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:

"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."

the guy was

for his connection to Emmett, he wouldn't

scamming excuse was pathetically

at him, coldly

City. Which hospital, which doctor? I'll

aback, stuttered

catch the names,

the ails and let me

foot the bill." Cont over

belongs to

fists

with his billions, flinching over

it,

Elysia and Tarquin left, Cecil's

convinced Claire to discharge Maria,

Maria's surgery, he took the money

all in

home, he intentionally made Maria vomit blood, rushing her

had Claire seek out Elysia, with the story of 'this hospital can't treat her, we need to take Maria to a big hospital

expected Emmett's foster father to be

and agitated, Cecil kicked Claire a few

See for yourself, they don't wanna help Maria at

tears in her eyes,