Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1676

Seeing him return, Elysia and Winona quickly changed the subject from pregnancy.

"Did you get a hold of Keaton?" Winona asked.

Tarquin nodded. "I did. He got into a fight with someone."

Winona was surprised. "What? Why?"

"Because of you," Tarquin said bluntly.

Winona was speechless. "?!"

Tarquin explained, "He found out you were staying at a hotel and was worried Zane might show up and hurt you, so he arranged for bodyguards. But you checked out early, and a couple moved into the room."

"When Keaton heard from the bodyguards that a man had entered your room, he lost it. He rushed to the hotel and kicked the door in."

"He happened to see the guy hitting a woman and thought it was you. He saw red and beat the man up."

Winona was stunned. "…?!"

Tarquin added, "Keaton wasn't hurt, and he's already settled things privately with the couple, so you don't need to worry."

"...Why didn't he mention any of this on the phone just now?" Winona asked.

"Probably didn't want to worry you," Tarquin said in a casual tone. "So, are you two dating?"

"What? No!" Winona exclaimed.

Tarquin said pointedly, "Oh? He's so concerned about you, I just assumed you two were secretly together. He doesn't treat you like he does other girls. He cares way, way too much."

Winona was silent.

After Winona left, Elysia immediately cornered Tarquin. "You knew they weren't together, so why ask? And I suspect you were deliberately trying to put in a good word for Keaton!"

"I want them to be together," Tarquin admitted.

Elysia was shocked. "What does it have to do with you whether they get together or not?"

"It has everything to do with me!" Tarquin said. "If they get together, Keaton will be happy, and you won't have to worry about Winona and the baby anymore. It's a win-win for everyone."

"Does Keaton even like Winona?" Elysia frowned.

"He says he doesn't," Tarquin replied, "but his actions say otherwise. I think he likes her a little. And trust me, if he really falls for Winona, he'll clean up his act for good. No more other women."

"...But Winona doesn't like him."

"She doesn't like him now, but feelings can grow. There's no harm in us playing a little matchmaker. Even if they don't get together romantically, they can still build a family bond. As long as things don't get ugly between them, it's good for them and the baby."

Elysia let out a long sigh. He was right.

"How does Winona feel about the baby? Does she want to keep it?" Tarquin asked.

"Yes, she wants to have it and raise it on her own."

Tarquin quietly exhaled in relief. As long as she was keeping the baby, that was what mattered. The rest could be worked on over time.

"Since Keaton doesn't know about the baby yet, Winona will have to go through this alone for now. We'll make Keaton wait on her hand and foot later to make it up to her."