A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 1

Inside the sprawling suite of the international airport hotel, the afterglow of their passion still lingered heavily in the air.

Exhausted, Winifred Shultz was pulled up from the tangled sheets by Holden Lockwood. Her hair tumbled over her shoulders as she swayed against him. "Holden, stop... I'm so tired."

"Be a good girl. Just hold on a little longer."

"You're too intense. I can't stand up right now if you want to keep going."

He let out a low, breathless chuckle. "I'm taking you to get our marriage license right now. Tonight, I'll show you a few new things. You'll love it."

Winifred's eyes fluttered open in shock. "Are we really doing this right now?"

"I just flew back from Mystonia, and I have my papers on me. Let's do this before anyone can stop us."

Winifred obediently raised her arms, letting Holden slip her camisole over her head. Three years of being fiercely in love had finally led to this moment, yet a heavy knot of worry remained in her chest.

"But your mother... Madeleine will never allow you to marry me."

"You're always worrying that Iris Morgan is going to steal me away. I'm putting an end to those fears right now, permanently." Holden paused, his expression turning serious. "My mother is definitely going to have a reaction. Just bear with her for a bit, okay? She's still recovering from her breast cancer surgery."

Winifred nodded softly. "I know."

Today was the day Holden returned from his studies abroad. Their reunion was already a joy; getting married made it perfect.

Later, holding the freshly stamped marriage license, Holden cupped her face, his thumbs gently brushing the small dimples on her cheeks. "Let's head home so you can get some sleep and recover your strength."

"Why?"

"Because tonight is our wedding night, and I don't plan on stopping, Winifred." He tilted her chin up, his gaze darkening as he pressed his lips to hers, taking a deep, intoxicating breath. "God, I missed you so much, baby."

Blushing, Winifred hid her face against his chest. His strong arm wrapped around her slender waist, and with an effortless, loving sweep, he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the car.

As they pulled up to the grand front gates of the Lockwood Mansion, Holden's phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, Winifred caught the name "Iris Morgan." Respecting his privacy, she quietly slipped out of the car first while he took the call, making her way inside alone.

"Ah—!" Iris Morgan suddenly shrieked from across the room, dropping her phone.

Winifred turned her head in confusion. In that split second, a pair of cold hands clamped over her own wrists.

She whipped her head back, and a horrifying scene unfolded before her eyes. Madeleine had seized Winifred's hand—the one holding the knife—and forcefully plunged the blade straight into her own abdomen.

The sheer speed of the movement and the ruthless determination in Madeleine's eyes left Winifred absolutely zero time to stop her.

Winifred stood completely paralyzed in horror.

"Ah!! Holden... get in here! Winifred just stabbed your mother!" Iris screamed hysterically, sprinting over while still clutching her phone.

Iris grabbed Winifred by the shoulders, shaking her violently. "Winifred, Madeleine treated you like her own daughter! Why would you try to kill her?!"

Thrown off balance and dizzy from the shaking, Winifred finally snapped out of her shock, desperately opening her mouth to explain.