Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Oh, what a stroke of luck, it's her!

Ha, it's her, it's really Elysia, how wonderful!

In his joy, he was also filled with regret. Thinking back on the harsh words he'd spouted at her, the anger he'd unleashed, he wished he could kick his own butt!

Why had he been so foolish?!

Thank goodness, there was still a chance to make things right!

He vowed to treat her well, twice as well as before!

He was going to spoil her, spoil her rotten!

"Ding ding ding..."

His phone suddenly rang. Lowell was on the line, talking work stuff, "Tarquin, are we still having that meeting today? It's time, and you haven't shown up at the office."

Without missing a beat, Tarquin blurted out, "Vacation!"

"Huh?"

"Pass it along, tell them I said everyone's been working hard lately. The whole company's taking a three-day paid leave! And get finance to approve some team-building funds. Whatever they spend on team building, we'll reimburse! Start the budget at six figures!"

Lowell was still in the dark about the paternity test results, and was stunned.

“A vacation, three days, and team building???"

"Yep! Oh, and also, announce that all Bradford Group ventures will be offering a 50% discount!"

Lowell was even more shocked, "Half price? Even on real estate?"

“Yeah, and if the old clients get upset, just compensate them the difference. Plus, waive the maintenance fees for all our properties for three years! Any losses, I'll cover personally from my account!"

Lowell's eyes bugged out. Wasn't this the same as throwing money away?

Good Lord, what in the world was happening?!

"Tarquin, is... is there some good news?"

Tarquin was ecstatic, "Huge good news! Get ready to toast to my happiness tonight. No, wait, not tonight, I won't have time. We'll schedule it later!" He wanted to spend the day with Elysia and had no time for anyone else!

"Right, if anyone asks what's going on, just tell them I'm over the moon today. If they're touched, tell them to wish me a lifetime of happiness!" After hanging up, Lowell was dazed. A lifetime of happiness? With whom?

Confused, Lowell relayed Tarquin's message.

And just like that, the entire Bradford Group went wild!

The relief and joy were akin to high school students being released after years of exam stress!

Tarquin himself was bubbling with happiness, unsure of how else to express his joy other than by spreading his wealth, wanting everyone to share in his elation.

If it weren't for considering Elysia's feelings, he would have announced it to the world by now!

He, Tarquin, was going to be a dad to Elysia's child!

With his heart racing, Tarquin went back to see Elysia, just as he started the car, a call from Benjamin came through, his voice choked with emotion, "Tarquin, I owe you an apology!"

He was right to apologize; his mistake had nearly doomed Tarquin to bachelorhood!

But Tarquin wasn't mad,

"Kicking you was punishment enough. Your mistake was understandable; I get it."

"Huh? What do you get?"

Tarquin frowned, changing the subject,

"Stop the nonsense. While I'm in a good mood, go hustle some sponsorships. Once this opportunity passes, it's gone."

After hanging up with Benjamin, Tarquin steered back to Sunshine Community.

He trusted Benjamin implicitly, knowing well that the mishap wasn't Benjamin's fault. The mix-up with the paternity test must have been the work of some schemer lurking in the shadows!

Elysia's first kiss with him had been in a bar, and he'd sensed something off even then.

That brief kiss had him thinking of Elijah's mother, prompting him to conduct the paternity test.

This schemer must have been watching from the shadows, for reasons unknown, not wanting him and Elysia to connect, thus tampering with the paternity results.

Benjamin, being just a doctor, was an easy target for this mystery person's games.novelbin

That's why the first paternity report falsely stated that Elysia and Elijah weren't related!

And that's why he'd been so harsh to Elysia afterward!

Thankfully, she hadn't been driven away by his actions!

Thankfully, today, sensing something off in her words, he'd gone for another test! Thankfully...