Chapter 263: Chapter 273: I am Holly Winslow’s Husband, Mortimer Quincy

"Eat plenty later, Andor. Keep Holly’s dad company," Brooke Jarvis called out to the living room from the kitchen.

Andre Quincy nodded. "Holly’s dad, come on, let’s play a game. Moira, go get the board."

Seeing Mortimer Quincy clearing the table, Holly Winslow instinctively said, "Dad, I’ll go." With that, she went THUMP-THUMP-THUMPING up the stairs.

Wyatt Winslow glanced in her direction. Mortimer Quincy couldn’t help but laugh, then put down what he was holding and followed her upstairs.

He entered the storage room just as Holly Winslow was coming out with the game board. He leaned against the doorway and raised an eyebrow. "Well, wife, you’re a natural at this."

"Of course! Have you forgotten who I am? The Quincy family’s little daughter-in-law." Holly Winslow chuckled, handing him the game board.

Hearing her call herself "the Quincy family’s little daughter-in-law," Mortimer Quincy nodded in approval. "Wife, you’ve got the right idea."

"Little daughter-in-law of the Quincy family, let me give you a kiss."

Holly Winslow: ...

She rolled her eyes at him. "Hurry and get back downstairs, or they’ll wonder what we’re doing up here."

"One or two minutes? You’re insulting my stamina," Mortimer Quincy said, raising a disdainful eyebrow.

Holly Winslow: "..."

She scoffed. "Oh, you’re *so* amazing. And yet, I don’t see you producing any children." With that, she ran off.

’Was she supposed to wait around to get kissed?!’

Mortimer Quincy: "..."

’Alright then. His little Quincy daughter-in-law was really something, challenging his abilities as a man.’

’Time to find out the truth through "practice."’

They stayed at the Quincy house until a little after nine, at which point Wyatt Winslow and Young Yancy got ready to leave. Seeing Mortimer holding Holly’s hand, seemingly intending to go back with them, Wyatt pursed his lips. "Holly, stay and chat with your in-laws for a while."

"Young Yancy and I are heading back now."

And just like that, Holly Winslow was "abandoned" by her father. "..."

Mortimer patted her head. "There, there, little daughter-in-law of the Quincy family. Be good, don’t cry. Your husband will wash some fruit for you."

Holly Winslow: "..."

She smacked him on the thigh. "Well, what are you waiting for?"

On the sofa, Brooke Jarvis and Andre Quincy exchanged a glance. They both smiled, then got up and went upstairs to "sleep."

Mortimer came out with a plate of fruit and set it on the coffee table. "For the Quincy family’s little daughter-in-law."

Seeing how he’d gotten addicted to calling her "the Quincy family’s little daughter-in-law," Holly Winslow nudged him with her foot and picked up a slice of apple. "Honey, I brought it up with her again just now."

"She’s blaming Dad again."

Mortimer knew who she was talking about. He peeled a grape and handed it to her. "Don’t dwell on it, honey."

"Come with me to my middle school reunion tomorrow."

"Why would I go to your middle school reunion? It’s not like there will be any cute guys there." Holly had barely finished her sentence before she felt a flick on her forehead. "Oof," she grunted.

"What ’oof’? I thought my wife wasn’t afraid of a little pain." Mortimer stared at her grimly and added, "Have you ever met anyone more handsome than your own husband?"

Stunned by Mortimer’s shamelessness, Holly Winslow was speechless. "..."

"Mortimer Quincy, you are unbelievably shameless."

Mortimer raised his eyebrows. "I thought it was thick enough to rub off on my wife’s face." As he spoke, he leaned in and stole a kiss. "Just like that."

Holly Winslow: "..."

She choked on her own spit. "COUGH, COUGH, COUGH."

...

「The next day」

The two finally managed to sleep in, not getting up until after nine. By then, Brooke Jarvis and Andre Quincy had already left for work.

Mercy Willow was cleaning when she saw the two of them come downstairs. "Miles, Holly, your breakfast is being kept warm in the kitchen. The missus made it."

"Aunt Willow, I love your outfit today! It makes you look so energetic," Holly said with a beaming smile.

Mercy Willow glanced down at her clothes and smiled. "My daughter-in-law bought it for me. It cost over a thousand—far too expensive. I told her to return it, but she refused."

’His wife had once again hit the nail on the head with her flattery.’ Mortimer recalled the time before he and Holly were married, when Felicia Lynch was a frequent guest at the Quincy house. She had spent much more time with Mercy Willow than Holly ever had.

’Once, Mercy Willow had casually remarked to him, "Moira, I still think Holly is a better fit."’

’Uncharacteristically, he had asked why.’

’Mercy Willow had said, "Holly is such a good-natured girl. It’s not tiring for you two to be together."’

’"That Felicia is a nice girl, too, but she’s a bit of a go-getter, just like you. A marriage can’t work if both people are so headstrong."’

’Mercy Willow rarely spoke her mind like that, and the first time she did, it was in Holly’s defense.’

’It just went to show how good his wife was at winning people over.’

"Aunt Willow, Ms. Owens is just being a good daughter-in-law. You should accept it. And the more I look at that outfit, the better it gets. You only look like you’re in your thirties," Holly continued, laying the flattery on thick and sweet.

Mercy Willow laughed. "Holly, you don’t have to sweet-talk an old woman like me."

"You’re not old, Aunt Willow. Not at all," Holly said.

As they were talking, Mortimer had already set the food on the table. It was a breakfast for two: three side dishes and a bowl of congee.

But one shouldn’t mistake this for the standard breakfast fare in a "nouveau riche" household.

This only happened when Holly was around.

Normally, he’d be lucky to see a steamed bun, let alone a bowl of congee. Usually, there wasn’t a trace of breakfast to be found.

His mom operated in two modes. Mode one: "Go out and find your own food." Mode two: "Oh, Holly’s here! I’ll have your father buy extra groceries."

...

The two of them dawdled at home until ten o’clock before they finally started getting ready for the middle school reunion.

Anna Willow and Zeke Zane were there too. The moment Holly and Anna saw each other, they huddled together and started chattering away.

"Holly, there are so many beautiful women here. I get the feeling they’re all here for your husband."

"Sigh. Having a husband who’s too handsome is its own special kind of trouble." Holly scanned the room and noticed many of the women were indeed glancing in their direction from time to time. She grinned. "It’s fine. I’m not intimidated. He’s my husband, and I’ll stand guard."

Anna Willow clicked her tongue. "Tsk, tsk. You’ve settled into your role as the Quincy family’s little daughter-in-law so quickly?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Of course. We have the marriage license, after all." Holly was more than happy to flaunt this fact.

Just then, someone called out to her. "Holly."

She turned her head and saw a young man about their age. He was rather handsome.

’Ah, I remember him. Chet Sutton.’

’One of my rumored boyfriends from middle school.’

’Ahem. And to be honest, I had quite a few of those back in middle school.’

"Hi, Chet Sutton."

"Holly, you’ve gotten even more beautiful."

’It’s true what they say about girls blossoming as they grow up,’ Chet Sutton thought, looking a little starstruck as he sized her up.

Suddenly, a hand shot out in front of him. "Hello. I’m Holly Winslow’s husband, Mortimer Quincy."

Mortimer’s tone was mild, but it held a clear warning. His expression was pure alpha.

’No, actually, his expression was probably screaming, "Get lost."’

Chet Sutton knew Holly was married, but Mortimer’s declaration still made him freeze for a second. By the time he recovered and reached out to shake it, Mortimer had already withdrawn his hand.

Chet: "???"

Holly Winslow: "..."

’Dammit, Mortimer, what do you think you’re doing?!’

She tugged on Mortimer’s sleeve. "Chet, let me introduce you. This is my husband. Honey, this is Chet Sutton, he was in the class next to mine in middle school."

Mortimer just said, "Oh," then added grimly, "A regular class?"

’He was asking when he already knew the answer. I was in Class Five in middle school. How could the class next door be an honors class?’

Holly Winslow: "..."

Anna Willow was enjoying the show from the sidelines, laughing so hard her stomach ached. She didn’t forget to give Iris Kensington a live play-by-play.

Chet Sutton: "..."

’He’d been in regular-track classes for over a decade and had never felt embarrassed about it. But hearing it from a top student like Mortimer made it feel somehow humiliating.’

"Yes. I was in Class Six."

"Oh," Mortimer replied flatly, before delivering another heavy blow. "And where’s your girlfriend?"

Chet Sutton, who had only come with his sister: "..."

’He didn’t have one.’

’Why did it feel like the legendary academic superstar was targeting him?’

Chet’s sister, Zoe Sutton, shot the couple a look before pulling her brother over to another table. "Did you do something to offend Mortimer Quincy?" she whispered.

"I don’t think so. I don’t even know him," Chet said, rubbing his nose innocently.

Zoe figured as much. But before she could say anything, Chet whispered excitedly, "I used to have a huge crush on Holly Winslow. Isn’t she gorgeous?"

Zoe Sutton: "..."

’Serves you right.’