The Wife He Forgot to Marry (Winona and Yule) novel Chapter 858

The couple had harbored intense resentment toward Stefan for years. Now that Gabriel had seemingly outmaneuvered the rest of the Goddard family to snatch the GM role at Cirrus, it was an absolute triumph.

To flaunt their victory, Margaret hosted a lavish celebratory banquet.

Surprisingly, she even sent an elegant invitation to Winona. Margaret had done her homework. Winona wasn't just some nobody anymore; she was the legitimate daughter of Sylvan Scully and Wynne Walden, a biomedical prodigy with her own independent lab. According to the elite academic circles in the capital, Winona's reputation was flawless. Parading Winona around at social events would elevate Margaret's own status tremendously.

In her mind, she was graciously extending an olive branch, expecting Winona to be smart enough to take it and drop her previous hostility.

That evening, Winona found the invitation and casually tossed it onto her vanity.

Stefan leaned against the doorway. "If you don't want to go, don't. My mother is insufferable on a good day. Even I can barely tolerate her. Don't force yourself."

Winona uncapped her moisturizer. "Oh, I'm absolutely going. And I'm going to look stunning while doing it. She spent months trying to shove arranged dates down your throat. She's finally backed off a bit, but if I don't show up and mark my territory, she'll just start parading women past you again."

Stefan smirked, closing the distance between them. "So, you're going to claim what's yours?"

"You could say that."

He leaned down, pressing a slow, deliberate kiss to her lips. The air between them grew thick and heavy.

Breathless, Winona gently pushed him back a fraction, trying to maintain her train of thought. "Also... Audrey is turning one soon, and she's getting so mischievous. My mom and the current nanny spoil her endlessly. We need someone who can set boundaries."

They were both working incredibly demanding jobs; the few hours they had with Audrey in the evenings simply weren't enough for proper behavioral structure.

"I'll hire two top-tier child development specialists to handle her early education," Stefan murmured, his focus still entirely on her. "Audrey is brilliant. If they know how to communicate with her, she'll listen."

Winona nodded. "I want to interview them myself. The credentials matter, but patience and genuine warmth are non-negotiable."

"Of course," he agreed smoothly.

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