Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

Chapter 1301

"They spent years-decades, really-pouring their blood, sweat, and tears into this project. No way would they let some test subject just waltz in and steal it."

"And if my parents really did manage to make off with the Gen-8 virus, why would the people behind it go straight to killing them, instead of capturing them and squeezing every last secret out of them?"

"Plus, if they'd already cracked the code for Gen-8, even if someone stole it, the research team should be able to recreate it, right? So why is it that their new Gen- 8 is so flawed?"

Tracey's face was grave, her tone serious.

"There are definitely a lot of suspicious things about your parents and the real Gen-8 virus. But that last question, I think, has a pretty clear answer."

"It's been thirty-five years, and they still haven't managed to reproduce the real Gen-8. If anything, their research has gone backwards. That suggests something went wrong with the team itself."

"Think about it-these scientists have been at this since Gen-1, then from Gen-7 to the real Gen-8. All those years add up. Most of the original researchers would be either retired, dead, or—well, maybe even taken out by someone with an agenda."

lost along the way, the whole thing would have to be rebuilt from scratch, with a new team. And if those newcomers aren't up to snuff, then of course their Gen-8 would be a pale shadow of the real

explanation made sense, at least. But there were still so many strange coincidences between his parents and the real

him—maybe they were looking for information about

suddenly, her voice

her, shaking his head. "No.

ful

the crossfire, lives shattered, kids growing up with nothing but fear and pain. It's right? When you see what's happening in places like Gaza, when you see the hopelessness in those children's eyes, it breaks your heart. But I can tell you, with absolute certainty, if the real

never seen

of a lot scarier than guns or bombs," she said, voice

urgent. "And this virus... it's

leaned in, whispering to Tarquin. Whatever she told him

stunned, more than he'd

her jaw, her