Remembering everything Yulen had done, Helena kept her expression frosty. "Right."
Before bed, Winona wheeled herself into the guest room to check on her aunt.
Helena sighed heavily. "Winona, things can't go on like this. You can't let Yulen keep dragging this out. Grandma practically worships him now. You're in a much tougher spot than I ever was."
When Helena's ex-husband cheated, he was the obvious party at fault, only dragging out the divorce to fight over assets.
With a good lawyer, she had managed to walk away clean.
But Winona’s situation was a nightmare. Yulen came from a powerful, old-money family and was used to getting whatever he wanted. If he refused to let Winona go, breaking free would be nearly impossible.
The sheer difference in their social standing meant a massive power imbalance.
Thank God they didn't have kids, or Winona would have undoubtedly been stripped of custody and visitation rights.
Not wanting her aunt to worry, Winona forced a light tone. "I'll figure something out. Don't stress over me. And don't let Grandma's comments get to you."
Helena looked dead serious. "I never do. My job might be exhausting, but the pay and benefits are solid. It's the only safety net Greta and I have. If I had actually quit and stayed home, my ex would have destroyed me in court, and I would have lost custody.
"Mom's situation is entirely different from ours. Grandpa might have had a temper, but he was fiercely devoted to his family. Even though Mom was a stay-at-home wife, he respected her.
"If I didn't have an income, my ex would have trampled me into the dirt. Without a paycheck, Greta would be the one suffering. The weak always pay the highest price. Mom doesn't get that, but I see it clear as day."
Seeing that her aunt had a rock-solid grasp on reality, Winona let the subject drop.
Suddenly fired up again, Helena added, "I can't believe Mom agreed to let Yulen transfer Greta to that new school without even running it by me. Greta hates it there; she’s been miserable. And now this food poisoning? I am demanding answers from the administration."
Winona nodded. "You absolutely should. They can't just sweep this under the rug."


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Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule)
This guy Julen is an idiot, he is so full of himself....