A Wedding Night Gone Terribly Wrong novel Chapter 40

Beatrice's smile gleamed with genuine, unfiltered triumph. She playfully teased the girl, "And that is exactly why finding the right man is so important."

Winifred clenched her fists. She leaned close to Nelly's ear and whispered, "Mrs. Sutton, I just need to use the restroom quickly."

"Go on, but hurry back. I dragged my old bones out here tonight, and I need you keeping an eye on me."

"Of course. I'll be right back."

The ceremony was taking place in the hotel's grand courtyard, transformed into a romantic, sprawling sea of fresh flowers.

The ceremony was set for exactly six o'clock. Yvonne had specifically wanted to say her vows to Owen Morgan as the sun set, symbolizing their journey from youth into their golden years together.

The restrooms were tucked away in a quiet, secluded corner of the gardens.

Winifred practically jogged there.

Shaking hands with Iris and Holden felt like she had plunged her hands into raw sewage. The stench of it made her sick.

She reached the sink and aggressively scrubbed her hands. She washed them like she was trying to peel the skin straight off the bone.

One wash with plain water.

Three washes with heavy soap.

One final wash with antibacterial sanitizer.

She scrubbed until her fingertips turned white and pruned, yet she still felt the phantom residue of their filth.

She held her hands up to the light, inspecting them with paranoid intensity.

Suddenly, a ghostly, mocking voice sounded behind her.

"Tsk, tsk. Am I covered in plague? Our hands barely brushed, and you're out here scrubbing your skin off."

The sudden voice made Winifred jump.

A soft gasp escaped her lips as she grabbed the edge of the sink to steady herself.

She didn't even need to turn around to know exactly who that obnoxious voice belonged to.

She didn't look back, nor did she say a word.

Holden Lockwood's infuriating, arrogant drawl continued.

"Wow, Winifred. Working as a health consultant for the Suttons? Talk about a calculated career move. Were you planting seeds, just waiting for me to take the bait?"

"You are genuinely out of your mind, Holden. You don't even think before you speak."

"Don't get so flustered, Winifred. Iris's brother is marrying the Sutton heiress. That makes my future brother-in-law a member of the Sutton family. We're officially relatives now. You work for the Suttons, which means even if I hate seeing you, I'll be forced to. I'm the victim here, so what gives you the right to call me crazy?"

Oh, so that was it.

But wait. Winifred distinctly remembered that Owen Morgan was already married a few years ago. He even had a son.

Did he get a divorce just to marry Yvonne Sutton?

The Morgan siblings really were a piece of work. They both specialized in destroying other people's marriages.

Winifred had already planned to find a higher-paying client once her contract with Nelly ended. Hearing Holden say this only cemented her decision.

"I'll be leaving the Suttons soon enough."

She turned sideways, trying to squeeze through the narrow gap between the wall and Holden's broad shoulders.

To her shock, Holden leaned in, completely sealing the gap.

He raised a sharp eyebrow, a dangerous, teasing glint in his eyes. "You know, Winifred, there's something I've been incredibly curious about..."