Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 445

Tarquin squinted his eyes, an air of indifference about him, "It's just fair trade, that's all."

Elliot glared back, "Fair? How is this fair?!"

Tarquin remained unflustered, "You can always choose not to agree. The choice is yours."

At this, Elliot was nearly apoplectic with rage, his cheeks puffing out like a pufferfish, "I can choose not to agree? Can I? Really? Do I even have a choice?!"

The audacity of his stepdad, proposing a bargain, and threatening to spill their secrets to Mom if he didn't agree! It was like grabbing him by the throat!

He couldn't even bear to think what their sweet, clueless Mom would do if she found out. Would she drop dead from the shock?

Telling Mom he was a financial wizard with billions in cash stashed in the bank? Or that Evan was not only a fighter but also a whiz with explosives and high-tech weaponry? And to top it off, reveal that they had exposed Nola online and even 'kidnapped' her? He shuddered at the thought!

Just imagining Mom's reaction to all this made his skin crawl! Others might not get it. Why couldn't they just be proud of their skills and tell their Mom? Only they knew the reason!

Their Mom was a scaredy-cat, the type to be haunted by a ghost movie for months, and so easily worried that a little trouble could keep her up all night. The first time he made a significant amount of money, a mere hundred thousand, she had fainted from shock! Afterwards, she was anxious for so long, convinced it was some new kidnapping scheme by traffickers, fearing he'd been targeted!

They had to go to great lengths to ease her worries. So, they had kept their abilities a secret all these years, preferring her to live a happy, worry-free life rather than boast about their feats.

Tarquin watched Elliot, his gaze softening. The boy's current demeanor was more fitting for a child his age. When not angry, the kid appeared too calm, too mature.

Seeing him with his eyes brimming with tears and glaring in anger, Tarquin raised an eyebrow and teased, "Crying?"

Elliot roared, "I'm not crying!"

"Angry?"