Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 380

Tarquin stepped out to the end of the hallway for a smoke break, with Keaton tagging along.

As soon as they were outside, Keaton asked, “Did Elysia smack you one?”

Tarquin's face was stone cold, but Keaton couldn't help but laugh, “Man, that slap mark on your face looks painful.”

“So what if she hit me? It's none of your business!”

“All right, all right, take pride in your battle scars! I can't compete; no one's hitting me.”

After a bit of teasing, Keaton got serious, “So, it's confirmed then? Elysia's really Elijah's mom?”

“Yes!”

“But didn’t Benjamin say the DNA test results aren’t out yet?”

Tarquin frowned, “My gut’s never wrong.”

Keaton sighed, “Well, if you’re so sure. Don’t you think you owe me one? If I hadn’t masterminded dropping your drunk self at Elysia’s place, would any of this have happened? Would you have found her? I don’t think so!”

Tarquin turned to him, “Guess I owe you big time. How about I treat you to a dinner?”

Keaton squinted, “A dinner? Whose dinner?”

“Yours.”

“Damn! If I had the chance to feast at my own dinner, that’d be something!”

Tarquin flicked his cigarette ash, “Feast first, then the deed, and the burial – I'll take care of it all!”

“Heh, you’re a real pal, thanks, man.”

Tarquin ignored him, and Keaton pursed his lips, “Come on, it was just me playing Cupid with a drunk you and a lady. And here you are, not even mad at Elysia for hitting you!”

“How can you compare? I'm worried about her hand hurting.”

With that, Tarquin stubbed out his cigarette and headed back to the ward.

Watching his retreating figure, Keaton was speechless. When it came to matters of the heart, Tarquin had his priorities straight!

Keaton flicked his cigarette, thinking about Tarquin's extinguished stub, reflecting, Indeed, when a cold man falls, he falls hard! Men who don't easily fall in love, once they do, it’s all or nothing. They are the most loyal yet the most vulnerable. Tarquin was the embodiment of such a man!

Keaton exhaled deeply, hoping against hope that Tarquin had not made a mistake. His dear friend's world, riddled with scars, deserved some healing.

...

Tarquin returned to the ward, hesitant to disturb Elysia and stood outside the window, gazing inside with deep affection. It wasn't until lunchtime that he finally entered, reminding Elysia, “Time to eat.”

Elysia, now more composed, glanced up at Tarquin, her brows furrowed in determination. Upon confirming that Elijah was her son, she had made a bold decision. She would take Elijah from Tarquin and leave Jindale City with him!

Though selfish, she was committed to her plan. Emotionally, knowing Elijah was her son, she couldn't bear to abandon him. Logically, with her expertise in child psychology and a profound knowledge of traditional medicine, she believed Elijah would be safest with her.