A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 102

"Oh." Leland's Adam's apple bobbed. He looked like a man who had just taken a heavy blow.

Kian seized the opening. "I'm telling you this as a friend, Mr. Lockwood. Don't fall for her act. Cut ties with her immediately. That woman is pure poison. She's hurt everyone she touches."

Leland nodded slowly. "Thank you for the warning. You're a true friend."

Kian exchanged a smug smile with Iris. "Looking out for my friends is what I do best."

Leland let out a long sigh. "This Dr. Shultz... she really is something else. But tell me..." He turned to Holden. "Holden, I'm a bit younger than you, aren't I?"

Holden nodded. "Yes, you are."

"And my family's financial situation... it's decent, right?"

Holden offered a polite compliment. "Everyone knows the Kingsbridge Lockwoods are the wealthiest family in the country."

Leland pressed on. "And how about my looks? Give me an honest assessment."

Preston York's round face broke into a massive grin. "Hahaha! You're incredibly handsome, man!"

Even Kian's tense features relaxed a bit. "You have an elegant, refined presence, Mr. Lockwood. A true gentleman, standing tall and pristine."

Iris quickly chimed in. "When I first got here, I mentioned a friend in the industry who wanted to meet you! She caught a glimpse of you on the golf course last year and was instantly smitten. Your good looks completely won her over."

Leland tapped his fingers lightly against the desk. "What do you think, Holden?"

Holden snapped out of his daze. "W-what?"

"Am I handsome?"

"Yes."

"How handsome?"

This...

Preston's mouth hung open. He wanted to help his friend, but he had no idea what to say.

Iris forced a laugh. "Well, everyone has their own type, don't they? Sometimes, loving someone madly isn't about what they can offer you. It's just because they are who they are."

Leland raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about yourself, aren't you, Ms. Morgan? A terminal romantic."

Holden instantly stepped up to defend her. "That's enough. The joke's over."

Leland casually crossed his legs, looking around the room with cool authority. "Kian, with all due respect, I think you're looking at Dr. Shultz through a completely distorted lens. From my perspective, she is a rational, intelligent, transparent, and brilliant woman. She knows the difference between right and wrong, and she has a very clear moral compass."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "If Holden and I were standing in front of her right now, and she had to choose just one of us... she would choose me, without a second thought. But the reality is, I don't even meet her standards. So how on earth could she possibly want him?"

Leland offered a razor-sharp smile. "Which brings me to my final point. Holden, when a man is overly arrogant, it's usually just a mask for deep-seated insecurity. You won't get mad at me for pointing that out, will you?"