Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1888

Was this whole secret basement thing really just a dead end?

Suddenly, Elijah spoke up. "I have a concern."

Tarquin looked at him. "What is it?"

"That hidden door..." Elijah hesitated. "I'm not entirely convinced I was the one who unlocked it."

Elijah was highly analytical and deeply cautious. In this regard, he was exactly like Tarquin, entirely unlike Elysia's more impulsive nature.

The whole situation with the lock had been bothering him ever since it popped open.

Tarquin didn't quite follow. "What do you mean?"

Elliot and Evan simultaneously whipped their heads toward their brother. "If you didn't open it, who did?"

Elijah furrowed his little brows and explained:

"That door uses a highly advanced smart lock. It can be accessed and controlled remotely."

"While I was still running the decryption protocol, the door just suddenly opened. I can't confirm if my code actually cracked it in that exact second, or if someone else triggered it remotely."

"My gut tells me... I didn't open that door!"

Tarquin's eyes narrowed dangerously. This detail was absolutely critical.

If someone had intentionally opened that door, it meant someone *wanted* them to see what was inside.

They wanted them to see exactly what was going on in that basement...

Tarquin rapidly replayed the afternoon in his head. He vividly remembered the expressions on the Kim family's faces when the three boys had trudged back into the dining room.

Jin-woo had been completely engrossed in talking business with him, totally ignoring the kids.

Min-jun, however, had noticed immediately. She had put on a perfectly concerned face, asking them what was wrong and why they looked so sad.

That proved Min-jun had no idea they had been in her basement.

If she had known, she would have panicked. She would have been terrified, because hoarding a secret sex dungeon wasn't exactly something you wanted your distinguished guests to stumble upon.

And Jae-hyun? He hadn't seemed to react abnormally, but Tarquin recalled that his mood appeared unusually bright...

Tarquin remained silent for a long moment before asking the boys,

"Did anyone spot you going in?"