The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 487

After work, Winona went straight to her aunt's salon.

Helena Jowett sliced up some watermelon and set it on the small table in the back room. "Are you staying for dinner?"

Winona shook her head. "No, I'm eating at home later."

Helena smirked knowingly. "Eating with Stefan, huh? Speaking of which, when are you going to finally tell Nikita about getting married?"

"I'll give it a little more time."

Initially, Nikita had been quite resistant to the idea of Stefan. But after realizing Winona had absolutely no intention of dating anyone else, Nikita's rigid stance began to soften. She eventually told Winona that if she truly felt there was no one else, she should at least give Stefan a real chance.

Winona figured that once the massive promo period for her new pharmaceutical project was over, she would formally bring Stefan home to meet her. Maybe by then, Nikita would fully accept him.

Just then, two clients walked in asking to refund their VIP membership cards.

Helena stepped out to process the refunds.

When she returned to sit next to Winona, she didn't look overly bothered.

Winona frowned. "Has business been slow lately?"

Helena nodded casually. "The clients are saying that the new salon right across the street brought in state-of-the-art foreign equipment, but their prices are somehow cheaper than ours. So, naturally, everyone is flocking over there."

Winona's frown deepened. "Tallulah Shipley is doing this on purpose. Do you want me to contact some medical manufacturers? I could order a batch of advanced equipment for you too."

Helena patted Winona's hand soothingly. "Win, I didn't open this shop to build an empire or get rich. As long as it makes a decent living and gives me enough flexible time to raise Greta, I'm happy. Besides, those machines cost a fortune. If they're charging less than we are with overhead like that, they are bleeding cash on every single client. My little shop doesn't need to get dragged into a suicidal price war. Sure, we've lost some walk-ins, but the loyal regulars know our quality and stick with us. It's fine. They can't sustain those losses forever. Eventually, they'll be forced to hike their prices, and when they do, those clients might just come walking right back through my door."

*

Meanwhile, Tallulah had just returned home from her prenatal checkup when she received a text from her assistant.

The massive beauty salon she had opened right across from Helena's shop was packed with clients, but due to the aggressive pricing, they had been operating at a massive loss since day one.

Yulen gave a brief nod but didn't even glance at the report. Instead, he looked at her sharply. "I saw your credit card statement this month. Did you max it out again?"

He had given her a supplementary card with a massive monthly limit, and somehow, she had blown through every single cent.

She barely ever went to the office to check on her projects, preferring to stay home and play the life of a pampered housewife. How could she possibly need that much cash? Back when Winona was around, she spent barely a fraction of that in an entire year. Where was Tallulah funneling all this money?

Tallulah flushed in sheer humiliation.

When they first got together, he was incredibly generous. He never once questioned her spending. Now, she had given him a son, Stanley, and was currently pregnant with his second child, and he was suddenly interrogating her like an accountant?

Between her luxury spa treatments, designer bags, custom clothes, secretly supporting Tanner Yates, and funding a hemorrhaging salon, her burn rate was undeniably astronomical. But it wasn't like the Locke Group couldn't afford it.

Putting on a deeply aggrieved face, she explained softly, "You know I've always been used to a certain lifestyle. Plus, I'm buying all the premium things for our son. What's wrong with spending a little extra on your family?"

Yulen rubbed his temples in severe irritation. "The company's new development projects are bleeding capital right now. I'm having to inject my personal funds just to keep them afloat. The least you could do is show some restraint. Furthermore, my mother and my sister regularly audit my credit card statements. If they see you blowing millions on frivolous garbage, aren't you afraid they'll tear into you?"