The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 585

Desperate to soothe her bruised ego after Stefan's icy rejection, Giselle returned to Felix Hale and eagerly accepted his invitation to go drinking.

Later that evening, Winona scrolled through her social media timeline and paused on Giselle's latest post. It was a photo of her draped in designer clothes, lounging comfortably with a group of friends over expensive cocktails.

Winona couldn't help but wonder. Giselle was supposedly leading a crucial research project—she should have been drowning in work. Yet her feed was an endless parade of shopping sprees, lavish dinners, lazy afternoons in mansions, and wild nights out.

Could someone living that kind of lifestyle really have the focus required for high-level scientific research?

*

At six o'clock sharp, Winona logged off and hurried out of the research center.

Ezra Vane was already waiting for her by the car. She slid into the backseat. "Ezra, is everything ready?"

He nodded. "All set, Ma'am."

"You didn't tell Stefan, did you?"

"Of course not. You told me to keep it a secret. My lips are sealed."

"Perfect."

By the time Stefan Goddard wrapped up his work for the day, it was past ten o'clock. He walked down into the private parking garage, climbed into the back of his car, and pinched the bridge of his nose, closing his eyes against the exhaustion.

The car remained parked.

Stefan opened his eyes, his voice tired but calm. "Why aren't we moving?"

He still had a flight back to Riverton to catch. If he was too late, Winona would undoubtedly stay up waiting for him again.

The person in the driver's seat turned around, her eyes sparkling in the dim light.

"Winona?" Stefan froze, completely caught off guard. A slow smile spread across his face. "What are you doing here?"

Winona laughed. "I finished work early today, so I took a private flight over. I'm staying at the house in the Capital tonight, and I'll fly back for work first thing in the morning."

Stefan sighed softly. "That's an exhausting commute for you."

"If it doesn't exhaust you, it doesn't exhaust me," she replied smoothly.

The bodyguard sitting in the passenger seat stared straight ahead, feeling very much like a third wheel amidst the heavy romantic tension.

Later that night, freshly showered, they tangled together on the sofa in his living room. Winona gently traced his jawline, her voice dropping to a teasing, sultry whisper. "Being here with you... it feels completely different. Exciting."

A low chuckle rumbled in Stefan's chest. He leaned in, his gaze darkening. "I own quite a few properties. If you like the novelty, we can break in every single one of them."

Winona laughed, pulling him into a kiss. "Stop flexing your real estate portfolio, Mr. Goddard."

After the dinner concluded, Yulen ignored his assistant's advice to stay at a local hotel and insisted on taking a red-eye back to Riverton. The sheer thought of Winona spending the night with Stefan in the Capital made it impossible for him to stay in the same city.

He didn't go back to the Locke Villa. Instead, he headed straight to a high-end Lounge Bar to drown his thoughts.

Giselle was already there, holding court at a VIP table. She had fully embraced this glittering, hedonistic nightlife. Since Dean Ziegler had seemingly given up on managing her, she had taken to sleeping until noon and strolling into the lab whenever she pleased.

Spotting Yulen at the bar, she sauntered over. "Yulen? What brings you here?"

Yulen was several drinks deep, buzzed but not entirely blacked out. Recognizing her, he let out a bitter laugh. "Just in a terrible mood. Needed a drink."

"Is this about Winona?" Giselle asked smoothly.

He nodded.

"You saw her with Stefan, and it got to you?"

He nodded again.

"Don't tell me you're actually giving up on getting her back," Giselle prodded.

Yulen had always viewed Winona as a permanent fixture in his life—something that fundamentally belonged to him. The idea of truly letting go was inconceivable.