Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 223: New Life

Chapter 223: New Life

Marcella tried to sleep but she couldn’t. She heard Tony walking around in the closet.

"Do you need help?" she asked.

Tony peeked his head out of the closet. "Where is my bank book?" he asked. She was handling all the finances for a long time; he had no idea.

"The third drawer on the right side," Marcella answered. "How much do you need? I have some cash in hand." She tried to get down from the bed.

Tony pointed his finger at her. "Stay."

He sounded angry or maybe her senses were going awry with the contractions. After holding her hand for the next contraction, he disappeared downstairs. He was right on time to hold her hand for the next contraction and to remind her to breathe, which she forgot to, oddly; she needed reminding each time as the pain made her forget.

"Can you walk?" he asked as another one of her contractions ended. "Never mind," he said and carried her downstairs. His car was parked in front and he placed her gently on the front passenger seat and helped her wear the seatbelt.

"I’ll be right back," he said and turned to walk inside the house. Marcella watched him return with a bag in his hand.

"Are you going to take me to the hospital now?" she asked. "But the doctor said..."

She couldn’t speak further as another contraction started. She could see by now that her contractions were getting closer. She might have the baby in the evening.

Tony drove out and Marcella leaned on the seat as she couldn’t concentrate on anything. She looked to her side sensing warmth and her lips curved seeing Tony holding her hand.

He was not wearing a suit. He was in his casual wear. She knew he was not going to leave her alone.

She closed her eyes remembering the day she met him. That day too, she was in a great deal of pain, bleeding because of a stab wound. She tried to push him away but he stayed.

Even for her cousin’s wedding, she wanted him with her and he was there even if she expressed herself differently. He always knew what she truly wanted.

That’s who my Tony is... he stays with me when I need him.

"This hospital is a much better one. They charge double, but it is fine," Tony said parking in front of a hospital.

"But is it okay to change doctors now?" she asked.

"I checked. It’s fine. You have no complications till now and it’s fine. This hospital lets the husband stay with the wife," he said.

His blue eyes landed on her face. There was no mirth on his face. He was stressed as evidenced by the long frown line between his eyebrows. She had a feeling he had forgotten about the counting and was only caring for her.

"I’m sorry I tried to send you away," she said.

He smiled. "I know when you need me."

"I need you, Tony. I am scared," she gripped his hand. Another contraction started and she moaned gritting her teeth.

"Open your mouth. Cuss if you have to. But don’t forget to breathe," he said, allowing her to squeeze his hands.

His pain was nothing compared to what she must feel.

Marcella looked around at the hospital room that was nothing short of a five-star hotel suite room. The windows were open and she had a nice view of the city.

"They say if you do the C-section, you won’t feel the pain anymore," Tony said holding her hand.

His heart hurt seeing the pain she was going through. Each time, it looked like her pain was increasing and her hands were shaking. He couldn’t bear it.

"No," Marcella refused. Why would she willingly cut her stomach, as if the scars on her abdomen weren’t enough?

"But, Birdie, even the recovery would be~"

"No, Tony. Unless it is medically necessary, I am not going to cut my stomach," she said.

Tony had to agree reluctantly. Maybe this would be their last child. Two was enough. Why put her through this much pain just for a baby?

"There’s a TV. Why don’t you check the count?" she asked.

Tony shook his head. He had no interest in checking on that. He didn’t care. When it came to her, he tended to forget everything else.

Time trickled and the doctor came and checked her dilation. The doctor estimated the baby would arrive late evening and asked her to be prepared.

Marcella thought she could handle the pain without an epidural but she didn’t think she could suffer the pain until evening. She could if she was willing to, but seeing Tony’s reaction, she had no confidence. He was her confidence and even he looked disoriented with each of her contractions.

She got the epidural just like Gloria advised. After that, she could be a little relaxed mostly because Tony’s face regained color.

Henry was standing outside their room and he was in contact with Randy who was in the counting booth. Tony didn’t even show the interest she showed in knowing the count. When she tried to learn, he chided her.

But Marcella learned that the race was neck on neck, which in itself was a surprise considering that in the district the other party always won with a major point difference.

Marcella had a feeling Henry might be lying to protect her mental state and wanted to turn on the TV.

"Will you please concentrate on yourself, Birdie? You’re... The pain is getting worse and the doctor says it will still take hours..." he pressed his lips to stop himself from saying something.

"Are you scared?" she asked.

Tony let out a deep breath and held her hand. She chuckled as she was the calmer one among the two about the labor. She was more stressed about the election result than at the labor.

What else can she do? She would have to go through it no matter what.

"Do you want another epidural?" he asked. "Isn’t it waning off?"

Marcella couldn’t answer as a contraction started. The contractions started to become a minute apart and the doctor said that the progression was great.

But even after two hours passed, nothing changed. Only her pain increased but her contractions didn’t push the baby down.

Marcella saw Henry’s face and she knew the election results were not going as they wanted to. She didn’t feel good.

The doctor checked and said that her dilation was not proper and that it might take longer. Marcella wanted to cry. She couldn’t take it any longer.

"Take me home, Tony..." she begged him. "I don’t want to be in pain anymore!"