The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 234

Hearing his mother's insult, Stefan frowned deeply and fired back, "Mom, I expect you to respect my friends. If you can't manage that, then we have absolutely nothing left to discuss."

With that, he turned to usher Winona into the car.

Margaret knew her son had a fiercely independent streak. In business, it was an incredible asset—exactly the kind of ruthlessness required to steer the Goddard Group forward.

But when he used that same iron will to defy her over his own marriage prospects, it infuriated her.

"Stefan, are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Winona glanced at Stefan hesitantly, genuinely taken aback by his uncompromising defense of her.

During her time with Yulen, she had spent plenty of time around his wealthy friends. These heirs loved to play the part of arrogant, carefree playboys, but the moment their mothers issued a command, they rarely dared to talk back.

Even Yulen had hardly ever defended her when Willow was berating her.

Stefan was completely different.

"Stefan!" Margaret started to shout, but the words died in her throat as a speeding van suddenly screeched to a halt right in front of them.

Two men leaped from the vehicle, brandishing knives, and charged straight at Margaret.

Before Margaret could even process what was happening, Ophelia threw herself forward, using her own body as a human shield to protect her.

The bodyguards reacted a split second later, lunging forward to tackle the assailants and pin them brutally to the concrete.

Still paralyzed with shock, Margaret looked down to see Ophelia's face drained of all color. "Ophelia! Are you okay?" she asked, her voice trembling as she caught the younger woman.

Her hand brushed Ophelia's back and came away slick with blood. Her eyes widened in horror. "You're bleeding! Ophelia, we need to get you to a hospital!"

Stefan and Winona immediately rushed over.

Winona, who had emergency first-aid training, dropped to her knees. Seeing that the blade had sliced into the right side of Ophelia's back, she quickly instructed the bodyguards to ease Ophelia onto her side to prevent her from going into shock. She stripped off her jacket, folded it tightly, and applied firm, direct pressure to the wound to stem the bleeding.

Stefan was already on the phone with 911.

Margaret gripped Ophelia's hand, sobbing uncontrollably. "Ophelia, you're going to be okay. I promise, you're going to be fine."

Ten minutes later, the wail of sirens echoed through the garage as an ambulance pulled in.

Paramedics loaded Ophelia onto a stretcher and hoisted her into the back of the ambulance.

Winona could clearly see Margaret's disdain for her. She also knew that after Ophelia took a knife for her tonight, Margaret would move heaven and earth to force a marriage between Stefan and Ophelia.

Winona wasn't an idiot; she had absolutely zero intention of wading into that aristocratic mess.

"Don't worry, Margaret. I have never had any designs on Mr. Goddard."

"At least you know your place. The standards for marrying into the Goddard family aren't something just anyone can meet."

Having said her piece, Margaret turned on her heel and walked away, not sparing Winona another glance.

After finishing his statement with the police, Stefan walked over and took the seat next to Winona. "Did my mother say something to you? Whatever it was, don't take it to heart."

Winona nodded. "I know. I won't."

And she genuinely meant it.

The Goddard family had made it painfully obvious she was unwelcome, and she had never been the type to subject herself to unnecessary humiliation.

Stefan looked at her intently. "Do you know why I made you come with us?"