The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 235

Winona looked at him, confused. "Why?"

Stefan held her gaze. "I needed you to understand that my staying at the hospital to look after Ophelia is strictly because she took a knife for my mother. There are absolutely no romantic feelings involved."

Winona stared at him, stunned into silence.

Why was he explaining himself to her?

The answer was staring her right in the face, but Winona was too afraid to believe it.

The lights above the operating room flicked off, and the double doors swung open as Ophelia was wheeled out.

Stefan stood up and turned to Winona. "I'm going to check on Ophelia. If you're exhausted, I can have my driver take you home."

She shook her head. "It's fine, I can get back on my own."

Stefan's tone left no room for debate. "Let the driver take you."

Realizing she couldn't win this argument, Winona finally agreed and took Stefan's car home.

*

"The blade nicked her spinal cord. There's a 70 percent chance of permanent paralysis. The family needs to prepare for the worst."

Stefan froze at the doctor's prognosis.

Margaret stared at the unconscious Ophelia, her heart breaking. She turned to Stefan, her voice trembling but resolute. "Stefan, Ophelia took that blade for me. If she hadn't, I would be the one lying in that bed right now. Listen to me very carefully: whether Ophelia recovers or not, you are going to marry her. It is what the Goddard family owes her."

Years ago, when Evander was trapped in a horrific car crash, the vehicle was seconds away from exploding. Ophelia had risked her own life, dragging him from the wreckage.

Though Evander ultimately died from his injuries, Margaret never forgot that debt.

It was only because of Ophelia's bravery that Evander's body wasn't burned to ashes, allowing him a dignified funeral.

And now, Ophelia had saved Margaret's life as well.

Thinking of another complication, Hayes quickly added, "To be perfectly honest, I really don't think it's wise for you to get involved with Ms. Jowett right now. Think about it—your uncles believe the only people you care about are your mother and sister, and they're both surrounded by elite security. But what about Ms. Jowett? She's just a normal civilian. If she gets caught in the crosshairs, the consequences would be catastrophic. Stefan, are you really going to drag her into the crossfire of the Goddard family's civil war? Can she even handle the weight of being Mrs. Goddard?"

Stefan frowned. "Winona isn't as fragile as you think."

If she had been born into the same elite pedigree as Ophelia, her brilliance and intellect would have allowed her to outshine every high-society heiress in the country.

"But she still needs time to adapt to this world," Hayes pleaded. "Even if you really love her, you need to keep your distance. It's the only way to protect her."

Stefan gave a mocking smile. "So, I'm supposed to push the woman I want away, just to secure my throne as the heir?"

"It's the safest option."

Stefan's voice dropped to a quiet, dangerous register. "I'll find another way. I'm keeping the Goddard Group, and I'm keeping Winona."

"And what if you're forced to choose?"

"There won't be a choice."