When Holden's gaze swept over them, Annie straightened her posture, bravely meeting his eyes.
Holden actually laughed. "Snow White, we meet again."
Annie parted her lips, about to say something, but Jordyn immediately slapped her hand over Holden's mouth, screaming, "Dad, you can't call her Snow White! You can't!"
Holden turned his head, and Jordyn pouted at him. "I'm your Snow White! You said I'm the prettiest girl in the world!"
"Of course you are," Holden chuckled.
He looked back at Annie. "What's your name?"
Annie fired back, "Aren't you Jordyn's uncle? Why are you her dad now?"
Holden affectionately pinched Jordyn's cheek. "My sweet girl needs me to be her dad, so I'm her dad."
"You certainly are full of yourself," Seth remarked coldly, having watched the entire exchange.
"Protecting a child is a parent's duty. As a man and the head of the household, I should take on the responsibilities I'm meant to bear. Isn't that right, little man?"
Seth sneered. "I just think you're failing as a man and making a fool of yourself. Acting as a father to your ex-brother-in-law's daughter, and declaring in public that you'll take responsibility for her? Have you ever considered how your brother-in-law feels about this? Did he have a daughter just so she could call you Dad? You're universally despised, and yet you're too stupid to see why."
Holden's face completely froze.
He ground his teeth.
His eyes narrowed as he engaged in a tense staring contest with the little boy. This wasn't the first time he had been utterly humiliated by Seth's sharp tongue.
Changing tactics, he demanded, "Apologize. Say you're sorry to Jordyn, and we'll leave it at that for today."
Annie stood tall and delivered her answer word by word. "I. Will. Not. Apologize!"
Jordyn threatened, "If you don't apologize, my dad will beat you up!"
Annie shot back, "Then I'll call my daddy to beat your dad up!"

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