The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 607

Despite trashing the proposal, Sylvan hit a button on his intercom and authorized his accounting department to wire the funding to Zachariah's accounts.

When Zachariah saw the transfer clear, he didn't feel grateful. He just felt a deep, boiling resentment.

It was always the same psychological warfare. He'd pitch an idea, his father would ruthlessly tear him down, and then, hours later, the money would mysteriously appear. The constant whiplash was suffocating.

Zachariah knew exactly why Sylvan did it. The old man was terrified of finding the missing twins and having Zachariah challenge them for the throne. But because he hadn't found them yet, he needed Zachariah as an insurance policy.

*Just wait,* Zachariah thought coldly. *The second I take over this company, I'll put you through the exact same hell.*

***

That evening, Winona and Stefan were out walking Biscuit through their quiet, tree-lined neighborhood.

Stefan's phone vibrated. It was Margaret.

"What is it?" Stefan answered, his tone dropping several degrees.

"Stefan, what on earth is going on?" his mother demanded shrilly. "The board just rejected both of your uncles for the GM spot at Cirrus Beverages! Are you seriously giving that position to an outsider?"

"Mom, stay out of corporate affairs," Stefan said coldly.

"How can I stay out of it?! This is a massive opportunity, and you're freezing your own uncles out! How can you be so utterly heartless?"

Refusing to endure another second of her hysterics, Stefan ended the call.

Winona looked up at him. "Your mom calling about the Cirrus Beverages job?"

Stefan nodded, a bitter edge to his voice. "Since I took over the company, she loves pretending to care about me. But the only things she ever wants to talk about are securing more money for the Shepherd family, or trying to dictate who I marry."

As a child, he'd desperately craved his mother's affection. But after decades of constant betrayal, he'd finally accepted the cold, hard truth: not every mother actually loved their child.

Hearing the hollow ache in his voice, Winona thought of her own biological mother, Blythe, and the cruelty she'd endured. Her heart broke for him.

"What?" Stefan asked, glancing over. "It stinks. Back up."

"I'm keeping you company," she teased.

After tossing the bag in a nearby bin and scrubbing his hands at a park fountain, they headed inside. The moment Stefan took off his shoes, Biscuit immediately began rubbing against his ankles, letting out a pitiful, begging noise.

"No," Stefan said sternly. "You don't get canned food tonight."

Biscuit dropped to his belly, stared up at Stefan with massive, watery eyes, and let out a heartbreaking whimper.

Stefan ignored him and walked into the kitchen. Biscuit dragged himself to his little bed, looking utterly defeated.

Winona sat on the couch, waiting to see who would break first. Less than twenty minutes later, Stefan emerged from the pantry with a premium can of wet food.

She burst out laughing. "I thought you were putting your foot down!"