A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 333

September 30th...

September 30th...

Ha. Hahahaha!

Holden laughed until tears spilled from his bloodshot, watery eyes.

Preston jumped in shock.

He scrambled over, dropping onto the sofa beside him and grabbing his shoulders. "Have you... lost your mind?"

Holden wiped the back of his hand across his cheek, smearing the tears.

"If... if you poured every ounce of your strength into building a dream... if you suffered, struggled, and barely lived like a human being for that dream. And then one day, you find out you've been a colossal idiot all along, and the pain is so deep you can't even walk... how are you supposed to keep living?"

Preston winced.

"Buddy, you and Iris just founded Iris-Adams Biopharma. Your dream is still in motion. So you lost a few major clients today... so what? Once your products hit the market, the money will roll in. There's no need to get so dramatic."

Holden just drank.

He tilted his head back sharply.

His Adam's apple bobbed beneath his skin, the sharp angle looking as though it might pierce his throat.

Liquor poured into his mouth.

Tears streamed down his chin.

The alcohol spilling past his lips met the tears on his jaw, a violent collision of burning intensity and devastating sorrow, painting a picture of total, world-shattering despair on his face.

Preston scratched his head, at a loss.

Suddenly, inspiration struck.

"Buddy, you know the old saying: a bad life is better than a good death. Clearly, staying alive is the best choice a person can make. So please, be strong."

Holden let out a broken laugh, liquor dribbling from the corner of his mouth.

"But right now, I feel... worse than dead."

His phone buzzed.

Preston eagerly seized the distraction.

"It's Iris! Iris is calling. Hurry up and answer it, tell her what's on your mind. She's your cure-all; she'll fix whatever crazy phase you're going through."

He reached over and hit the answer button.

Iris's voice came through, anxious and irritable.

[Why aren't you home yet?]

Clutching the liquor bottle, Holden slurred, [I'm drinking with Preston.]

Drinking?

After having his stomach pumped, Holden was admitted to a room.

His phone rang again.

Preston picked it up and held it out. "It's a call, you should take this."

But Holden's eyes remained tightly shut, looking completely lifeless.

Preston checked the caller ID. It looked like an official number for the Kingsbridge police department.

"Looks like the police are looking for you." He answered the call and put it on speaker.

The officer on the other end spoke briskly...

By the time they finished.

The 'lifeless' Holden snapped his eyes open.

Iris had been arrested. An ER doctor at the children's hospital had called the cops.

The reason: Jordyn Morgan had been brought in by her nanny, covered in severe injuries.

The police were contacting Holden to notify him to come in for questioning. He and Iris were suspected of child abuse.

Preston was utterly stunned.

"Is this a joke? Iris is gentle, kind, and loving. She treats Jordyn like her own daughter. How could she possibly hit her?"