A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 21

Winifred Shultz stood frozen in place long after Holden’s car had disappeared down the street.

She couldn't wrap her head around it. Why had Kian Jennings and Preston York been so unbearably cruel to her?

She had lived at the Lockwood Mansion for fifteen years. She and Holden had grown up together. Kian and Preston were Holden's childhood best friends, making them practically her friends, too. Back in middle school, when Holden used to play basketball, Winifred was the one sitting on the bleachers, guarding their water bottles and jackets. Whenever the teenage Kian and Preston came over for a drink, they would flash her bright smiles, thanking her warmly. Sometimes, they’d even poke her dimples, their eyes shining as they told her how pretty she was.

The year Kian and Preston graduated middle school, their parents sent them both abroad to study in Mystonia Country. They had attended university there as well.

She had no idea what they had experienced overseas all those years, but whatever it was had twisted those friendly, bright-eyed boys into bitter, paranoid men who now spat venom at her.

The midday sun beat down. Winifred shook her head, forcing herself to snap out of it. She had things to do.

Today was her twenty-fourth birthday, which also meant it was the twins' second birthday.

She had pre-ordered a cake before work and needed to pick it up. The clinic was packed with patients every single day, meaning she rarely clocked out on time at six o'clock. If she ended up working past eight tonight, the bakery would be closed.

Cake in hand, she was walking back to the clinic when her phone rang. It was the preschool teacher. When she answered, her daughter’s tiny, tearful voice came through the speaker.

"Mommy, I miss you."

Winifred stopped and leaned against a nearby tree. "Sweetheart, what's wrong? Tell Mommy."

It was two in the afternoon—prime naptime at preschool. The fact that her daughter was awake and crying filled Winifred with anxiety.

Ms. Miller took the phone back and quickly explained. "Annelise's mom, here's what happened. The Strawberry Class was rehearsing for our play this morning. Annie was chosen to play Snow White. Another student, Jordyn Morgan, also wanted the part, but the teachers felt Annie was the best fit. During lunch, Jordyn pulled Annie’s hair, and she’s been very upset since."

Annelise had only been attending preschool for a month. The whole point was to help her socialize and adapt to new environments. Winifred knew all about the play; just last night, her little girl had thrown her arms around her neck, chattering excitedly about who would get to be the princess. The sweet little girl had desperately wanted the honor.

Winifred asked the teacher to put her daughter back on the phone.

"Oh, hey." Quentin turned around, buttoning his coat.

"Tonight is the kids' second birthday. Can you come home early?"

Quentin smiled warmly. "Time flies, doesn't it? Another year already."

Winifred managed a soft smile. "Yeah. Before we know it, they'll be all grown up and off to school."

"I'll cut my appointments short today," Quentin promised. "I won't take any patients after four. That'll give you some time to rest, and we can head home early together."

"Okay," Winifred said. "Celeste and the nanny dropped the kids off this morning and went straight to the grocery store to prep for dinner. We won't have to bother your parents for the party."

"Don't worry about it. We're family. You don't need to feel like a burden."