Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Axel summed it up bluntly:

"Sabrina's been spreading rumors at the Medical & Pharmaceutical Association, saying your sister-in-law's got no ethics and doesn't deserve to be a doctor. She's trying to shut down her career in medicine before it even starts."

Tarquin's face darkened at that.

The truth was, Elysia had never planned to climb the medical career ladder anyway—her real passion was child psychology.noveldrama

Sabrina's hostility? Pure jealousy.

Elysia had it all: a good family background, a great marriage, and to top it off, sharper medical skills than Sabrina. If Elysia ever decided to stay in the medical field, Sabrina wouldn't stand a chance.

Sure, Sabrina was Victor's granddaughter. But that didn't mean she could run the whole show. If there was someone more talented in her generation-and there was-she'd get pushed aside like anyone else.

And as for making it to the top of the Medical & Pharmaceutical Association? That was pretty much a pipe dream for Sabrina.

That's why she was so desperate to knock Elysia out of the running.

She was jealous, and she was scared.

But honestly, did she really think just being Victor's granddaughter gave her the right to walk all over Elysia?

Spreading lies about Elysia? The nerve! Even Victor himself would show Elysia some serious respect if he ever met her.

Elysia had spent five years learning from Tracey-not officially as a student, but Tracey personally mentored her. Compared to that, what did the Stevensons even have?

If Sabrina would just chill out, Elysia would stay focused on child psychology and never be her competition. But if Sabrina kept pushing, Elysia might just get mad enough to re-enter medicine-and then the Stevensons would really have something to cry about.

Tarquin's voice was icy as he gave his orders. "Have Benjamin go talk to Victor in person. Tell him this comes straight from me."

"I'm not exactly known for my patience, especially when it comes to my wife. If he can't keep his own granddaughter in line, I'll be happy to do it for him."

Did Sabrina really think she could mess with his wife? Not a chance.

...

Meanwhile, across town, gentle smoke curled up from the chimney of the little cabin.

Elysia had no id

idea about the drama

brewing back in Jindale City. She

didn't know that simply refusing to join Sabrina's virus research had turned Sabrina against her completely-or that Sabrina was now making her the target of every nasty rumor she could dream up.

Right now, Elysia was in the kitchen making breakfast, in a perfectly good mood.

She knew her grandma was off

tending the herb garden, and Evan had gone into the woods with Tarquin and Bernard. She wasn't worried-they could handle themselves.

In the kitchen, Baby and Walter were keeping her company.

Elliot and Elijah, as soon as they woke up, had rushed off to Howard's room to

tinker with his latest homemade security system.

Emmett was with Quincy, the two of them hunched over some project, with

Quincy's excited exclamations floating down the hall:

"Yes! That's it! Emmett, you've really got a knack for this!"

Back in the kitchen, Walter was doting on Baby as usual.

"Hey, Baby, you wanna see some fireworks tonight?" Walter asked a big grin on his face. He'd been in the military, and it showed-he stood straight as a board, even when he was relaxed.

He loved all the kids, but it was obvious Baby was his favorite. He was practically

tiptoeing around, trying not to say anything that might scare her.

Baby's big blue eyes widened-half excited, half nervous.

"Will they be loud?"

"Of course they will," Walter said, chuckling.

"Baby's scared of loud noises," she said, her voice soft and sweet.

Walter crouched down to her level. "You don't like loud bangs, huh?”

She shook her head, pouting a little. "Walter, can you make the fireworks just do the pretty part, not the noisy part?"