The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 582

Forty minutes later, the doorbell rang. Winona brought the delivery inside, making sure to leave the courier a five-star review and a generous tip.

She sorted the medication into the first-aid kit and placed the orange juice on the counter next to the fridge.

Biscuit padded over, curiously sniffing the bag of beef jerky.

Winona chuckled, affectionately petting the cat's head. "You can't eat this one, buddy."

Reaching into the cabinet, she grabbed a bag of pet-safe apple crisps, pulled out two slices, and offered them. Biscuit happily crunched on the treats, sitting quietly by her feet until they were gone. Then, with a lazy stretch, the cat sauntered back to its bed.

Winona's heart melted a little. Biscuit was such an easygoing companion; always satisfied with whatever treats were offered and never begging for more.

It wasn't until two-thirty in the morning that Stefan finally walked through the door. Hearing the faint noise, Winona sat up in bed.

After a quick shower in the guest bathroom, Stefan slipped quietly into the room. Seeing her awake, he kept his voice low. "What woke you?"

She simply reached her arms out to him.

Stefan climbed into bed and pulled her into a warm embrace.

"Are you exhausted?" she murmured.

He let out a soft chuckle. "Not really. I caught some sleep on the flight."

Winona stifled a yawn. "Liar. With this weather, the turbulence must have been awful. There's no way you got any real rest. Please don't stay up late to travel for me next time. Your work takes so much out of you, and lack of sleep will ruin your whole day tomorrow."

Breathing in his familiar, comforting scent, she felt completely safe. Stefan waited for her to say more, but when he looked down, he realized she had already drifted back to sleep.

He gently lowered her onto the pillows, lay down beside her, and held her close through the night.

The next morning, Winona woke to find the space beside her empty. Glancing at the clock, she saw it was seven. Stefan had gotten less than five hours of sleep.

After getting ready, she walked out of the bedroom and found him in the kitchen, casually cooking breakfast while giving instructions to his assistant over the phone.

Winona quietly walked over to the entryway console. She opened his briefcase and slipped in a bottle of orange juice, a bottle of vitamins, some cold medicine, a small pack of beef jerky, and the mints. Then, she set the bag back exactly where it was.

Over breakfast, she looked at him sternly. "I have to head to the lab soon, but promise me you'll drink plenty of water today, no matter how busy you get."

*'I will.'*

Reading the texts, Wynne smiled through tear-filled eyes. She felt a profound sense of pride at how thoughtful Winona was, but it was heavily laced with heartache that the girl felt the need to be so overly considerate.

Having practically lived in the lab for the past month, Winona had visibly lost weight. Every time Stefan returned from a trip, he would cup her face and sigh. "Winona, you're getting so slender. Have you been skipping meals again?"

Her mind was constantly overflowing with data and formulas; half the time they spoke, she was completely spaced out. Over time, Stefan had grown used to it, silently stepping back whenever she slipped into her intense work mode.

On Wednesday morning, right after a team briefing, a new theory clicked in Winona's head. She practically bolted for the changing room, threw on her sterile scrubs, and vanished into the lab.

She didn't emerge until nine o'clock that night. Settling at her desk, she began compiling the new data.

At eleven, Stefan texted to ask when she'd be home. Lost in her work, she completely missed it.

Ezra Vane received a call from his boss shortly after. Seeing Winona working so furiously she was practically skipping meals, Ezra didn't dare interrupt her flow. Instead, he snapped a quick photo of her at her desk and sent it to Stefan.

*'Mr. Goddard, she's still working.'*