Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Elysia was utterly confused and clueless. Truth be told, she wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed and believed that as long as she didn't admit to anything, Tarquin would be none the wiser!

So, listening to Tarquin repeatedly apologize, she didn't realize he already knew the truth!

But having studied a bit of psychology, she could tell he was in a bad place.

He was hurting, deeply regretful, like there was a ton of guilt pressing down on his chest, impossible to shake off!

He was even more distressed than he had been the day before!

There's a saying that men don't easily shed tears, only doing so at the deepest sorrow.

And right now, he was genuinely heartbroken!novelbin

Elysia had no idea what had happened, seeing him like this for the first time. She was worried and panicked, her mind racing with wild thoughts, "Have... have you fallen for someone else? Or, did you get tangled up with another woman in some emotional mess?"

Had he gotten involved with another woman and felt guilty towards her?

Tarquin was momentarily stunned before he hurriedly defended himself,

"No, that's not it. I only have eyes for you. I swear, I..."

Elysia quickly cut him off,

"I don't need your oaths. I trust you! I'm just curious about what's going on with you. Why do you keep apologizing to me? Did you do something to wrong me?"

Tarquin looked into Elysia's earnest and naive eyes, his lips quivering, struggling to confess.

Elysia must have figured out that he was the one who had troubled her at the airport years ago!

She must also know that Elijah was her own flesh and blood, which explained her deep affection for him!

Why else would she want to see his scars, or why was she so upset when he accused her of misconduct, and why did she so confidently tell him last night that Elijah's mother would never return!

She knew everything, yet chose not to confront him about it!

Tarquin couldn't understand why Elysia, despite having moved past their previous issues and even started to develop feelings for him, still wouldn't confront the truth.

But he respected her decision!

He vowed never to make her sad or unhappy again!

If she didn't want to confront it, he would keep her secret!

With a sniff, Tarquin embraced her again,

"Don't worry, I'm fine. My apologies..."

He paused before saying, "are because I've made you worry, and I've hurt you in the past. I deeply regret it."

Elysia, in her innocence, thought he was referring to his recent bad attitude towards her, not connecting it to the incident six years ago.

She wrapped her arms around his waist, gently patting his back to comfort him,

"You were mean to me before, but I wasn't exactly nice to you either. We're even now, and let's not dwell on the past. We have our future to look forward to."

Tarquin hugged her tightly,

"Yeah, you're right! I'll make it up to you, I promise never to let you down again! Elysia, let's make it official, shall we?"

Elysia's heart raced, her cheeks burning. Even though they had confessed their feelings the night before, hearing him propose they officially become a couple sent her emotions soaring.

Tarquin then released her, gazing into her eyes with deep affection,

"Elysia, can we start as boyfriend and girlfriend? Be mine?"

Elysia blinked up at him, her face flushed and her heart pounding with nervous excitement.

Tarquin continued,

"I've never been in a relationship before, so I might not know how to be the perfect boyfriend, but I promise to learn. Whatever joy other women experience in love, I'll give you double. What they can't have, I'll also give you double! I want to make you truly happy. Give me a chance to love you properly, give us a chance, will you?"

Elysia's heart thumped wildly,

"I, I... then you can't tell the kids."

"Hmm?"

"We can date, but let's keep it a secret for now, just between us."

Tarquin, understanding her shyness and not wanting to make their relationship public yet, immediately smiled and agreed to her childlike request, "Alright, your wish is my command."

He looked at her adoringly, while she shyly avoided his gaze, blushing like a rosebud about to bloom.

Tarquin, moved by the moment, cleared his throat,

"Elysia, your boyfriend wants to kiss you. May I?"

He barely waited for an answer before his lips claimed hers, sweeping her off her feet and onto the bed, holding her close...