A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 254

"I heard she lived in some grand castle in France, living like royalty."

"Meanwhile, I had a 105-degree fever. I was crying and screaming from the pain. The nanny slapped me so hard I passed out. I lay there unconscious for an entire day, and nobody cared."

She pointed a trembling finger at Holden. "Because of you, Mom secured her status as Mrs. Lockwood. Dad's mistress cried her eyes out and took her bastard son—who was born just a few days after you—and finally left."

"So, for her entire life, Mom has only ever cared about you. You were her ticket to power."

"You're her precious boy. Her pride and joy."

"Hell, when you were eleven, some con-artist fortune teller spouted some nonsense, and Mom took it as gospel. She brought Winifred into this house, paid for her food, her clothes, her elite private school tuition—all just to use her as a human shield to absorb your bad luck!"

Yvette glared at Holden, her eyes burning with pure venom.

Her parents were awful, and her childhood was a nightmare, but he was a massive part of the problem.

Did having a Y chromosome make him a god?

He stole all their mother's love and was the only child their father ever acknowledged. All because he was a man and could inherit the family empire?

It was disgusting.

"She treats you like royalty, so of course you love her. But I'm just the useless, discarded extra in this family. I won't be going to the precinct just to make her miserable."

Stomping her stilettos, Yvette stormed off in a rage.

Holden called after her. "Where are you going?"

Iris leaned in and whispered, "She's... going... to... find... Leland."

Holden's eyes darkened.

"It's a good thing you've set your sights on him, but don't be desperate. Wait for him to come to you."

Yvette stopped in her tracks.

Holden spoke with the gravitas of a family patriarch. "A woman's marriage requires proper courtship and a real proposal. You are an exceptional woman. Leland would be lucky to have you. You don't marry him until he comes to our door and begs for your hand."

Iris quickly got up and jogged over to Yvette.

She gently looped an arm through hers.

"When Holden and I go back to Kingsbridge, we'll go straight to Nelly. She's Mrs. Sutton now, but she and Leland's grandmother are lifelong best friends. We'll have her introduce you to the main family directly. You're beautiful, successful, and independent. The elders will adore you."

Yvette knew that the women of the Kingsbridge Lockwoods and the Suttons were close.

She nodded.

Letting Leland formally ask for an alliance was fine, too. She had already told him yesterday that she was giving him a chance to pursue her.

Iris hugged Yvette. "Trust me, we will fight for your happy ending."

With a man like Leland, the wounds Yvette had suffered from her toxic family would finally heal.

A good husband was a woman's best medicine.

Because with the right person by your side, you could make peace with the whole world.

Feeling deeply moved by her own thoughts, Iris glanced back at Holden.

Just like her. She had fought for a good man, and her destiny had changed forever.