The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 584

Dean Ziegler didn't say a word, though internally, he was shaking his head.

Pharmaceutical research demanded immense focus, patience, and the willingness to endure grueling, unglamorous work. Sylvan Scully probably thought he was doing his daughter a favor by handing her endless resources, but in reality, he was setting her up for failure. This kind of coddling was destroying Giselle's future.

When evening rolled around, Giselle clocked out early and practically danced out of the office. Once in her car, she touched up her lipstick, checked her reflection, and smiled in satisfaction before driving toward the upscale restaurant.

The night before, she had met a wealthy local named Felix Hale. His father was a major real estate developer in Riverton, and Felix had grown up completely spoiled by the city's elite. He treated life like a game, using his family's money to fund a revolving door of brief, three-month flings.

But for whatever reason, he was absolutely infatuated with Giselle. To him, she was different from the women he usually dated. She had the money, the looks, the taste, and the brains. Most of his exes had barely finished college, whereas Giselle held a master's degree from a prestigious overseas university and worked at a top-tier research institute.

Having a goddess like her on his arm was the ultimate status symbol.

Giselle, however, was hard to pin down. Felix didn't mind; he believed that as long as he poured enough money and attention on her, she'd eventually cave.

To Giselle, Felix was nothing more than an open wallet and a convenient backup plan. Ever since she debuted in Riverton's high society, she had been swarmed by wealthy suitors. She enjoyed the attention, keeping them all at arm's length while happily letting them fund her extravagant nights out.

It was a stark contrast to her difficult days living abroad, where she'd had to bend over backward to please rich boyfriends just to survive. Now the tables had turned.

Why work hard when having a billionaire father got you all this? To maintain this level of luxury permanently, she needed to marry someone equally powerful. And Stefan Goddard was the ultimate prize.

At the dinner party, Felix hovered around her like an eager puppy, introducing her to the city's heavy hitters. Giselle scanned the room, masking her disappointment when she didn't spot Stefan. She gracefully accepted a seat among Felix's affluent friends.

As Felix introduced her, he couldn't take his eyes off her. His friends, having never seen the notorious playboy act so utterly whipped, were immediately intrigued. Hearing about her background, education, and career, the men looked at her with blatant admiration.

Giselle basked in the spotlight, taking a delicate sip of her cocktail. She vastly preferred the intoxicating energy of high-society networking over rotting in a sterile lab staring at spreadsheets.

Giselle froze, irritated by his complete lack of charm. She had practically thrown herself at him. Was he really that cold?

Having played the role of a pampered heiress for so long, she truly believed she was untouchable. Feigning a playful pout, she said, "Stefan, the Goddard, Scully, and Powell families are all close, aren't they? Since we run in the same circles, what's wrong with me calling you Stefan?"

She reached out, intending to lightly touch his arm.

Stefan stepped back, easily dodging her hand. His expression dropped another ten degrees. "Excuse me, Ms. Reed. I have other matters to attend to."

Without giving her a shred of dignity, he turned and walked away.

Giselle stood there, her face burning with humiliation and rage.