The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 490

Stefan pulled out a beautifully wrapped gift box and set it on the table in front of her.

"Happy birthday."

Winona carefully opened the box to reveal a stunningly intricate brooch. It was exquisitely designed—elegant without being overwhelmingly flashy, making it a perfect match for her everyday wardrobe. It was obvious he had put serious thought into picking it out.

She smiled warmly. "Thank you. I love it."

Seeing the genuine joy on her face, Stefan's eyes softened with affection. He had spent hours selecting it, even pulling Samantha and Roxana in to consult on the design.

Winona pinned the brooch to her lapel and couldn't resist pulling out her phone to snap a quick selfie.

A moment later, the server brought out the cake and politely lit the candles.

Winona closed her eyes, made a silent wish, and blew them out.

Stefan removed the candles, sliced a small piece, and handed it to her on a pristine plate.

"I made this cake myself," he said casually. "Try it and tell me what you think."

Winona stared at him in sheer shock. "You made this? You know how to bake?"

Stefan let out a low chuckle. "I didn't. I spent the last week learning."

Every day during his lunch hour, he had a master pastry chef come up to his private executive lounge just to teach him the basics. Given his limited time, he could only manage to bake something relatively simple, rather than a towering, flawlessly decorated masterpiece.

Initially, Winona had thought the cake looked a bit plain, but knowing that a man like Stefan Goddard had actually stood in a kitchen baking it from scratch filled her chest with an overwhelming warmth.

She looked up at him, teasing, "You went all out to give me such a special birthday. What am I supposed to do when it's your turn? What if I can't top this surprise?"

Stefan smiled gently. "Just having you by my side is the best surprise I could ask for."

Just as they picked up their forks to eat, two familiar figures approached their table.

Winona's smile vanished the second she saw Yulen and Tallulah.

Yulen hadn't initially wanted to walk over, but watching Winona smile so brightly and sweetly at Stefan made his chest physically ache, as if it were being repeatedly stabbed with needles. She hadn't looked at him with that kind of pure affection in years.

And to make it worse, Stefan was obviously just playing her, yet she was actually falling for it?

Tallulah frantically pulled at his sleeve, panicking that he was about to severely offend Stefan in public,"Yulen, let's just go. She clearly doesn't appreciate our good intentions!"

Yulen gritted his teeth, his eyes boring into Winona with intense bitterness.

Winona simply treated him like empty air, refusing to even acknowledge his existence.

Stefan finally looked up, his gaze sweeping over Yulen with absolute indifference. "Mr. Locke, my relationship with Winona is none of your concern. Stop harassing us, or things will get unpleasant for you."

Though Yulen was boiling with fury, he wasn't stupid enough to openly declare war on Stefan Goddard. Humiliated, he yanked his arm free and stormed out of the restaurant with Tallulah trailing behind him.

Thanks to their sudden interruption, Winona's perfect mood was completely ruined, and she lost her appetite. After a brief discussion with Stefan, they decided to ask the server for to-go boxes to pack up the leftovers before leaving.

Standing near the exit and watching them actually box up their half-eaten food, Yulen's eyes turned even colder.

Stefan treats her so cheaply, and she still defends him like her life depends on it.

Back when she was with him, Yulen had never once pinched pennies. He bought her whatever she needed and certainly never subjected her to cheap desserts or the embarrassment of taking leftovers home in a doggy bag.

How could Winona possibly tolerate a man who treated her so poorly? Yulen realized with a sickening twist in his gut that he didn't understand the woman she had become at all.