The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 484

If only her adoptive mother had returned to Sylvan, she thought. She would have had the full backing of the Scully family. With that kind of leverage, she probably would have married Stefan a long time ago.

Ryder didn't want them arguing in the room and disturbing Wynne. He turned to Stefan. "Did you come to see Wynne?"

"We're here to speak with Ophelia about a private matter," Stefan replied flatly.

Ryder nodded. "Take it outside, then."

Ophelia had no idea what Stefan wanted, but she obediently followed him out. Since Stefan already knew she had been faking her paralysis, she didn't bother using the wheelchair anymore.

Sylvan, refusing to let Ophelia be bullied, trailed right behind them.

Ryder had rented the entire floor, so the hallway was completely empty and dead silent.

Stefan stopped and looked at Ophelia. "You bought Prudence off?"

Ophelia's face drained of color. She immediately tried to play dumb. "What do you mean? Stefan, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Stefan's tone was glacial. "Prudence confessed to everything. You swapped Winona's medication."

A chill ran down Ophelia's spine. She bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to admit it.

Sylvan immediately interjected, his face dark with disapproval. "Stefan, how can you take the word of some lowly maid over Ophelia's? You know exactly what kind of person she is. Who's to say this isn't Winona framing her in some twisted play for sympathy?"

He shot Winona a look of absolute contempt.

Stefan ignored him entirely and kept his eyes on Ophelia. "I've already pulled the hospital security footage and spoken to the director. You obtained Winona's prescription, bought Vitamin C from the pharmacy downstairs, and handed it directly to Prudence right outside the hospital entrance. Apologize to Winona and leave Riverton immediately, or I call the police."

"Or what?" Sylvan stepped forward, blocking Ophelia. "Stefan, as long as I'm standing here, you will not bully her!"

Seeing that Sylvan had her back, Ophelia decided to stay perfectly quiet, looking down demurely and letting him fight her battles.

Stefan narrowed his eyes at Sylvan. "Mr. Scully, Ophelia committed a crime. Are you expecting me to just let it slide?"

Stefan was completely ruthless. "Wynne has plenty of people caring for her. You going back to the Capital won't change a thing. Or maybe you'd prefer to be shipped off to live abroad, exactly like Maeve Mallory?"

"Stefan..." Ophelia looked at him, her eyes brimming with red-rimmed tears.

Suddenly, she swayed unsteadily on her feet and collapsed onto the floor.

Stefan didn't even flinch. His expression didn't change, and he made absolutely no move to catch her.

"Stefan Goddard!" Sylvan roared in fury. "You will regret treating Ophelia like this!"

Without another word, Sylvan scooped the 'unconscious' Ophelia into his arms and stormed off.

Winona looked at Stefan. "Why does Sylvan value Ophelia so highly?"

Stefan scoffed in disgust. "He still deludes himself into thinking he's Wynne's husband, so he treats her adopted daughter as his own. He betrayed the love of his life when he was young, and now he plays the devoted family man to make himself feel better. It's pathetic. But don't worry, this isn't over just because she fainted. She is leaving Riverton."