Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem



If it had been anyone else, they'd surely be labeled a lunatic!

But the eccentric in question was Tarquin, and nobody dared call him mad. Instead, they wondered if their ears had betrayed them!

Tarquin calling Clayton 'Dad'?

Impossible, utterly impossible!

Even Clayton thought he'd misheard.

There was no blood relation, not even the slightest, between himself and Tarquin. How on earth could Tarquin call him Dad?!

He must have misheard, definitely!

Shakily, Clayton inquired, "Mr. Bradford, what... what did you just call me?"

"Dad!" Tarquin repeated earnestly.

His voice was firm, resonating with conviction.

Everyone in the conference room heard it loud and clear!

Their jaws dropped in disbelief!

Confirmed - their ears were fine. It was Tarquin who had lost it!

After his initial shock, Clayton furrowed his brows, concern washing over his face, "Mr. Bradford, are you alright?"

Tarquin calling him dad? Something had to be up with his head!

Understanding Clayton's astonishment, Tarquin turned slightly, "Let's have a father-in-law and son-in-law chat later, shall we? Now, look who's that?" Father-in-law and son-in-law?

Clayton was dumbfounded, "?!?"

So were the others, "?!?"

Suddenly realizing something, everyone tensed up and turned their heads towards Elysia!

There she stood, behind Tarquin, her eyes red and teary as she looked at Clayton.

At some point, she had removed her mask, revealing a face that was strikingly similar to a young Pamela!novelbin

The room was in shock: "!!!"

Elysia knelt before Clayton, her voice choked with emotion, "Dad!"

Clayton stared at her in disbelief, his breathing erratic, his chest heaving!

He was nervous, excited, and utterly confused!

His body trembled, his lips quivered, his eyes as bewildered as a child's!

He looked at Elysia, then at Tarquin, then at Carl and Philip, sweeping his gaze over every face in the room...

As if asking, is this a dream or reality?

He thought he saw his daughter!

He thought he heard his daughter calling him 'Dad"!

His Irene seemed to be right in front of him, within reach!

Was this a dream?

Why did it feel so real?

Clayton raised his trembling hand, cautiously, anxiously, slowly reaching towards Elysia...

This was Irene, his Irene!

He wanted to touch her, to hold her...

But before Clayton's hand could touch Elysia, he suddenly withdrew it.

"Slap!"

He struck himself hard across the face!

He feared it was a dream, afraid that if he reached out, he'd only grasp air, like in countless lonely dreams before!

Over the years, he'd dreamt of his daughter countless times. In those dreams, even though she seemed right in front of him, reaching out would make her vanish without a trace.

Each time, he would end up crouched on the ground, clutching his head, sobbing in despair.

So he was scared, scared that this moment was also a dream!

Scared that if he reached out, his daughter would disappear!

"Dad!" Elysia took his hand herself.

"I'm not dreaming! I'm not dreaming!"

Clayton looked at Elysia excitedly, his eyes instantly reddening, "You... you... you are..."

Elysia's tears streamed down her face, "Dad, I'm Irene, I'm your daughter Irene."

Clayton's mind buzzed, and he lunged forward,

"My Irene! This is really my Irene! My Irene has come back! Oh, Lord, I've finally found my Irene! Oh, Irene, Irene..."

Father and daughter embraced and wept together, their sobs heart-wrenchingly tender.

Tarquin's eyes welled up with tears.