"Ahem..."

Marcus almost choked on his own saliva from trying not to laugh, causing him to cough violently.

Eliana brought him food and asked, "What's wrong, Mark? Why are you coughing so hard?"

"It's nothing."

Marcus quickly waved it off and said to little Hopey, "Hopey, be good and go play over there for a while."

"Okay," Little Hopey walked over to Ivy.

Eliana sat down to feed Marcus. But Marcus refused, slowly ...