A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 374

The dirty snow-water soaked into the man's sweater, leaving a massive, dark stain across his right shoulder.

"All done," he said, clapping the dirt from his hands with a good-natured smile.

Declan nodded approvingly. It was rare to find someone so willing to help a stranger without expecting anything in return. He pulled out his phone. "Let me scan your code. I insist on paying you."

"No, no, no. Really, it was just a small favor," the man insisted, looking genuinely humble.

His wife stepped forward, looking just as earnest. "Actually, we're here to visit our grandchildren. It's our first time at Riverbend Estates, and we're a bit lost. Do you happen to know a pair of boy-girl twins named Seth and Annelise? Very beautiful, sweet children."

"Of course I do!" Declan waved a hand expansively. "Just follow me."

He had been looking for a way to repay their kindness, and this was the perfect coincidence.

When Seth and Annelise saw Albert and Eleanor walk through the door, the little girl immediately hid behind Celeste. Seth balled his tiny hands into fists. "You aren't welcome in our house! Get out!"

Declan chuckled, bending down to pinch the boy's cheek. "Hey now, is that how you talk to your grandparents?"

"They're not my grandparents!"

Declan scooped him up and carried him toward the small dining area, setting him down and putting his hands on his hips to offer a lesson in manners. "You can't tell me you don't know them."

Seth glared at the elderly couple, whose eyes were greedily scanning the luxurious interior.

"Have you ever called them Grandpa and Grandma?" Declan prompted.

Annelise peeked her little head out from behind Celeste's legs. "You bullied my mommy! And Larissa and Demi said they wanted to kill her!"

Eleanor gasped, looking horrified. "Oh, sir, listen to this! How could a two-year-old say something so awful? We wouldn't even dare hurt a chicken!"

"There's clearly a massive misunderstanding here," Declan said, gently prying Celeste's hands away from the crying woman. "It's better to squash a feud than keep it going. For my sake, let's just make peace today. Be considerate of each other."

He truly believed there was no such thing as an entirely villainous parent. The fact that these elderly people had braved the blizzard and traveled miles just to visit their grandchildren was enough to move anyone.

Tears streamed down Eleanor's face. "This breaks my heart. If I had known we'd be treated like this, we never would have come."

Albert supported his wife, looking every bit the weary, heartbroken grandfather. "Please, just understand our intentions. We spent three days preparing for this visit. We ordered a free-range chicken, prepped the ingredients, and woke up at four in the morning to stew it. Just eat the soup. We'll leave after, and we won't have any regrets."