Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 212: Fighting Battle

Chapter 212: Fighting Battle

Joey’s second birthday was nearing and Marcella started showing. Everyone was excited for her. Marcella saw the love everyone had for her. She understood why her father went to any extreme for those who loved him—it was fulfilling.

She was surprised she didn’t have any morning sickness, except for the sleepiness at night. When she lay down, she slept like a log throughout the night. She didn’t even know if that was a morning sickness, but she appreciated it.

Her baby was so considerate of her and didn’t trouble her in any way. She must be a girl, right? She should be!

Since they both wanted a girl, they asked the doctor not to reveal the gender. Marcella didn’t agree completely with Tony’s suggestion and wanted to know beforehand. But she convinced herself to be surprised during the birth.

She carried on with what the papers wrote as "activism". She didn’t consider herself an activist. It implied she was bringing great change. She was just someone with the means to do good for the people and considered it was the least she could do. If she was an activist for it, so be it.

Beth visited NYC just a week before Joey’s birthday for a premiere of her movie. That year, two of her movies were released, and did well at the box office. Hailed as the "rising star of Hollywood" and "glamourous beauty" after one of the characters she played as the "other" woman became an iconic character, Beth was glowing.

When Beth met Marcella, however, there was a slight sadness in her eyes looking at her belly. Marcella almost asked whether she had kids. She had to use all her willpower to not ask the obvious question. Beth’s husband tried to cause trouble but Tony told her that it was "settled" by the bigshots in the industry.

"I heard Tony Crawford is running for Congress," Beth smiled sipping the hot coffee. The smile on her face as she took a spoonful of cake was alluring.

Even in real life, her demeanor had changed into a glamour star. The way she drew her eyeliner, the red lipstick, and the tasteful cleavage reveal all worked well together and suited Beth.

Marcella would never dare to come out looking like that. She tried that look from Beth’s movie once at night just for his consumption. She had to force him to bring her to watch the movie. She thought he would be impressed with the "other woman’s" look. But he looked at her as if she had gone insane.

He would never ask her to not wear something or do a look, but that was the first time he told her not to impersonate someone else.

’Your style is the most glamorous style for me. You don’t have to try too hard or change up,’ he said. After some time, he asked if he was being inattentive to her for her to change her appearance.

Marcella had to convince him that she just wanted to be the "other woman" for a night. That made Tony shut down. He couldn’t even find words to say to her after that.

Marcella could understand he was mad. He rarely freezes like that. She understood him. He would never like her as the "other woman". He respected her too much for that.

She had to make up for her blunder by cooking his favorites in the morning.

"Yes, the party wants Tony to run," Marcella smiled. She was proud of her husband.

"Do you want my help? I have an interview coming up. I can put a word or~"

"Not necessary," Marcella waved her hand. "You’re a movie star. It will be a better idea to be politically neutral. After all, the other party members watch movies too, right?"

Marcella laughed it off. She didn’t want Beth’s help in this. She wasn’t even sure people would listen to movie stars to figure out who to vote for.

"But you are my friend," Beth protested.

"If you want to talk about something, please talk about the abuse women and girls face. Natalie’s case is on topic. A voice like yours would bring a spotlight to this issue," Marcella said.

Women talking for women is beyond politics and it would show great camaraderie. It would help more people who faced abuses to come forward.

Beth wetted her lips. "Our people wouldn’t want me to... I’ll try," Beth said.

Marcella talked to Beth for some time and then returned home. Beth tried to invite herself to Marcella’s home, but Marcella had to avoid her without being open.

It drained her.

When she talked to Mary about her meeting with Beth (she talked to Mary about Beth because Tony didn’t appreciate hearing about Beth and Marcella needed to vent to someone), Mary told Marcella that it was weird Beth never talked about her pregnancy when that would be the topic all women would be interested in.

Marcella shrugged it off.

Later that day, Natalie came to meet her. There was a break-in in her house and she had filed a police complaint. Her case had gone to court and since they agreed to present the evidence of Rourke’s assault to the court in the next hearing, he must have tried to get the evidence.

"Thanks to the men you stationed around my house, I was protected. Thank you, Mrs. Crawford," Natalie held her hand.

Marcella hugged her. "You should stay strong," she told her.

Marcella attended all the hearings with Natalie. The questioning was brutal. The way the lawyer tried to blame Natalie for lying when she tearfully narrated her experience brought tears to Marcella’s eyes.

Is this what women face in court after getting victimized?

She couldn’t accept it. It affected her greatly. Tony helped her see the other side. There might be some woman who accused a man just to get back at him to ruin his life accusing him of the most hideous crime possible.

It was hard to digest, but Marcella had to agree. For every ninety-nine abused women, there would be one woman who threw such accusations out of spite. The law operates on the basis that no one innocent should get punished.

It was a hard pill to swallow, but the process was necessary.

Till then, not a single person was willing to testify against Rourke mainly because they saw how Natalie was treated. But still, Marcella liked her chances.