The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 579

"What's wrong?" Winona asked immediately.

"Forrest got into some kind of altercation near the entrance," Simone said, already walking briskly toward the lobby. "He told us not to wait for him because he might have to go to the precinct. He's the most gentle guy on the planet, someone must be harassing him! We need to go back him up."

Winona and Simone practically jogged to the lobby, where they found Forrest surrounded by security.

Standing directly opposite him, looking furious, were Sylvan Scully and Giselle.

Simone rushed over. "Forrest, what happened?"

Forrest quickly explained the situation. He had been walking back with two iced coffees when Sylvan and Giselle had cut across the lobby. Forrest had tried to side-step them, but Giselle had been staring down at her phone while texting and walked straight into him.

The collision knocked one of the coffees out of his hand, spilling cold brew across Giselle's blouse. Forrest had immediately apologized and offered to pay for dry cleaning, but Sylvan was screaming that it was a deliberate assault and demanding the police be called.

Simone turned on Sylvan, thoroughly unimpressed. "Are you out of your mind? She wasn't watching where she was going and walked into him! Why are you threatening my fiancé over her clumsiness?"

Sylvan sneered. "My daughter's clothes are ruined, and you think you can just laugh it off and walk away?"

Giselle stood quietly off to the side, playing the victim perfectly.

Over the last few months, she had figured out exactly how Sylvan operated. Behind closed doors, he treated her like a mid-level employee. But in public, he was absolutely obsessed with projecting the image of a fiercely protective, loving father. He was a narcissist who thrived on public adoration, and Giselle was more than happy to feed his ego if it benefited her.

The loud argument had drawn a significant crowd, including the gallery's head of security.

A moment later, a handsome, elegantly dressed man in a grey suit stepped through the crowd. He locked eyes with Forrest and immediately smiled.

"Forrest."

Forrest blinked in surprise. "Morgan?"

The man was Morgan Clark, the son of the famous artist Zane Clark, and a fellow art history professor at Riverton University.

After Forrest quietly filled him in on the ridiculous dispute, Morgan turned to Sylvan with a polite but incredibly firm smile. "My father is Zane Clark. As a personal favor to me, I'd ask that you let this minor accident go. He is a close colleague of mine."

Realizing he was speaking to the son of the man hosting the entire gala, Sylvan instantly backed down, realizing he couldn't afford to cause a scene on Zane Clark's turf. He offered a tight, forced smile and walked away.

Morgan nodded to Forrest, then warmly invited him, Simone, and Winona back to the VIP lounge to meet his father.

Winona's penmanship was legendary in the research department. It was elegant, powerful, and deeply expressive. Half the lab had practically begged her to write them personalized desk plaques.

Simone's eyes widened. "Winona, would you?"

Winona smiled modestly. "I'll give it a try, but don't expect a masterpiece."

She walked over to the table, rolled up her sleeves, and dipped a fine-tipped brush into the inkwell. With smooth, practiced elegance, she inscribed a short, poetic verse down the side of the canvas.

The fluid, sweeping cursive perfectly complimented the stark, isolated beauty of Simone's plum blossoms. Instead of overpowering the drawing, the words elevated it, giving the piece a profound, tranquil energy.

Zane leaned over the table, his eyes wide with astonishment. "Incredible lettering. It brings the entire canvas to life."

Just then, Sylvan and Giselle walked into the VIP suite.

Giselle immediately noticed the painting resting on the table, and seeing Zane standing over it, she assumed it was his latest piece.

Desperate to show off her high-society refinement, she stepped forward and practically shouted, "The brushwork is bold, yet the inscription is so delicate! Professor Clark, this piece is an absolute triumph!"