A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 123

Winifred crossed her legs, quietly taking small sips of her tea, resting in silence.

Holden was surprisingly adept with the toddler. He sat down, settling Jordyn comfortably on his lap, and pulled a box of wet wipes close. He pulled them out one by one.

First, he wiped her mouth, tossing the wipe aside. Then he grabbed a fresh one, held it to her nose, and coached her to blow. Another wipe for her cheeks, and one more for her forehead, his fingers gently brushing her sweat-dampened hair behind her ears.

"You need a hair wash, sweetie," he chuckled, continuing to dab away her sweat.

Jordyn looked up, her chubby cheeks bouncing. "I want you to wash it, Uncle Holden!"

Iris, watching with a blissful smile, playfully intervened. "Uncle Holden shouldn't have to do chores. The nanny will wash it for you at home, and give you a bath too."

"No! I want Uncle Holden!" Jordyn pouted, her eyes instantly filling with tears.

Holden gently patted her round little back.

"Hey, no crying. If you need something, just talk to us. Tell us what you want so we can help you."

Jordyn buried her face in Holden's chest. "Uncle Holden~ I'm sad."

"I know. You need to play with your friends. Just rest for a couple of days, and I'll find you a new preschool. You'll be back to playing in no time."

There was a fruit platter from the afternoon tea service on the table. Holden plucked a large, dark-red cherry by the stem.

Winifred's eyes tracked his movement. The cherry was perfectly ripe, practically glowing. With her eye for good produce, she knew it was premium quality—juicy, sweet, and incredibly satisfying.

Her mouth watered slightly. She quietly took another sip of tea.

Genetics played a huge role, didn't they? She had seen Jordyn's dad. Owen Morgan wasn't exactly a pretty boy. He was rugged, with sharp, intense features. Some might call him intimidating; others might appreciate his rugged masculinity. But if those traits were passed down to a girl, she definitely wasn't going to have a classically delicate, beautiful face.

Winifred hadn't met Jordyn's mom, but considering she abandoned her kids to her unmarried, childless sister-in-law after a messy divorce, she was likely a very strong-willed, intense woman herself. Intense women usually had sharper features too.

Holden, however, knew exactly what to say. He patted Jordyn's back soothingly.

"We don't compare ourselves to others. There are many kinds of beauty. As long as you're beautiful to your mom and dad, that's what matters."

Jordyn's lower lip trembled. "But I don't have a mom anymore."

"You have your dad," Holden said, gently wiping her tears. "He loves you very much. He'll watch you grow up, and when you're older, you can drive yourself to see your mom."