Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 666

Keith had barely cracked the door open when Tarquin came at him with a powerful kick. Unprepared, Keith was sent flying back several feet, crashing into the hall's decorative stand. The ceramic ornaments it held shattered upon impact, littering the floor with sharp fragments.

One particularly nasty piece cut deep into Keith's hand, causing blood to stream down instantly. The darkness that Keith had been hiding in his eyes surfaced immediately. Seeing Tarquin slam the door shut behind him, Keith got up and rushed at him, ignoring his own injuries.

Both men were seething with anger. Tarquin's fury stemmed from Keith's provocations and Elysia's attitude towards Keith. Keith's rage was purely from jealousy—Elysia's affection for Tarquin was more than he could bear.

The room was filled with the sounds of their violent clash, with objects breaking all around them. Keith, despite having one arm in a cast, refused to back down. But his injuries put him at a clear disadvantage, making him an easy target for Tarquin's wrath. It wasn't long before Keith was battered and bruised.

Licking the blood from the corner of his mouth, Keith let out a derisive laugh, provoking Tarquin into delivering another brutal punch. This one seemed to shatter the bones in Keith's face.

Collapsed on the floor, coughing up a mouthful of blood, Keith looked up at Tarquin and continued to laugh. His bloodied smile was haunting, a stark contrast to his usual refined and cultured demeanor. Normally, Keith was an educator who taught both physical education and art, radiating a scholarly aura. But now, he looked more like a bloodthirsty fiend.

With blood trailing down his chin, Keith taunted Tarquin, "Is this all you've got? Beating up a guy with one good arm? You're pathetic. And you think you can protect Elysia and the kids like this? The game's just getting started, buddy."

Tarquin, taken aback by the mention of a game, demanded, "What game?"

Keith, grinning wickedly, replied, "The game between you, me, Elysia, and the kids. A fun game."

Tarquin's brow furrowed. "What's your real purpose in getting close to Elysia?"

Keith's smile grew eerie as he confessed, "I want to steal her from you."

Tarquin's face darkened. "Steal Elysia?"

Tarquin was taken aback. "What?"

Keith's voice was full of smug superiority. "If you don't believe me, you can ask her yourself."

Tarquin's brow furrowed even more deeply.

Keith added, "I know the reason, but I won't tell you because I promised her I'd keep it a secret. I’m telling you this to show you that she trusts me with her secrets, while she keeps you in the dark. So, when the time comes for her to choose, who do you think she'll pick?"

Tarquin's breathing grew heavier, a sense of crisis creeping into his heart. The reality was undeniable—she allowed Keith to stay close but wouldn't let him move in. She had secrets she shared with Keith but not with him. Despite her supposed dislike for Keith, why would she confide in him?