Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

 novelbin

Tarquin brushed off the curious stares from the crowd, a storm brewing on his face as he marched straight towards Gideon. "Where's Daphne?!"

Gideon, dressed in a sleek, tailored suit, was comfortably seated in his wheelchair, engaging in lively conversations with a group of elders. His spirits were high, his face beaming with joy-it was clear he was in a good mood.

Upon seeing Tarquin's furious approach, Gideon greeted him with a benevolent smile, "Daphne's upstairs, resting. She felt a bit out of place since you weren't here, and she's not familiar with anyone."

Tarquin knew all too well that Gideon was the puppet master behind the scenes. Glaring at him, he uttered coldly, "After today, you'll be wiped clean of your shares."

With that, he strode towards the elevator.

His words, though calmly delivered, struck Gideon like a knife to the heart! Power and influence were Gideon's lifeblood, and the shares he held were his last bastion of control. Losing them meant his complete downfall.

His confidant quickly whispered reassurances, "Don't worry, sir. Those shares are yours as long as you don't sell them. He can't strip them from you without tearing down the Bradford Group itself. And if he did that, he'd suffer the most. He owns a significant portion of the group; its downfall would hit him hardest. Given his character, he wouldn't go that far.

Moreover, his reputation will take a hit after today, negatively impacting the group. The board will have to step in. Anyone causing the company image to suffer typically faces a united front of opposition."

Feeling somewhat relieved, Gideon took a sip of his tea to calm his nerves, just as Elysia burst into the room. His mood lightened at the sight, and he instructed his aide, "Go fetch Daphne. Tell her her husband is here."

As Tarquin was about to enter the elevator, Elysia's voice suddenly called out, “Tarquin!”

His heart skipped a beat as he slowly turned around, a mix of guilt and surprise in his eyes. Wasn't she in line for a divorce? What was she doing here?

Ignoring the shocked stares of the crowd, Elysia rushed to Tarquin, clutching his arm as if it were a lifeline, "They've brought the kids here! Have you seen them?"

Tarquin's brow furrowed, "The kids are here too?!"

"Yes, the Bradfords sent me a video. They..."

"Mommy! Daddy!" The voices of four little ones suddenly cut through the chatter of the party.

Elysia and Tarquin looked towards the source of the voices in unison, as did everyone else in the room.

The four children were dressed to the nines in matching white suits and trousers, with black leather shoes, bow ties, lapel pins, and their hair neatly combed back. Even Evan, known for his mischief and fondness for brawling, was dressed in a suit, looking every bit the gentleman.

Elliot, feeling under the weather, sat in a wheelchair, with Evan, Emmett, and Elijah standing by his side. The four boys, all smiles, looked confidently at Elysia, unfazed by the attention.

Their demeanor lacked any hint of inferiority; each one resembled a young gentleman groomed by a family of substantial wealth and influence. Whispers filled the room, “Are those the legendary sons of Elysia and Mr. Bradford?"

"They're calling them Mommy and Daddy. And look, three of them are the spitting image of Mr. Bradford! Clearly his own. The one who looks different must be fraternal."