "Work? Please. We both know he’s busy running after that woman—Winona. That’s exactly why I flew out to Riverton. I want to see for myself what kind of spell this girl has cast on my son to make him act like such an absolute fool."

"Margaret, please don't be too hard on him," Ophelia murmured, playing the peacemaker. "Honestly, this is my fault. If I had just kept a tighter leash on Lachlan, things would never have escalated like this."

"Nonsense. Where there's smoke, there's fire. If this Winona woman wasn't out here actively trying to seduce men, why would Lachlan have targeted her in the first place?"

Margaret’s cynical view on men and women was deeply rooted in her own marriage. She and her husband, Gabriel Goddard, had been childhood sweethearts.

They’d broken up in their twenties over personality clashes.

Margaret had moved on, marrying a romantic, free-spirited artist, but the marriage had crumbled in less than two years.

When she and Gabriel crossed paths again, the old sparks had reignited. Gabriel had divorced his own wife to marry her, picking up right where they left off.

But seven years into their marriage, Gabriel had taken up with some pretty young college student.

Margaret had handled the situation quietly and ruthlessly.

Gabriel had groveled, swearing he would never stray again.

But he lied.

Over the years, Margaret had come to accept a grim reality: men in Gabriel’s position, with that kind of wealth and power, were bound to be tempted. It was just how the world worked.

The real villains, in her eyes, were the shameless women who threw themselves at rich men.

Margaret checked her diamond watch, her frown deepening. "It's only eight o'clock."

Linda didn't blink. "She’s been retiring very early lately. Unless it's a sheer emergency, I suggest you try again tomorrow."

Margaret was seething, but she didn't dare force her way into her mother-in-law’s room. Swallowing her pride, she turned on her heel and left with Ophelia in tow.

Back in the master bedroom, Linda walked over to Violet, who was sitting up in bed, happily binge-watching a soap opera on her tablet. "They've gone," Linda reported.

Violet scoffed, not looking up from her screen. "Margaret and Ophelia are cut from the same snobbish cloth. No wonder they get along so well. Margaret has always had atrocious taste in women. I didn't listen to her last time, and I certainly won't start now. If she thinks she can strong-arm Stefan into marrying Ophelia, she’s dreaming."

Linda noted with a sigh, "Margaret is definitely going to put the pressure on Stefan while she's in Riverton. And I imagine she's going to make Winona's life miserable."

Violet frowned, her worry lines deepening. She knew exactly how destructive her daughter-in-law could be.

Stefan and Winona were just starting to figure things out. It would be a damn tragedy if Margaret snuffed out the spark before it could even catch fire.

Setting her tablet aside, she reached for her phone and dialed Stefan's number.