A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 20

"Please stop harassing me," Winifred said coldly. "You have the wrong person."

Holden yanked her right arm violently, spinning her around to face him. Seeing that she was about to crash straight into his chest, Winifred lifted her leg and delivered a swift, brutal kick directly to the back of his knee. His long leg buckled instantly, dropping him to one knee on the pavement.

Almost immediately, Holden flashed a wicked, unhinged smile.

"Have you lost your mind?!" Winifred blurted out. The Holden she remembered was never this deranged.

Holden didn't hold back, his smile growing even wider and more manic, looking entirely beyond saving. "Not only have I lost my mind, I've become complete scum. And not only am I scum... I'm a thief."

Snatch!

A dark blur passed over Winifred's face, accompanied by a sharp tug. In the blink of an eye, her mask was dangling from Holden's fingers. It happened so fast she barely had time to react.

A second later, Holden let go of her arm and let out a cold laugh. "Don't misunderstand. I just wanted to confirm if my eyesight had truly reached perfection."

Winifred stared at him with absolute indifference. "Then please, stay away from me."

Holden raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Winifred, you're looking at me the wrong way."

Winifred stepped sideways to avoid him, refusing to even look at his face.

He laughed. "You're looking at me like I'm an inanimate object. Be reasonable. You're the one who faked her death and lied to everyone. You're the one who's supposed to be a corpse, not me. I'm very much alive."

Winifred's blood ran cold. She didn't want to say a single word.

Holden let out a mocking chuckle. "Did you hide all the way out here in Kingsbridge just to give me a taste of eternal loss? Hoping I'd regret everything so you could finally have me all to yourself?"

Winifred couldn't hold back anymore. "You're delusional."

"Saying one thing but meaning another? You used to love me to death. You were dying to be my woman every single day."

"Holden, you're genuinely sick in the head! There was only one reason I left: I never wanted to see your face again for as long as I lived."

Holden threw his head back and laughed, nodding mockingly.

"Hahaha! I know! I know!"

Her patience officially snapped. "Do you think with your feet?"

Preston's face flushed with anger. "You never change, do you! Always scheming for Iris's man. Let me tell you something: for the last three years, Holden has spoiled Iris rotten. He worships her, loves her, and guards her night and day."

"I suggest you back off right now. Holden doesn't want you anymore."

"There is absolutely no room for you to wedge yourself between him and Iris."

Without giving Winifred a chance to defend herself, Kian and Preston grabbed Holden by both arms and forcefully dragged him away.

As the three men walked back toward the cars, Kian and Preston were still loudly berating her, their voices echoing clearly down the street.

Kian spat, "If you're going to die, stay dead! You should have tied a rock to your leg and stayed at the bottom of the river! Hiding out in Kingsbridge—she basically painted a target on her back waiting for Holden to find her!"

Preston snorted. "Does she really think she's worth Holden pining over for three years? Iris is ten thousand times the woman she is."

Kian nodded fiercely. "Whatever happens, we can't let her hurt Iris again."