Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 204: Another Chance

Chapter 204: Another Chance

After they returned, things progressed peacefully. Marcella opted to stay home most of the days mostly because Tony asked her not to travel far from home.

She thought that it must be regarding her safety and listened to him.

She didn’t stay idle. She had almost visited every town in their district and she had almost formed a support group of women. In each town, she had contact with one woman who shared her ideals. She dealt with their issues over the phone.

Although she was not present there, with her encouragement, protests spearheaded by the local housewives continued. Marcella made sure the government employees worked for the salary they received.

She also tried to form a good relationship with the local cops. Whether she liked them or not, having a good relationship with them would be beneficial for everyone.

Well, she didn’t directly contact the cops. She would often send muffins and donuts for the firemen in their area and whenever she saw a cop, she would engage in small talks with them. After she had caused an issue against the sheriff, they changed the entire police station. Most of the cops who worked there were good cops, still, they were scared of Marcella’s power.

At least the streets were calm and safe now that the cops were doing their duties properly.

Marcella tried to be friends with some cop families; it was easy for her to befriend wives and mothers.

That day, she was about to go grocery shopping. Joey was excited to go with her. Marcella would prefer to leave him home while going to the store because, at times, he would get uncontrollable.

That day, he was not backing off. He was cute when he nodded enthusiastically when she asked him to behave. Marcella didn’t have the heart to leave him.

Just as her car was out of the gates, she saw a cab stopping in front of her house. She slowed down to see a woman getting alighting from the cab.

Marcella greeted the woman. The woman who appeared to be in her late teens, nervously introduced herself as Natalie Truman.

Marcella invited Natalie inside her house and offered tea. Sitting in front of the long glass window, Natalie was staring at the garden. The garden was in full bloom and bees were buzzing around. It had a calming effect. Marcella loved sitting there and watching her garden.

Natalie started talking after a cup of tea.

"I heard about your encounter with Coach Rourke," she said.

Marcella nodded. He was the child predator who escaped because she insisted on getting the help of the law. The law could do nothing to him then. Her heart clenched wondering if that beast had claimed another victim.

Natalie’s green eyes got coated with a film of wetness. She still had some baby fat left on her cheeks. She looked fidgety.

"Mr. Rourke used to be my neighbor seven years back. I was...twelve then..." Natalie said.

Marcella now understood what might have happened.

"I am sorry for your..." she gulped. "How long?" Marcella asked. She clenched her hands together. It was hard to talk about it.

"Two years. When my mother learned of it, we moved. Dad didn’t know. If he did, he..." Natalie took in a deep breath. "We couldn’t have afforded to pay for the legal fees. Dad... he loved me so much."

Marcella took in a deep breath. At least, Natalie had a good father who would have killed his daughter’s abuser.

"What do you want to... Why did you come to me?" Marcella asked.

It appeared that it happened years ago and Natalie talked about studying at one of the Ivy League universities. She seemed to be better off away from that beast. Why would she come to her now?

Natalie choked and before Marcella said anything, she started to cry. Marcella pulled her chair closer to Natalie and patted her back.

’I cannot function...I cannot forget it and I cannot move on. I am scared to date and I...I am afraid of everyone. My dad passed away in a freak accident a year ago. I am scared..."

"Did he threaten you?" Marcella asked.

If Natalie was scared after her father’s passing, it made her doubt something.

"Before I left, he told me not to leave. He promised he would kill my dad if I left and my dad... He shouldn’t have died..." Natalie sobbed.

Marcella could understand that Natalie believed that Rourke had something to do with her father’s death. She didn’t even bother to ask why she didn’t go to the cops. She knew the answer. She won’t get justice there.

Marcella didn’t think that Rourke would have killed Natalie’s father. He might be a beast but he wouldn’t waste his time in following up his words when he could be finding prey. She could be wrong too.

"Do you want me to investigate your father’s death?" Marcella asked.

Natalie wiped her tears. "I want to ruin his reputation," she said.

Marcella pressed her lips. "Are you sure? If you want to talk about it, a lot of questions will be raised and you’d be pu through~"

"I know. I followed Nancy Freeman’s case. I know I will be treated like her. I know I will be blamed and I will be called names. I don’t care... As long as he gets punished," Natalie said.

Marcella took in a deep breath. Although Natalie was young, she was an adult. She could do whatever she wanted to do. "I’ll consult a lawyer and check on the statute of limitations~"

"It had passed," Natalie said.

Marcella raised her brows. "Then how are you~"

Natalie held her hand. "Please, help me. I need help. Please..."

Marcella leaned on the chair for some time. She did think that having him killed would be much easier. But she didn’t want to end him that easily. Like Natalie wanted, she wanted to ruin him before he died.

Marcella’s eyes brightened as she came up with a plan. She asked Natalie if she was okay with it. Natalie was awed by her plan and agreed to it as long as she had Marcella’s support.

Marcella was glad she got another chance to bring down that beast.

Marcella had a habit of telling Tony about her day. That day too, she talked about Natalie.

"You don’t have to be this..." Tony played with the food on his plate.

Marcella observed him. He didn’t look happy. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked.

She was excited about her plan but Tony’s reaction dampened her mood.