Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



Keith remained silent, leaving Elliot to continue pressing,

"Besides, after Mr. Inkster and Ms. Blackwood's incident, how did you even survive to end up in the hands of those traffickers? Given Gideon's ruthlessness, it's a miracle you're still breathing.

And the traffickers you encountered weren't just into child selling; they were involved in much more heinous activities! In such circumstances, why would they think to sell you off, allowing you to live?

And there's my granddad. If he didn't want grandma to adopt you, he wouldn't have made the trip down to Hill Village to talk to your foster parents personally.

If his kindness was just an act, merely to show off in front of grandma, then why didn't he just kill you on that stormy night on the mountain?" Keith's eyebrows knotted in tension, "...!"

Elliot looked him straight in the eye,

"Wouldn't it have been easier to just silence you forever? Keeping you alive, wasn't granddad afraid you'd eventually tell grandma everything? If granddad could do such monstrous things, it's unlikely he'd spare you out of mercy. So, why didn't he silence you?"

Keith remained speechless.

Elliot added, "We're all in the dark about what truly happened on the mountain that night, but you must have some idea. Think hard about the biggest impact that night had on you.

And all these questions I've raised, give them a good thought, piece them together. Why have you managed to escape death so many times? Is it purely luck, or is there a conspiracy? Could someone be orchestrating all this from behind the scenes?"

With Elliot's words, the living room fell silent.

Keith and Tarquin shared a look, both deep in thought.

It's often said that it's easier to see clearly from the outside, and while both Keith and Tarquin were too close to see, Elliot was the outsider with a clearer view.

The insiders, blinded by their proximity.

Tarquin and Keith had considered these questions separately, never piecing them together for a comprehensive review.

Individually pondering these questions, they focused on isolated answers.novelbin

But when compiled together, the focal point shifted, just as Elliot concluded, why did Keith keep surviving against all odds? Was it sheer luck, or was there a deeper plot?

Elijah looked at Elliot with admiration brimming in his eyes.

Following Elliot's instructions, he had been investigating the surviving villagers of Hill Village since last night.

He had been brainstorming ways to get Keith to open up, to coax information out of him, but to no avail.

Then, this morning, Elliot laid out the plan perfectly!

A series of questions, topped with that guiding one, was bound to make Keith doubt the events of that night.

Keith's doubt was their breakthrough!

Elliot truly was the leader!

Evan remained silent, not thinking as deeply, but he watched Keith like a hawk, ready to protect Elliot and Elijah from any sudden moves.

After what felt like an eternity, the piercing sound of a phone ringing shattered the silence.

Tarquin and Keith's phones buzzed almost simultaneously.

Snapped back to reality, they both answered their calls.

"Tarquin, Keith's guys... they've been silenced."

Tarquin was taken aback, "Keith's men, or someone else?"

"Keith's men. The bodyguards he had for the kid."

Tarquin was genuinely surprised. Keith's people being targeted was unexpected.

If someone was out for blood, why target Keith's circle?

"How did it happen?"

"Somebody posing as a doctor poisoned them. Today, Evan instructed us not to mistreat them, to get them medical attention for their injuries. So, we sent them straight to the hospital, never imagining this outcome."