Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Stuck. Right in his throat, like a lump of unchewed steak-couldn't swallow it down, couldn't cough it up. It felt awful.

...

That night, as soon as he stepped through the front door, Elysia noticed. She barely glanced up from the kitchen, but her nose wrinkled.

"You've been smoking. And the hospital-again? What happened? Did something go down?"

Elysia had the nose of a bloodhound, especially when it came to cigarettes or anything medicinal.

Tarquin froze for a second. Elysia pressed on, her voice gentle but firm, "Just tell me the truth, okay? If you keep me in the dark, I'll only worry more."

He caved. "I went to see Benjamin. At the hospital."

"About that antidote?" she guessed.

He nodded, unable to meet her eyes.

She stepped closer, concern written all over her face. "Did something go wrong with it? Winona called me today, asking about the antidote and the virus. Zane got in touch with her."

Tarquin's brow creased. "What did Zane want?"

“Same old threats. Said he's the only one who can save Ridley, trying to push Winona so he could get his hands on the Newsom family estate.”

"Tell Winona not to play his games."

"I already did. But you and Dr. Benjamin seem really on edge. Ridley's fine though, right?"

Elysia had no clue about the other infected kid. Nobody else did-word about the new virus hadn't reached the public yet. The government was keeping it under wraps to avoid a panic.

Before Tarquin could answer, Elysia's eyes widened. "Wait-are you lying to me? Ridley's sick?"

He shook his head, quick and firm. "No. Ridley's okay, I swear."

"Then why are you so tense?" She studied him, her gaze sharp.

He hesitated, then said quietly, "Ridley's not infected. But someone else is. And it's bad."

She blinked, caught off guard. "Who?"

"Someone you don't know. And a few doctors and nurses, too."

"But how? Is this Zane's doing?"

Tarquin left out the part about the mystery man. "He's working with someone. Right now, Zane's got both the poison and the antidote. think he wants to unleash the virus, then sell the cure and make killing."

Elysia scowled, disgusted. "Poison the world and sell them the medicine? That's evil. But can't Dr. Benjamin fix it?"

He shook his head. "The virus mutates too fast. He's hit a wall-no cure yet."

"So Zane's antidote is the only shot?"

"Not exactly. His antidote only works on the original strain. If Zane actually spreads this thing, and it mutates again, people are in real trouble."

Elysia was silent for a moment, taking it in.

No wonder Tarquin and Benjamin looked so stressed this could threaten everyone.

"Did Dr. Benjamin report it to the World Health Organization?" she asked.

"He did. They're working on it, but the virus keeps changing. No luck yet."

Elysia frowned, thinking hard. After a moment, she said, "You stay home with the kids. I'll go to the hospital and talk to Benjamin. Maybe I can help.”

She'd learned a lot about natural medicine from her grandmother back in the countryside. She didn't think

nk she was a miracle worker, but maybe just maybe-she could spot something the others missed.

Tarquin stopped her gently. "Let Benjamin send you the files first. Take a look, rest

up, and if you still want to go, go tomorrow."

Elysia considered this, then nodded. She'd have to study the notes anyway before doing anything.noveldrama

Tarquin called Benjamin, who sent

he even

file he had without

hesitation. He knew Elysia's reputation-if not for Tarquin he would've asked for her help long ago.