Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 211: Pride

Chapter 211: Pride

"You want me to brush your hair?" Marcella asked as he was still mad. He was not even looking at her and staring at the phone. Marcella feared he might call Harley back and give a piece of his mind to him.

Tony glared at her. "I’m not a lady and you’re not my maid."

"That is true. You’re the man," Marcella chuckled.

Tony looked at her and the corner of his lips trembled as he tried to control his laughter. "Can you believe his temerity to talk to me that way about my wife?" He gritted his teeth. His anger rose again.

Marcella hugged him. "Prove yourself to them, Tony. Stay this way no matter how high you reach, and show them how much you value me," she said.

She spoke those words from her heart. Talking is easy; even if those words are from the heart, words still are less valuable than action. She would love for him to show them how a marriage where the spouses respect each other equally could be achievable and pleasurable.

She knew it needed work. That was exactly what she wanted from him. She was glad to work with him on that.

Tony let out a deep breath and hugged her back. He took in a sniff of her hair. He had calmed down.

"You’re right, Birdie," he said.

He had to take this as an opportunity. Once he reached a height where he needed to answer no one, he would show everyone what his wife meant to him. Even his wife wouldn’t be able to stop him then. Until then, he will keep his love for her in his heart and show it to her through his actions.

Marcella smiled. She could feel him smiling although she couldn’t see him.

Marcella cupped his cheeks and looked into his eyes.

"What?" he asked, his blue eyes swirling with affection.

"How come you were not upset he mentioned my name first?" she asked.

There was not even a little doubt in her heart. That thought didn’t even cross his mind. She might minimize it as nothing as he already knew that she was not interested, but she knew in her heart that if she said "yes" tonight, he would have wholeheartedly supported her in the campaign.

She was amazed by him. Not all men are that broad-minded. His love was wonderful for her. It must be beyond this world.

Tony smiled. "I don’t understand why I should be upset. The first thing that came to my mind was pride. You are my wife and others could see how smart you are and... I am proud of you."

"I know...You’re the only man who treats me this well, Tony," Marcella kissed his lips. She meant it. "Please don’t change..."

"I won’t," Tony brushed her hair aside and held her cheeks. He was proud as he heard her heartfelt words. He intended to hear her say those words on his deathbed. He had to work on keeping her spirits up like this.

He also had an important job. He needed to raise their son to give the respect his mother deserved.

Tony pulled her back. He could feel her belly on him. He didn’t want to cause his baby to suffocate. "What?" he asked Marcella who was laughing at him.

"I don’t want to squish the baby inside..." he added.

Shaking her head, Marcella walked up the stairs. Tony followed her closely with a smile. He probably said something that didn’t make sense. If it made her laugh, he was fine with it.

In the coming days, Marcella observed everything closely. The DA was arrested on a bribery charge and was suspended. His suspension took the better part of the articles and the accusation of him for aiding a child molester was left out.

Marcella could only scoff wryly. Tony was right. Politicians, in the end, would do anything to save their own skin.

Whatever the case was, Rourke was left with no support.

The Rourke family didn’t have a good life after that. The wife was dismissed from her job. His son’s scholarship was canceled as someone had written a letter to his university stating the accusations against his father. Everywhere any of them went, they were exposed to ridicule and expulsion.

It angered him. Rather than silently leaving the town and settling across the country, Rourke did what he did best.

He tried to intimidate Natalie.

Rourke shouted at her while Natalie was grocery shopping, accusing her of ruining her life.

Natalie bravely faced him. "I never defamed you, Mr. Rourke," she spoke for all to hear. "I only told them what you did to me!"

Noticing that all eyes were on him, Rourke left the store. Natalie came home and called Marcella. Her voice was shaking when she told Marcella about the confrontation.

"I mentioned the word "defamation" just like you told me to, Mrs. Crawford," Natalie said after composing herself.

"Good," Marcella said. "Now we have to wait to see if he acts."

Marcella had already instructed Natalie to say that word to him to put it in his mind that he could sue Natalie for defamation. Marcella knew the cops wouldn’t investigate Rourke based on a magazine article. They couldn’t solve half the cases that were on their table. Why would they take a case that wasn’t even filed?

Her entire plan was on Rourke going to court and suing Natalie for sullying his good name.

Then, they will have to prove to the court that Rourke indeed had abused Natalie. Others who had been abused by Rourke might come forward following Natalie.

Once that happens, once the court sees the proof, then they will have to start an investigation on Rourke.

It was the whole process in reverse.

Would Rourke be fool enough to pursue a defamation case? Marcella was not sure. But he sure had the ego to start something without thinking through. Maybe, she can help Rourke find the "right" lawyer who would advise him the "right" way.

She might be manipulating the system, but when the system was broken, what other choice did she have other than to use the loopholes?

She wouldn’t consider herself an honest person. She was not. She was not better than her father just because she didn’t want to solve everything with violence.

She wanted justice to be given to those who deserve it, just like her father wanted to.