Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



As Tarquin basked in a mix of relief and seething anger towards the enigmatic stranger, he found himself back at Sunshine Community in just over twenty minutes.

Gently pushing open the door to his home, he noticed the absence of Elysia in the living room and proceeded to the master bedroom.

It was midday, yet the bedroom remained shrouded in darkness.

The curtains were still drawn, allowing only a sliver of light to sneak through and illuminate Elysia's face, showing her deep in slumber.

The sight of her immediately banished thoughts of the mysterious man from Tarquin's mind.

Today was their day, a moment solely for him and Elysia, and he'd be damned if anyone dared to interrupt.

Treading lightly, Tarquin closed the door behind him and approached the bed, gazing at her with a mix of caution and adoration.

This was Elijah's birth mother!

The woman he'd been searching for over six long years!

The one he had wronged, wanted to make amends for, tirelessly sought after, and now loved deeply - it was all her.

Tarquin's expression was a tangled web of emotions as he gently caressed her cheek, his hands trembling...

His feelings for her were complex, a blend of love and guilt.

Relief, self-reproach, and deep affection coexisted in his heart.

Discovering she was Elijah's birth mother filled him with joy, an overwhelming happiness.

But the joy was quickly overshadowed by endless guilt and sympathy, especially now, seeing her up close, intensified his feelings of remorse and compassion.

She had shared her past with him - how, after he had wronged her, she was scorned by her husband and cast out.

Following that, her pregnancy with Elijah had led to curses and insults from those around her.

And then, she was forced to leave Jindale City, her hometown...

He couldn't even begin to imagine what she had endured over the years.

Her struggles, her hardships, and the insults and humiliations she faced were all because of him.

And what had he done in return?

Upon their reunion, he had been harsh, argumentative, and verbally abusive, even going so far as to label her as promiscuous based on their past. How could he? How dared he?

The pain in Tarquin's heart was suffocating, as if an invisible hand was squeezing his heart, making it difficult for him to breathe.

With each breath, his heart ached sharply.

He despised his past self, wishing he could obliterate that version of him.

In a moment of emotional turmoil, Tarquin slapped himself across the face.

He was filled with regret and anger at himself.

The sound of the slap was loud, waking Elysia from her slumber.

Blearily opening her eyes, she immediately noticed Tarquin and the red mark on his face.

Elysia's pupils dilated, and she snapped to full alertness.

Sitting up abruptly, she asked, "What happened?"

Touching his reddened cheek, her heart ached for him.

"Did you do this to yourself? Why would you... are you bankrupt from a business failure? I have money, I can help..."

Elysia's mind always raced to financial solutions at the first sign of trouble.

Before she could finish her sentence, Tarquin pulled her into a tight embrace.

Sitting on the bed, with Tarquin kneeling beside it, he held her closely, burying his face in the crook of her neck, wordlessly seeking forgiveness. Elysia was completely stunned.

She could feel his strong heartbeat, his body trembling against hers, and then she noticed something else...

Her shoulder was becoming damp and warm. He was crying.novelbin

Tarquin was crying.

Elysia's heart raced, fearing the worst.

She quickly tried to console him, "Don't scare me, just tell me what's wrong. If it's a business loss, I can help. I haven't spent any of the money you gave me; it's all yours."

Tarquin tightened his embrace, his shoulders shaking more violently, his emotional turmoil evident.

How kind and innocent Elysia was!

And he had hurt her...

Elysia was deeply concerned, "If it's not about the money, is it about Elijah's mother? I told you she isn't coming back anytime soon. And even if she does, it won't affect us negatively. Trust me, if she returns, you'll be even happier."

His silence only heightened her anxiety.

"Please, talk to me. Don't scare me. Whatever the problem, we can face it together, solve it together."

Tarquin took a deep breath, his eyes brimming with tears as he looked at her, "I'm sorry!"

Elysia was baffled, "Huh?"

Kneeling by the bed, Tarquin apologized repeatedly, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."