Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband -
Chapter 107: A Team
Chapter 107: A Team
"I would know if you are manipulating," Tony pulled his chair closer to her and held her hand.
"You know me that well?" Marcella asked with a pout.
With everything happening around her, she was glad she had a constant in Tony. Whenever she was in his presence, she went to various planes. He was intriguing. She loved the chats they had. She didn’t think there could be anything any one of them could be hiding considering that they are talking a lot.
There it goes... another moment of second-guessing! Is Tony a good guy or a bad guy?
Tony picked her hand and held it between his hands. He looked at her deeply into her eyes. "You are putting up walls, Birdie. I sense those walls and I..."
"You what?" she asked. He was right about her putting up walls. She has no confidence to be open. She needed to protect herself. She’s a wounded cat; She didn’t want to make the same mistake.
"Do you see any change in me... from the past, Birdie?" he asked.
"I do," she said after thinking for a moment. "You are not the same. I... don’t see the same smile at times on your face."
Tony nodded and kissed her hand. "Did you know? My smile back then was a reflection of your smile," he said.
Marcella pursed her lips. Her heart skipped a beat. Hearing that, made her happy. Back then, she would see the most pleasant, most pleasurable smile on his face.
He is saying that I smiled at him that way? Is that possible?
"You had a beautiful smile that lifted my spirits. Just a smile from you would make my day infinitely better..." she said.
She never told him these things. She should have talked about the things she liked about him in the past. She was too shy to talk about that. It was a mistake. She decided not to make that mistake again. That’s why she tries her best to tell Tony everything she likes about him these days.
"So was yours for me," he smiled.
Marcella smiled along. She was conscious of her smile this time as she wondered if she had the same smile as him. It made her blush without knowing.
"You’re blaming me for the change in your smile?" she asked.
"Not blaming you, no, Birdie..." he shook his head and his hold on her hand tightened. "I will never blame you for anything. Nothing is your fault. It’s just... I am scared seeing the walls you put up and I... I shouldn’t but in my fear I..."
"Tony... What did you do?" she asked. Her heart skipped a beat. Tony looked distressed and she wondered what he did. Seeing him stressed like that did not make her feel good at all. He should be happy all the time. She should not be the reason he’s nervous.
"Nothing... nothing, I..." he let out a deep breath.
Marcella got her hand out of his hold and held his hand. "I won’t get mad at you, Tony. Tell me."
"John Emerson met with me first and I... I had a feeling that he was trying to get me investigated. I thought you would be the best person to talk to him and confirm my suspicions..."
"Oh, Tony... You could have told me all this...I wouldn’t have~"
"But you think that I am using you! I don’t want to- I know I am using you but~"
"Tony," Marcella pressed her finger on his lips. "Stop. Take a deep breath. You know what? We both should take a deep breath," she said.
Both of them sat looking at each other. Marcella nodded and both of them took a deep inhale and exhaled slowly.
"Do you see it, Tony?" she asked. Her eyes glimmered brightly. "We need each other."
She chuckled.
"We need each other, Tony and it is a good thing. Don’t you see? We make a good team. We are married. We are supposed to be a team, aren’t we?" she asked.
"You are okay with that?" Tony asked.
He knew that was what marriage is about. But their marriage was not typical. Under the maple tree, she said a lot and it hurt his heart deeply. He has been walking on eggshells ever since then.
Now, however, it appears that both of them have the same perspective—the right perspective.
They are supposed to be a team.
"We are family, Tony. And it is us versus them; All the time. It should be us vs. them. We cannot do that if we are doubting each other and~"
"You doubt me?" Tony asked.
Marcella pressed her lips. She didn’t want to make him sad.
"Birdie..." he rubbed her shoulder. "What is it?"
Marcella let out a deep breath. "I found Emerson’s visiting card in your pocket. I knew he met you before he met me. I... I didn’t know why you failed to mention it to me when I was open with you. I was hurt and I thought you wanted me to meet Emerson for an agenda."
"You thought right. I did have an agenda. But I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I was just~"
"Scared," Marcella said.
Tony bowed his head.
She held his cheeks and lifted his face up. Her eyes clouded. "Do you love me that much, Tony?"
She’s known Tony for pretty much all her life while she was growing up. She’s never seen him bothering with anyone else’s opinion. She’s seen him only with his head held high and his chest puffed with pride. Only in front of her is he bowing his head.
And it is not attractive.
He shouldn’t be bowing his head to her or anybody else for that matter. He should live like a King bowing to no one. And she will be standing right by his side when he claims his throne. That’s what she wanted.
"I will never put you in danger, Birdie. I can’t bear a single scratch on you. You should trust me on that."
"I know... I know..." Marcella hugged him. "I won’t doubt you anymore, Tony. I trust you. Forget what I said back then... Let’s be a married couple, Tony. Let’s live happily, like my parents did like my sister and your brother did... Let us live happily."
Tony hugged her back. She couldn’t stop smiling. She still hasn’t talked about love. But it is fine, isn’t it? She just avoided the word "love" but she said everything that someone with love in their heart would say. Why should he be bothered?
"Then let’s plan for battle," Tony said. "Now that my smart wife figured out what those guys are planning, what do you suggest we do?"
"That...’ Marcella took her seat. "Your little gang must go. They knew we had Rosy as the nanny. They must know about the warehouse and your little side business."
"They can’t touch me with that, Marcella," Tony’s eyes turned serious. "They are the safety guards I have just for your protection. I cannot lose them. If they come for my people, I will get their throat. They know who the Holiday Ripper is and are keeping quiet. They know that cops are stealing drugs and money from the evidence storage. They let them be and they dare to come for me. I will cause a fuzz so big~"
"They’ll kill you to shut you up, Tony. Are you willing to die? If you die, who will protect me? Who will I have..." her voice cracked. "I cannot lose you too, Tony. I cannot... I cannot wear black again and..."
Tears dropped from her eyes and Tony hugged her. "Come on, Birdie... I am not going to die. Don’t cry. It’s... I cannot bear it if you cry..." He patted her back trying to get her composed.
Marcella couldn’t even imagine what her life would be like if she faced another loss. They are against very powerful people.
"Why do they not want you running? It should be the same guy who didn’t want my father to run. You know who it is, don’t you?" she asked.
Tony wetted his lips. "He’s also the one who sent those men to kill you that night," he said fisting his hands.
"That night? That night I met you?" she asked.
Tony nodded.
"Tony, did you know I was going to get attacked? Is that why you were there that day?" she asked.
It appeared like a coincidence but that was not the first time Tony was there right when she needed him. Maybe he was stalking her. She was not mad about that when he was trying to protect her.
"Trust me, Bridie. That night was a total coincidence. I was planning on a dinner with~" he cleared his throat. "I had my people follow you. I had no idea. That night..." he smiled. "That night, you came to me yourself..."
Marcella smiled. "I am grateful I found you," she said.
She bowed her head as she recalled everything that happened that night. She had butterflies in her stomach seeing him after a long time.
"Who is it, Tony? Who wanted me dead?" she asked.
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