Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Elliot quickly let go of Evan and Emmett and wrapped Elijah in a tight embrace, offering comfort, "Elijah, buddy, calm down. It's all over now. If anything happened to you right now, Mom would be beside herself with worry. She'd rush back here in a heartbeat, neglecting her own injuries. If you want Mom to be at ease to get her cuts treated at the hospital, you've got to calm down, listen, and be a good boy..."

It was only then that Evan and Emmett realized Elijah wasn't in his right mind, and they quickly wiped away their tears to console him. "Elijah, don't think about those bad guys. Just think about Mom. Think about her smile, her wishes..."

Elijah had been battling with his mental health. Although he had been doing well recently, he hadn't fully recovered. A breakdown now would only make things worse.

Thankfully, Elijah inherited Tarquin's composure. He closed his eyes, leaning on Elliot's shoulder, forcing himself to calm down. Silent tears rolled down his cheeks, all for the love and concern he held for Elysia.

Meanwhile, Tarquin hurriedly carried Elysia downstairs. Lowell swiftly opened the car door for them, not bothering with any pretense and driving the luxury car straight to the hospital. Lowell cleverly raised the partition between the front and back seats, creating two private spaces, knowing Tarquin and Elysia needed privacy for their conversation.

Tarquin, sitting in the back with Elysia in his arms, wasn't sure how to comfort her. He had never been one to soothe a woman's fears, so he could only repeat, "Don't be afraid, I'm here now... I've dealt with the bad guys. They won't dare hurt you again. The kids are all safe, don't worry..." Elysia was trembling in his arms, her mind buzzing, unable to comprehend the word 'banquet' that Gideon had yelled out earlier.

It took her a while to gather her thoughts, her eyes red and puffy, her lips quivering as she looked up at Tarquin and asked, "Did you lie to me?"

"Huh? Lie about what?"

"Your grandfather said... he said you..."

Elysia's voice broke, overwhelmed with sorrow.

Tarquin couldn't help but wipe away her tears, gently assuring her, "You shouldn't believe a word he says, not even the punctuation!" "But he had a police recording. The police said there's evidence you committed murder, that you're going to be sentenced to death!" "So, you believed his nonsense, thinking I'd be sentenced to death?"

"Yes!"

"And that made you upset?"

"Yes!"

Tarquin looked at her, touched by her innocence. He held her a bit tighter and wiped her tears away again, his voice soft, "Why are you so naive? How many times have I told you I wouldn't be in trouble? Why would you believe him over me?"

Elysia, frustrated and flushed with anger, as if upset he didn't understand her point, huffed, "I told you, he had a police recording! And if you weren't in trouble, why would he dare to show up? He said you'd been sentenced to death, that you'd be executed soon! Really!"

Seeing her earnest, innocent expression, Tarquin patiently explained, "I do believe you, but look, I'm here now, not sentenced to death, which proves his words were false. There's nothing to fear."

Elysia blinked away her tears, looking at him, "You... you didn't escape from prison, did you?"

Tarquin: "...No."novelbin

"Then... are you going to be arrested again?"

"No, I won't."

Elysia remained half-convinced, "...".