Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Before meeting up, Elysia had been itching for a confrontation, ready to unleash a tirade on him for all the wrongs he'd done. But standing there now, she realized it was pointless. The kind of man who'd stoop so low, who was rotten to the core, wouldn't see reason no matter what she said.

"And what about Dr. White? Dr. White and Mr. Hawkins have been through thick and thin for decades, facing life and death together. Why would he betray Mr. Hawkins?"

Larry didn't answer her question. Instead, he countered, "How much hush money do you want? Just name your price."

Larry had it all figured out. If she asked for a small amount, he'd pull her into their scheme. She was too beautiful to waste, could make for an intriguing affair. If she demanded an unreasonable sum, he'd silence her for the day and deal with her permanently later.

Before Elysia could respond, Larry added with a sinister undertone, "You've stumbled upon our secret but didn't go straight to Clayton. You're obviously angling for a payoff, which I get. It's human nature, and I support that.

After all, Clayton's days of glory are numbered!

Just you wait and see. The day after tomorrow, he'll be disgraced, tumbling from his pedestal into the mire, never to rise again! Choosing to side with us now not only secures you a handsome sum of hush money but promises further benefits down the line." Elysia couldn't wrap her head around it.

"Mr. Hawkins has been nothing but good to you, your benefactor. What will you do if he falls from grace?"

"Once he's down, I'm up! I won't have to play butler to Pamela, that lunatic, anymore. I can openly court Miss Murphy from the Murphy family! No longer will I be Clayton's lapdog. I, Larry, will have

"Aren't you afraid that in three days, at the shareholders' meeting, Mr. Hawkins might

There's no chance, not unless his daughter returns. But she's

she was just missing. How can

then..." Larry paused, then decided, "You don't need to know. Just believe me,

"And if she isn't?"

Larry was adamant, "Impossible!"

tight. His certainty hinted at

she shifted the topic, "So, the Hawkins Mansion is under your control

entirely," was

they all listen to

"Trust me, siding with Helen is far better than sticking with

you, tormenting that lunatic is

She just asks, sobbing, 'Where's my Irene? Have you seen my Irene? Where did my Irene go? Why

breathing quickened in