Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 1148

Barnaby and Nora were beside themselves when Cecil and Claire orchestrated their own kidnapping drama.

There was no way Barnaby and Nora could just stand by when it came to their daughter. They sold their house, their little corner store, everything they owned, just to gather enough cash to pay the ransom for their daughter.

But when they found out the whole ordeal was a sham, cooked up by their own daughter and son-in-law, they were livid. It was a devastation that they couldn't recover from.

Without the income from the Yeager family business, the couple was left without any means to support themselves.

They started reaching out to Claire’s extended family for help, which only stirred up more trouble. The relatives were already furious, advising Claire to leave Cecil, but she wouldn’t listen, pushing them away to the point of cutting ties.

Life became even harder, and Cecil’s frustration often resulted in him lashing out at Claire, even when she was pregnant.

Then Maria was born, and tragically, she had a congenital illness. Cecil blamed Claire, and just days after giving birth, she found herself on the receiving end of his wrath once again.

Claire’s relatives couldn’t understand it. Was she bewitched? They knew she wasn’t foolish, she must see how Cecil treated her!

Why then, would she not leave him?

Listening to the story, Elysia thought she had the answer.

Claire was the textbook definition of being blinded by love. Once she fell, she revolved her entire existence around Cecil, losing herself and everyone else in the process. Her world narrowed down to pleasing Cecil, whatever the cost.

Over time, her sacrifices for Cecil only grew.

Elysia guessed, Claire wasn’t dumb. She must have seen the reality of their relationship the moment Cecil turned violent. Her refusal to leave him likely stemmed from a deep-seated unwillingness to accept defeat.

After investing so much into the relationship, accepting it ended in divorce was something she couldn’t stomach. It was an unhealthy obsession.

In an attempt to convince herself to stay, she might even delude herself into believing Cecil truly loved her.

Blossom decided to stay a few more days in Silver City with Hollis and didn’t return with them either.

The family of eight set off at night and arrived back in Jindale City the next morning. It had been a while since they were home, and the household staff were overjoyed to see them return, especially the kids, whom they greeted with the warmth of seeing their own grandchildren.

The children, feeling the love, affectionately called them 'Heath' and 'Iris', making everyone’s hearts swell with joy.

Pamela, too, was happy and unfazed by the new environment. The staff, well aware of Pamela's relationship with Elysia, treated her with warm hospitality and had already prepared a room for her.

Elysia couldn’t help but reflect: There’s no place like home!

Upon arriving in Jindale City, Tarquin was preoccupied with worry. He barely settled in before claiming work obligations and rushing out, skipping breakfast.

He didn’t head to the office, though. His destination was the hospital where Verity’s secret child was being treated.