Married at First Sight novel (Serenity and Zachary York)

"Dad, why?" Marco asked.

Holden lowered his voice. "Your mother wants to invite people from Wiltspoon to dinner. Do you think that's a good idea? Even if she's trying to do something good, they won't accept it. They're set on getting revenge for the previous matriarch."

Noel added, "They can only suspect that Mom was involved in the previous matriarch's death, but they have no proof."

"They're people of status," Holden replied. "They wouldn't do anything without evidence. If they did, they'd risk jail. They have more to lose." Sage nodded in agreement.

this. He's her assistant, loyal only to her. No one else can command him. Dad, do you really not know if Mom has a gun?" Holden sighed. "I really don't know. Your mother never discusses

with him, always suspicious. No

then had allowed women to have babies

Holden grew tired but didn't have the courage to act on it. He sought emotional support elsewhere, though he never thought of divorcing Clarissa. He had invested too much in the marriage to walk away. He planned to stay until Kathryn became the matriarch, hoping his patience would

was replaced, his feelings shifted. He loved Shiloh as much as he loved Clarissa. He wanted to build a deep father-daughter bond with Shiloh, believing that when she became the matriarch, his standing in the Farrell family would improve. But fate wasn't on his

was already in her twenties when she returned. It was too late to form a close bond. Holden had given all his fatherly love to Shiloh and couldn't easily

distant from Holden, despite being her