The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 631

When Winona excused herself to the restroom, Tallulah couldn't hold back the venom any longer. She pushed her chair back and followed her.

Winona was washing her hands when the door swung open. She ignored the other woman entirely, reaching for a paper towel.

Tallulah stepped into her path, her eyes burning with pure, unadulterated hatred. "You think you’re so much better than me, don't you? Let me tell you something—no matter what pathetic job I have to do during the day, at the end of the night, I am still Mrs. Locke!"

Winona met her gaze with cool detachment. "I don’t look down on you. The only reason you think that is because you’re deeply insecure about your own job. And as for your title? Being Mrs. Locke gives you zero professional credibility in the real world. Hard work and actual talent are the only things that earn respect in this industry."

"You think you can lecture me?" Tallulah hissed, stepping closer. Ever since her life imploded, she felt like the entire world was treating her like dirt, and she projected every ounce of that rage onto Winona.

Tired of the childish drama, Winona tried to step around her, but Tallulah blocked the exit.

"Don't walk away from me! You think you're so high and mighty with your little career? You're nothing but a man's toy, Winona! You were a plaything back then, and you're a plaything now!"

Winona’s eyes turned dangerously cold. She slowly looked Tallulah up and down, a mocking smirk playing on her lips.

"I rely on my own brain to afford a life of dignity," Winona said, her voice soft but lethal. "But you, Tallulah... you sold your soul to become Mrs. Locke. And what exactly did that buy you? If you're so blissfully happy in your high-society marriage, why do you lose your absolute mind the second you see my face?"

The truth hit Tallulah like a physical blow. Her face twisted into a mask of unhinged fury.

Knowing she was pregnant and unwilling to risk a physical altercation with a woman clearly on the brink of a breakdown, Winona quickly bypassed her and strode out of the restroom.

Infuriated, Tallulah chased after her, only to slam hard into a wall of solid muscle.

Two massive bodyguards wearing tailored suits materialized out of nowhere, physically barring her path.

"Ms. Shipley," Ezra Vane said, his voice a low, terrifying rumble. "I suggest you take a step back and stay far away from Ms. Jowett."

Tallulah stared at the men in disbelief. Stefan Goddard had assigned elite private security just to watch Winona have dinner?

Tallulah blinked, stammering. She had no idea what the answer was.

Bryce’s friendly demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by a scowl of pure disgust. "Tallulah. When Quentin begged me to take you on, he swore you were capable. Look at you. You’ve made countless amateur mistakes since you started, and now, when you’re literally being handed a masterclass by one of the best in the field, you zone out? Do you even want this job?"

Bryce was known for being brutally blunt. When he was angry, he didn't care who was watching; he would tear a researcher to shreds.

Tallulah could barely swallow the abuse in the privacy of the lab, but here? In front of her industry peers? In front of Winona?

The humiliation was absolute. Her nails dug so hard into her palms they drew blood. She wanted to grab her purse and sprint out of the restaurant.

But Bryce’s final warning echoed in her head: *Walk out of this job once without permission, and you’re fired.*

If she ran now, her career was truly dead.