Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Elysia Thorne's lips quivered as she glanced between him and the photograph repeatedly, her eyes filled with turmoil and confusion. "I... If she really is Emmett's mother, then... do we have to give Emmett back to her?" she murmured, her voice laced with desperation. Tarquin Bradford didn't answer immediately, instead, he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

If Claire Yeager was indeed Emmett's biological mother, according to the law, they would indeed have to return Emmett to her.

"I... I can't..." Elysia's voice broke as tears streamed down her face.

She clung to Tarquin's shirt, her sobs making it hard to breathe.

She had often wondered, feared, what she would do if Emmett's real parents ever came looking for him. But she never allowed herself to think too deeply about it.

She admitted to herself that she was selfish; she couldn't bear the thought of being separated from Emmett, of giving him to someone else.

Emmett might not have been her biological child, but she had raised him from infancy.

When she found Emmett, he was so tiny and fragile, his body bruised and barely clinging to life.

She had watched over him day and night, fighting to bring him back from the brink.

Over the years, she loved Emmett just as much as she loved her son, Elliot Evan, but with an added sense of protectiveness.

quick-witted or physically strong. Elliot Evan was as sturdy as a little ox by the age of one, while Emmett was still delicate,

time and energy into Emmett than she

could blame Emmett for being curious about his origins; if he knew he was adopted, he'd

while finding out about his biological parents should have been a joyous occasion for Emmett, Elysia couldn't help but feel anything but happy. Instead, she felt

scared," she wept into

for her, holding her closer, his hand gently cradling the back of her head

understand.

Nothing's

Claire to get to

have a chance. She hasn't tried to acknowledge Emmett yet, and she even pushed you to take Emmett away from Silver City. That might mean she isn't

his words, clinging to a

tried to owledge him. As

to let Emmett stay

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anything." Content

she really is Emmett's mother,

said, his b a and Emmett.

concern for

belongs