The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 244

In a week at most, he would resolve the corporate mess and finally be able to see Winona again.

Jericho shook his head disapprovingly. "No matter how busy you are, you can't just leave a girl hanging. Winona came to me for a huge favor today, and honestly, if she had just gone straight to you, it would have been handled in a heartbeat. But she chose to come to me instead. That tells me she still doesn't trust you enough. Don't underestimate how complicated relationships can be, son."

Stefan offered a faint, acknowledging smile. "I know. Thank you for the advice, Mr. Harper. What favor did Winona need?"

Jericho explained the situation regarding Nikita and the surgeon.

Stefan nodded decisively. "Leave it to me. But please, don't tell her I'm the one helping."

Jericho frowned. "Why keep it a secret?"

"She had her reasons for going to you instead of me," Stefan explained smoothly. "I want to respect her boundaries."

"Alright, have it your way."

After finishing a quick cup of coffee, Stefan stood up. "I've got a flight to catch. Please keep an eye out for Winona, Mr. Harper."

"You don't need to tell me that. She's my student; of course I look out for her."

**

When Winona went to the hospital to check on Nikita, she unexpectedly ran into Margaret, who was dropping off soup for Ophelia.

She hadn't realized Ophelia was admitted to the same hospital.

Margaret's expression visibly frosted over the second she saw Winona. Handing the thermos to her assistant, she ordered, "Take this up to Ophelia and make sure she eats it while it's hot."

The assistant nodded and scurried off.

"Do you honestly believe love conquers all? Let me enlighten you, Winona. The Goddard family is far more complex than your little mind can comprehend. Stefan's wife won't just be expected to bear his heirs; she will have to run the internal operations of the entire Goddard dynasty. Have you ever managed a billion-dollar portfolio? Do you know how to command an estate staff of hundreds? Do you have the pedigree to navigate our sprawling network of elite relatives, both domestic and abroad? Do you even know the first thing about maintaining the Goddard family's pristine public image? You know nothing. Stop daydreaming."

She tore Winona down until there was seemingly nothing left.

Winona's face burned hotly.

She felt like an idiot for just standing there and letting this woman hurl insults at her.

Straightening her spine, Winona let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "You certainly think highly of yourself, don't you? I am not your daughter-in-law, which means you have absolutely zero right to lecture me. Save your elite family syllabus for whoever actually marries into it.

"Furthermore, my world does not revolve around Stefan. Do not project your cynical, calculated worldview onto me. Assuming everyone operates on your level of greed is nothing but sheer ignorance and arrogance.

"And for the record, I don't think marrying into the Goddard family is the fairy tale you think it is. With a mother-in-law as bitter and vicious as you, what sane woman would willingly jump into that toxic wasteland? Modern women respect themselves—we aren't the desperate gold-diggers you assume we are. Times have changed. It's not just the elite families picking their daughters-in-law anymore; women are choosing the families they marry into as well. And nobody is stupid enough to choose misery!"