Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



"Tonight, I'll stay up with Elliot. You head off to bed in the next room," Tarquin offered before Elysia could object.

"Let me spend some quality time with my son. Give me a chance to show what I'm capable of," he added.

Elysia hesitated, then agreed, "Alright, but call me if anything comes up. You should also try to get some rest. Usually, Elliot sleeps through the night without any issues."

"Okay."

Elysia got up and made her way to the adjacent room. Ever since Elliot fell ill, she hadn't had a proper night's sleep.

The room had an attached bathroom where she took a quick shower before lying down. Just as she settled in, Tarquin appeared at the doorway. Surprised, Elysia asked, "Aren't you staying with Elliot?"

"He's asleep. I thought I'd spend some time with you," Tarquin said as he climbed into bed beside her, pulling her close. "Elysia, why do you smell so amazing?" he murmured, his voice thick with desire.

Elysia's heart skipped a beat, then raced. She knew Tarquin had been wanting more from their relationship. Ever since they had opened up to each other, his desire had been palpable. And tonight, with the slight buzz of alcohol, his restraint seemed thinner.

They were both adults, and they had been intimate before. There shouldn't be anything to fuss over.

But Elysia felt uneasy. After all, she was still technically married.

She wanted to wait until after the divorce, to give herself to him without any guilt or strings attached.

Tarquin, however, was becoming restless, his kisses wandering, his hands starting to roam...

Elysia quickly caught his wrist, "I...I've told you, I want to wait until after the divorce."

Mention of the 'divorce' sobered Tarquin up a bit.

"Still unwilling to tell me who he is?" he asked after a pause.

Elysia stood her ground, "I'll handle it myself."

After all, this was Tarquin, the CEO of the Bradford Group. Engaging with him in any sort of conflict would only end badly for the average Joe. Revealing her soon-to-be ex-husband to Tarquin would mean dragging him into a battle he was bound to lose.

So, she preferred to keep Tarquin out of the divorce proceedings, fearing he might get hurt.

"What if he keeps stalling the divorce?" Tarquin pressed.

Elysia sighed, wondering why her estranged husband would drag things out. "I've got a plan to finalize the divorce. I'll reach out to him tomorrow. Please, let's not discuss this further."

Tarquin studied her for a moment, "What's this plan?"

Elysia remained firm, "Don't worry about it. Just give me a little more time. If I can't persuade him to agree to the divorce, I'll tell you everything, okay?"

Tarquin was visibly frustrated but knew he couldn't force her to disclose more. "One week," he conceded. "If he hasn't agreed to a peaceful divorce by then, you'll tell me, and I'll take care of it."

Elysia nodded, "Agreed."

Determined to not drag this out any longer, she resolved to have the divorce finalized within the month.

Sensing her distress, Tarquin kissed her forehead gently, "Let's try to get some sleep."

After Elysia fell asleep, Tarquin got up to check on Elliot, stopping by the kitchen to grab a bottle of ice-cold water.novelbin

The thought of Elysia's stubborn husband filled him with rage. The man who had thrown Elysia out, tarnishing her reputation, and now dragging his feet over the divorce.

Damn him. Sooner or later, Tarquin was determined to confront the man and settle the score once and for all.