Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Elysia was lost when it came to talk of 'daughters' or the purpose behind his question. The sudden inquiry stirred a tinge of sadness within her. The past was a wound reopened...

"I don't know."

Tarquin was taken aback, "Didn't the doctor tell you?"

Elysia replied with a hint of detachment, "I only went for a check-up when I first found out I was pregnant. After that, I never returned. I didn't even know I was carrying multiples."

If she had known, perhaps she wouldn't have been unaware of Elijah being taken!

Tarquin couldn't hide his surprise, "Why wouldn't you go for check-ups?"

"I..." Elysia faltered, her voice barely above a whisper, "I was in a really tough spot back then..."

After a scandal had her kicked out by her husband, her adoptive parents, ashamed and fearing the exposure of a switched-at-birth secret, severed ties, forcing her to leave.

Her sister, Daphne Thorne, was even more sinister, plotting to sell her off to some remote area for profit.

Pregnant, and without any means to defend herself, Elysia had no choice but to flee under the cover of night.

Fearing discovery by the Thorne family and concerned about the stigma affecting her children, she chose to settle in a secluded mountain village, disconnected from the world.

Penniless, she worried about basic necessities, let alone medical expenses.

Eventually, she managed to save a bit from a job, but she still avoided hospitals, dreading that Daphne might find her...

Moreover, the journey was daunting. To reach a hospital, she would have had to walk a great distance while heavily pregnant to catch a bus down the mountain.

Carrying multiples, combined with malnutrition and exhaustive labor, she simply lacked the strength to make the trip...

A myriad of reasons led to her avoiding hospitals throughout her pregnancy.

Fortunately, her children remained healthy...

She didn't share these hardships directly with Tarquin, fearing it would add to his guilt. After all, these troubles stemmed from him.

Had it not been for that incident at the airport, none of this would have followed...

Yet, her simple admission of "life being tough back then" visibly shattered Tarquin.

His brow furrowed, his throat worked as he fought back emotions, eyes swelling, nostrils tingling sharply.

In this day and age, it was unheard of for a pregnant woman to skip prenatal care unless under dire circumstances.

It was all his fault...

"Don't blame yourself, I..."

Elysia tried to comfort him, but Tarquin pulled her into an embrace, wordless.

What could he say? Apologize? Make promises?

Meaningless. Nothing could undo the hardships she'd endured.

All he could do was silently vow:

To love her! To truly cherish her! To doubly ensure her happiness, leaving no room for any further sorrow!

Tarquin held her, steadying his emotions.

He didn't want Elysia, after all her suffering, to worry or comfort him.

Elysia wanted him optimistic, not dwelling on past griefs. He resolved to heed her wishes.

He would transform his guilt into love, gradually compensating for her past in the days to come.

After a long silence, Tarquin finally spoke,

"No more hardship, only sweetness from here on out."

Hearing this, Elysia's spirits lifted,

"That's the right mindset. We can't alter the past, but we can embrace it and ensure every day ahead is joyful!"

Tarquin released her, his gaze softening into an adoring smile, "Yes!"novelbin

His Elysia had endured enough bitterness in her early years. It was time she truly knew happiness.

Every day must be filled with joy!

"Ring..."

A sharp ringtone cut through the moment, not Tarquin's phone, but Elysia's.

Glancing at the caller ID, she saw it was Keaton.

With Tarquin's phone off, Keaton had resorted to calling Elysia.