Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem novel Chapter 833

Keith flashed a wry smile, "Surprised I could be so cruel, eh?"

He glanced down, flipping the burgers on the grill with a self-mocking tone, "Who wants to be the villain? It's all about being pushed to the edge."

Elysia frowned, "No matter what beef you have with Tarquin and the Bradford family, involving kids is out of line. They're innocent!"

Keith let out a long sigh, his response candid, "Hatred blinded me once. Just when you were unexpectedly pregnant with Tarquin's child, I took advantage, using Elijah as a pawn. If it were now, I wouldn't use a child in my schemes."

After saying this, he looked at Elysia with a smile, "You might not believe me, but I've actually grown fond of kids now."

Elysia's eyebrows knitted together tightly, "Keeping my daughter from us isn't using her in your schemes?"

Keith shook his head openly, "Not at all. If I wanted to use the little one for leverage, I would've done so long ago! I'm taking you to her now, simply because I want you two to be together. It has nothing to do with Tarquin. And as for Elliot, Evan, Emmett, and Elijah, don't worry. Once I've settled you and the little one down, I'll bring them back for a reunion. I'll try my best to treat them right."

Elysia looked straight at him for several seconds before asking, "Keith, what are you really up to?"

Keith's expression softened, "Me? I just want to give the little one a real family."

"...Tarquin is her father. If you want to give her a complete family, you shouldn't be keeping us apart. She should be returned to us."

Keith said, "She calls me 'Daddy' now. She's my daughter, and she's got nothing to do with Tarquin anymore. Once I've settled my old scores, we'll get married and raise the kids together."

Elysia sneezed, and Keith tenderly offered her a blanket, "Careful, you might catch a cold. Our daughter would be worried."

This time, Elysia didn't resist, wrapping the blanket around herself. She took a few sips of her warm tea to soothe herself before looking at Keith, "What exactly happened between you, the Bradford family, and Tarquin that you've spent so many years seeking revenge?"

Keith looked up at her, then out at the vast sea. His brows furrowed slowly, his gaze shifting from sorrow to suppression, and then gradually to fierceness.

It took him a while before he spoke, "Life hasn't been kind to you either. You must've felt the bone-deep pain of hardship. But...

Do you know what it's like to be healed and reborn from a heart-wrenching pain, only to be thrown back into the abyss once again?"