Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Keith tossed and turned all night, a storm of unease brewing inside him as he stayed by Baby's side, sleep far from his reach. Similarly, Tarquin was up all night. After tucking Elysia into bed, he retreated to his study, immersing himself in work until dawn.

As the first light of daybreak filtered through the curtains, Elysia's eyes fluttered open to a surprising sight—a massive bouquet of flowers. Wait, not flowers-money!

Blinking in disbelief, she rubbed her eyes and looked again. Yes, it was money. A whole lot of it.

Her eyes widened in shock, "What?!"

There, in his casual deep blue sweater, stood Tarquin, a playful smile on his face, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the unusual bouquet.

"This is for you," he said, presenting the bouquet made entirely of hundred-dollar bills, "Happy Children's Day."

Elysia blinked, "For me? But... I'm not a child. Why would I celebrate Children's Day?"NôvelDrama.Org copyrighted © content.

"Why not?" Tarquin teased, pushing the bouquet closer. "Do you like it? I made it myself."

Despite its tackiness, Elysia's heart raced with excitement. This was far better than 999 real roses. She took the bouquet, the unique scent of money enveloping her senses.

"Did you really make this all by yourself?" she whispered.

"Of course, am I not impressive?" boasted Tarquin, sitting beside her.

Unable to resist, Elysia planted a firm kiss on his lips, "You're amazing, thank you."

The kiss took Tarquin by surprise, his heart racing at the unexpected affection.

As his phone rang, he reluctantly pulled away, breathless. Tarquin handed Elysia an envelope from the bouquet before answering the call.

It was Lowell on the line, making arrangements to pick up Baby later that morning.

Elysia, meanwhile, was stunned by the contents of the envelope. "What does this mean?"

Tarquin explained, "These stores are all next to each other. I thought you could visit them when you have time, so I bought them all. The flower shop has been yours for a while, the dessert and bubble tea shops were acquired two months ago, the coffee shop and pet store last month, and the bookstore just got renovated."

"All for me?" Elysia was overwhelmed.

"Yes, I've been keeping my identity a secret, managing them on your behalf. But now, they're officially yours. Manage them yourself if you'd like, or let others do it. Either way, the profits are yours."

Their conversation was a mixture of astonishment and affection, a testament to the unusual yet heartfelt gestures that defined their relationship.