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."

knew instantly the guy was lying through his

for his connection to Emmett, he wouldn't bother with

their scamming excuse

at him,

familiar with the hospitals and specialists in King City. Which hospital, which

aback, stuttered in

didn't catch the names, my friend

get the ails and let

foot the bill." Cont over there can

belongs to

fists

flinching over three hundred

it,

soon as Elysia and Tarquin left, Cecil's

discharge Maria, pocketing several grand in the

surgery, he

it all in no

intentionally made Maria vomit blood, rushing her to

hospital can't treat her, we need to take Maria to a big hospital

foster father to

Cecil kicked Claire a few times

do is cry, thinking they're saints. See

tears in her