Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband -
Chapter 108: On Her Own But Not Alone
Chapter 108: On Her Own But Not Alone
"It’s someone who doesn’t want the order and normalcy in the political discord to be disturbed," Tony said.
"What order?" she asked.
"The pecking order, Birdie. You might see two parties opposing each other in policy and appear to fight each other, but the reality is entirely different. They are one. They operate in the same way. And they want who they want in their circle. Their circle does not expand for others, Birdie. One has to break doors to get in."
Marcella let out a deep breath. She figured that much. "Do you have to break doors, Tony? Can’t you... We can find other ways to live. You don’t have to~"
"No, Marcella," Tony shook his head. His eyes turned somber.
"I understand," Marcella said. It appears that she cannot convince him to change his mind on this issue, or any other issue.
It was annoying that he didn’t listen to her but she found his stubbornness attractive.
Tony squeezed her hand. "I promised, Birdie. I promised your dad that I would take you to the White House."
Marcella bowed and kissed his hand. She doesn’t know about men. But her father told her that honor and chivalry are like the two eyes of a man. Fighting for glory is in a man’s blood.
Her husband is chivalrous. He’s proved that time and time again. And he is honorable too. He wants to keep his promise. How can she find fault with that?
They have to fight a war; They’ll have to face many tough battles. He knows that. All she can do is support him. She didn’t want to be a hindrance to him.
"Then we fight, together, Tony," she said with a smile.
Tony smiled. In that smile was the pride of a man who has found his heaven.
"Who wants me dead?" Marcella asked. She needs to know.
"The majority leader in the House of Representatives," Tony said.
"Isn’t your party the majority?" she asked.
She hasn’t followed politics for a long time but knew that much.
Tony nodded. "You know him. Theodore Jacob Harley."
"Putrid Harley?" Marcella asked.
She did know him. He was from the military and her father always referred to him as "putrid" and "vulture". Her father hated that man to the guts. But he held a higher position even then. His uncle was in politics and now he must have followed him to end up in politics.
"He didn’t want my father in politics?" she scoffed.
She was not surprised. That guy had pretty damaging secrets. He wouldn’t have wanted her father talking to people in his circle and accidentally revealing his secrets.
"How did my dad get proved innocent in court, Tony?" she asked.
If people like Harley wanted her father to be put behind bars, then how did her father manage to escape their death grip?
"He was not proven innocent, Birdie. He was let go because the prosecution didn’t prove his crimes without any reasonable doubt. There’s a difference. You should remember that going forward. You know that he was not innocent of the crimes he was convicted of," Tony said.
Marcella nodded. He is right. Words and definitions are pretty important. She’s seen Tony working on the bill and how each word matters.
Her father was not an innocent man in the eyes of the law.
"Lies thrive in chaos. He used chaos to get away..." she said,
Tony nodded. "Chaos and..." he smirked.
"What?" Marcella got curious.
"They bought the judge to rule against him. Don got the news and he... He kidnapped his son—his golden heir," Tony laughed.
"Wait... could it be... Paulo was not responsible for father’s death?" she asked.
Tony shrugged. He’s not sure either.
Marcella rubbed her hands together. If Putrid Harley is the guy who wanted her father dead, the reason Tony joined their party is to gain access. "You joined the party to..."
Tony nodded. "They are intrigued by me. Everyone knew Don DeAngelo sponsored me. But hey know nothing more..."
"You’ve been playing the long game. It was why you stayed away from my dad. Did he ask you to?" she asked.
Tony nodded. "Your father asked me to stay away and he disowned you for the same reason too. How you behaved with your mother’s death scared him and he wanted to keep you away to keep you safe."
"Wow!" Marcella rubbed her face. "I’m glad I never hated my dad," she said. She was really glad. "Aiden asked me to testify against my father or at least give up details that might help him get locked up...’"
"And you broke up with him," Tony said.
He knew of the situation around that time. As he said, the parties might be named separately but all the politicians are the same. They are all buddies behind the scenes. Aiden must have promised something lucrative if he could find something on Don DeAngelo.
"Don knew you wouldn’t snitch on him," Tony said. "He was so sure of it; He didn’t even think about it."
"You did?" she asked.
"...A little, yeah..." Tony said.
He thought she really loved Aiden. Also, Aiden can be pretty persuasive if he wants something.
Marcella chuckled. She was glad her father knew that she loved him even when she was away from him.
"So, how are we going to handle this? We know it, Tony. The FBI is coming." Marcella let out a deep breath and looked at Tony.
He looked like he hadn’t figured it out either.
"Your mother came to meet me today," she said.
She needed to tell him that and also, she wanted to change the topic. About the other issue, Tony will figure out something. She trusted him.
"I told you. I don’t have a mother," Tony said. "Did you let her bully you again?"
"She blocked me at the entrance to my office building. I didn’t want to be seen arguing with an old woman, Tony," she gave excuses.
"And you wanted to be nice to my mother too, right?"
"She is your mother," Marcella said.
Tony shook his head with disappointment.
"She wanted to meet Joey. I asked her to talk to you in the future," Marcella quickly told the gist of their conversation.
"She’s not going to come to me. She knows she can play you; Not me," Tony pressed his lips.
"Are you mad at me for being polite with that woman?" she asked.
Tony sighed. Marcella knew he was not going to tell her what his true feelings on this issue were. She saw a flicker of softness in his eyes when she referred to that woman as his mother. He must have a sweet corner for her in his heart.
She is his mother. That fact cannot be changed.
"Gloria is planning on quitting. Apparently, Mr. Butler told her that his license application was accepted," she smiled. "Thank you, Tony."
Tony took a bow. He was glad he helped them. He could see the happiness in his wife’s eyes.
"I am thinking too, you know... My family home is there... I have all this money... I am not sure what I am doing. I am not changing the world or curing cancer or anything... I..."
"You can quit if you want," Tony said. "You don’t have to think too much about that."
"You are the one who talks about equality. Won’t you hate me if I sit at home doing nothing?"
"Hate you? Where did you get that idea? No, of course, not. I... Marcella, I want you to do what you want to do," he said holding her hand. "Do you want to quit your job?"
"I haven’t thought about it. I just... I don’t know. I am not sure... God! I hate myself for being so..."
Tony hugged her hand and kissed her head. "It’s fine, Bridie. There’s no hurry. You can figure it all out in your own time. I am here..."
Marcella smiled and held his shirt. "Thanks, Tony. You give me a lot of confidence..."
"What are you planning on doing with your family home?" he asked.
Marcella sat straight. "Bulldoze it down. It’s old-school house and..." she pressed her lips trying to control her smile. Tony looked like he had seen a ghost.
"You do not approve, Tony? We have money. We can build a new house in the latest design. Why have Tuscan architecture in this day and age?" she asked. "That garden could be a party hall or our personal discotheque. We can invite rock stars and have our private concerts... Wouldn’t that be wonderful?"
"I didn’t peg you for an avid music fan..." Tony said.
Marcella could see the disappointment in his eyes and his tone.
"You don’t look very happy, Tony. Do you want to say anything? I thought I could decide on my own!"
Admiring her talent in making Tony go into shellshock, Marcella continued.
"No!" Tony stood up. "You cannot destroy that house. That house is your home; It’s my home too! I cannot allow you to bulldoze our childhood memories. Our childhood home will be our children’s childhood home too!"
He said firmly.
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