Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



"I heard from Claire, it was you folks who coughed up the dough to bail out Maria yesterday. Much obliged, you're all solid gold, good folks get good karma. On behalf of our Maria, I thank you."

Tarquin gave Cecil a frosty look, his expression dark.

Elysia, frowning, asked, "Why did you go through the trouble of discharging Maria?"

Claire kept mum, cowering, while Cecil explained:

"After the discharge, the hospital refunds some cash. We planned to use this money to take Maria to a top-notch hospital out of state for treatment!"

"We've been here countless times, and they can't fix what's wrong with Maria. Look, just got resuscitated yesterday, and today, trouble again." Claire quickly chimed in:noveldrama

"Ms. Thorne, we've already got in touch with the new hospital, over in King City. The specialists there said they can treat Maria's condition, just needs surgery and she'll be right as rain."

"It's just... the surgery will set us back about three hundred grand. We're begging, Ms. Thorne, please, help us out one more time..."

Elysia frowned, not at the mention of the surgery cost.

It was because Maria's condition was incurable, and surgery was pointless.

"...Are you sure you're not being scammed?"

Claire looked at Cecil, who immediately said:

"No way we're being scammed. A buddy of mine recommended this hospital. His kid got treated there."

Tarquin knew instantly the guy was lying through his teeth!

If it weren't for his connection to Emmett, he wouldn't bother with such folks!

Even their scamming excuse was pathetically weak!

Tarquin, glaring at him, coldly said,

"I'm familiar with the hospitals and specialists in King City. Which hospital, which doctor? I'll make some inquiries for you."

Cecil, taken aback, stuttered in reply,

"I... I didn't catch the names, my friend was handling it."

"Then check with your buddy, get the ails and let me know. If the

, I'll foot the bill." Cont over there can really cenele

belongs to

Cecil clenched his fists in frustration, annoyed!

Even with his billions, flinching over three hundred grand!

But Cecil didn't show it, "Alright, alright, I'll ask."

As soon as Elysia and Tarquin left, Cecil's expression changed.

Last night, he convinced Claire to discharge Maria, pocketing several grand in the process.

Claiming it was for Maria's surgery, he took the money straight to the casino.

And blew it all in no time!

Returning home, he intentionally made Maria vomit blood, rushing her to the hospital.

Then had Claire seek out Elysia, with the story of 'this hospital can't treat her, we need to take Maria to a big hospital for surgery' to scam them out of a hefty sum!

He hadn't expected Emmett's foster father to be so stingy!

Frustrated and agitated, Cecil kicked Claire a few times to vent,

"All you do is cry, thinking they're saints. See for yourself, they don't wanna help Maria at all!"

Claire, tears in her eyes, said,

"But, didn't Emmett's foster dad say he'd pay?"

"Bull! If he really wanted to help, he wouldn't be asking all these questions, wasting time!"

"He would've handed over the cash,

letting

us

"He Maria to King money for a patient, get

treatment straight away.

belongs to

Claire panicked,

"So what do we do? If they're not willing to pay, how will we afford the surgery for our daughter?"

Cecil snorted, a sinister glint in his eye,

"Then we'll use their son to get the money!"