Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Claire clutched at the hem of Cecil's jeans, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Cecil, let's just leave Ms. Thorne and her family alone, okay? Emmett has already given us a whole lot of cash. We should stop pestering them, please..."

Cecil scoffed, a coldness in his voice. Gone were the days when a million dollars seemed like a fortune to him. Ever since he found out about Tarquin and Elysia's real status, that money felt like mere pocket change.

"That kid has my blood running through his veins. His miserable life is only possible because of me. You think this little amount of money is gonna cut it? No way! I'm gonna be on his case for life. He owes me big time!"

What he wanted wasn't just a million dollars. He was after a lifetime of luxury and prestige.

"Cecil, Emmett is still so young, he..."

Cecil's face darkened, silencing her with a glare.

Then, his gaze landed on a set of design sketches by Maria's bedside, sparking his curiosity.

"Who drew these?"

he might destroy

did. It's a gift

for her. Before leaving the hospital, he handed over the sketches as a present, hoping to turn them into real dresses if

any understanding of art, failed to recognize the sketches' value. Squinting, he took a closer look, then snapped photos and uploaded them online

her only makes her miss him more.

up more online hatred

could create such wonders. Industry giants proclaimed that if these were truly the work of a five-year-old,

brands were sharing

and predicting he'd become a

a distinguished elder. His hair was silver, his skin impeccably cared for, exuding an air of

right down to the trendy beads and a neat braid

sw novel

his desk, he scrutinized Emmett's sketches intently before turning to his

you sure these were