Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 245: The Truth

Chapter 245: The Truth

Joey then looked at Tony. "Dad, was I adopted?" he asked.

Marcella went blank. She didn’t know what was going on there. Her son was asking her if he was adopted. What should she do?

"Birdie," Tony held her hand. "We’ve talked about this."

"Ah," Marcella got snapped out of the reverie hearing Tony’s gentle tone.

"Drink it up, son," Tony told Joey. He looked stressed asking his parents this question. He too got a little calm hearing Tony’s gentle tone and drank the lemonade slowly.

Marcella went to Tony’s office. On the spur of the moment, she forgot everything. But they were long planning on telling the truth to Joey about his parents. They thought that fifteen or sixteen would be the right time to talk to him about the truth of his parentage as he could understand better at that age.

She didn’t think that the day would come this soon.

She brought out the baby book and placed it on the dining table. Joey had completed his glass of lemonade. Marcella was starting to feel the effect of the wine she drank but she gathered herself.

Their plan was for Marcella to explain everything to Joey carefully. They had even discussed the words they should use while revealing it to Joey.

But Marcella was blank, totally. Her face froze and her lips couldn’t move anymore. She was too emotional to speak.

How will he react once he learns the truth? Will he be disheartened or heartbroken? He sure will be!

In the end, Tony had to take charge. He too was stressed and held Marcella’s hand. Marcella saw his hands clenching her hand hard and wondered if he was comforting her or getting comfort from her.

Tony opened the book and introduced his mother and father to Joey.

"He is my brother and she is her sister. They died when you were just a month-old baby. They had a will and left you in our custody. We thought about raising you as their son to carry on their legacy but then decided not to. We wanted to raise you as our own..." Tony paused.

Marcella held Tony’s hand tightly. It seemed like Tony had forgotten their rehearsed lines too. He too must be stressed.

Both Tony and Marcella looked at Joey for his reaction. Their sons were all mature for their age and Joey was very rational and understanding. But this was such an emotional matter and a lot could go wrong.

Joey silently sat there, fiddling with his fingers for some time. He was not the type to burst out unable to handle his emotions but he was at that age when his hormones were going haywire. Marcella hoped he could digest the truth well.

In the silence, Marcella wondered if they had done something wrong. They could have lied to Joey. Then nothing would have changed. Why did they insist on being truthful again?

Ugh!

She sighed.

Joey picked up the baby book and turned the pages one by one. The first picture was of him as a baby on the hospital bassinet. The next was the one with Mellissa.

"That was Mellissa. She’s...I’ve talked about her. We visit her grave each year. I loved her very much," Marcella said. She couldn’t help but sigh remembering her sister. "She was taken way too early from us."

The next was a picture with Andrew. "This was Andrew and he loved you both dearly. He was willing to give up his life for your sake... Your parents were the kindest and the loveliest people I know. They loved each other and they waited for you for ten long years. You were their everything..." Marcella said.

Joey didn’t say anything and turned the pages one by one. Marcella explained each picture to him. Each of his milestones was recorded with the date. His lips unconsciously curved up at times.

Joey closed the book and gently caressed the hardcover. Both Marcella and Tony observed Joey to see what he was going to say.

"Were you ever planning on telling me the truth?" Joey asked.

Marcella was impressed Joey was asking the questions like an adult. Then again, that was the boy she raised. He was smart.

Marcella looked at Tony and he nodded at her. Marcella spoke. "We were planning on it. This book is a proof of it. We just... we thought we would have more time though."

"With Dad’s position, it won’t be hard for it to be kept secret anyway. It would have come out sooner or later. I am surprised it’s never mentioned in the papers even once," Joey said.

Marcella bit her lips looking at Tony and Tony cleared his throat.

Their son is too smart, what can they do?

"Your mom and I... We love you. For us, you are our first son. I hope you understand," Tony said leaning to Joey.

Marcella observed Joey’s expression as if her life depended on it. This was such a delicate matter. If they didn’t handle it right, this would lead to a series of misunderstandings. She didn’t want to lose her sweet little son.

"I understand," Joey said and stood up. "Who else knows about it? When are you planning on letting my brothers know?"

Marcella was stunned by how composed Joey was. She didn’t know whether that was a good thing or a bad thing.

"You’re too young to..." Marcella got to him and gave him a bone-crunching hug. "I am sorry... I am sorry you had to hear this...But we love you. That is never going to change. Nothing is going to change..."

Joey hugged her back and soon his little body started to shake. "I know you love me... I know..." He said amidst sobs.

Tony joined in the hug and Joey wrapped around Tony’s waist and hugged him. "I love you, Dad... I love you, Mom..." he said. "I know you love me and care for me. I know... I don’t care if I was adopted. You are my parents and I love you..."

A few minutes later, they settled and sat back at the dining table.

"Your brothers are too young to understand it. We’ll keep it from them until they can understand everything," Tony told Joey and he nodded.

"My brothers..." he looked down in deep thought. "Are they my double cousins if my birth parents are your siblings?" he asked.

Marcella nodded. "That’s true. You are closely related and that’s why you all resemble each other. You resemble my father a lot..." Marcella cupped his cheek.

"Uncle Henry says that often," Joey said. His voice had turned normal and even the little confusion on his face had disappeared.

"Mom, Dad..." he looked at them. "Thank you..." he said.

"No, thank you for being our son," Marcella said. She was still surprised that her son took it so easily without throwing a tantrum. Tony too was surprised.

"You are okay?" Tony asked. He wanted to know for sure whether their son was hiding his true emotions.

"I am," Joey was sure. "I thought Aunt Beth lied but..."

"Beth?" Marcella squinted her eyebrows.