Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 48: Jealousy(2)

Chapter 48: Jealousy(2)

"Same cabin?" Tony asked Cindy with a chuckle.

He could never get tired of hearing the "mischiefs" of Marcella. She hasn’t changed much.

Why would she create rumors by going into the bathroom stall with another woman? She knows what other women are like.

Cindy saw the smile on Tony’s face. She had shared a lot of meals with Tony. It was not that easy to see him smile. But occasionally, she had seen him with a bright smile on his face; just like now.

When she talked about HER.

Sparks of jealousy sparked from the bottom of her heart. She wondered if Tony had only used her to get news about HER. He never ever liked her. As the fort she built in her heart developed cracks of uncertainty, anger, and shame kindled the spark of jealousy, arousing a fire that engulfed her rationality.

She couldn’t hold the façade of her femininity anymore. Her eyes turned distant although her lips were curved up.

"You know, that other woman, Gloria... she’s fishy, you know?" Cindy said. "She’s married for more than five years and she does not have a child yet. I heard it was not the husband’s fault but she... does not like being intimate with her husband. Her words, you know. I heard it myself. Times are changing, Tony, and no one knows who is what anymore. I heard there are some people who are attracted to the same sex and..."

Cindy paused seeing the smile on Tony’s face vanishing.

Tony cleared his throat. He might not understand very well every nature of fair sex, but he could see that Cindy didn’t have any reason to give up these details to him. She was not talking about Marcella directly, but by throwing gossip about her friend, she was surely trying to instigate something.

Yeah, it’s one thing to laugh about it. But Cindy was not laughing, she was blaming. There is a difference.

"What is this about, Cindy?" he asked.

Whatever it was, he should nip it in the bud. There is no one, literally, no one in this world, alive, who would dare to talk bad about Marcella to him. Why should Cindy be the exception?

"All right," Cindy cleared her throat. Tony looked scary, she feared he might hurt her. She knew what kind of man he was. It was acceptable because which high-value man is perfect? But she was not willing to lose her life when she had no chance with him.

"I’m sorry I... It is she, isn’t it?" she asked. "The one you love? Bambina?"

Tony stared at Cindy. "Why should it make a difference?" he asked.

"Did you..." Cindy stood up. "Tony, did you like me even a bit? Or did you find me in the hopes of hearing about her? I know we became friends around the time she started working in the building..."

Cindy’s eyes watered as she waited for Tony to answer her.

Tony sat crossing his legs. "Did you develop any feelings for me, Cindy? Because I was upfront about my feelings for you. You knew I would never develop any sort of feelings toward you. I’ve blatantly refused your advances plenty of times. Uh!" Tony gestured for her to not say a word.

"No, it was not just once. And no, you weren’t drunk, Cindy. You pretended to be drunk the three times you threw yourself at me. There’s a difference." Tony scoffed.

He knew this day would come. But Cindy is acting a little too much more than he predicted. But he needed to keep her away from now on. He’s a married man. He cannot have female pals. Not when the woman is unstable.

Cindy’s lips trembled. She never thought Tony would behave so ungentlemanly toward her. She thought he wouldn’t kiss and tell but he without any shame blamed her.

Was she wrong to try and use her beauty to convince him? No! She’s a woman. She will use whatever weapon she can use to get a good man like Tony for herself. It hurt her to hear him talk about her like a common lady of the night offering herself for money. There surely is a difference.

She was ashamed.

"I threw myself at you? You’re saying that to my face? Why didn’t you stop seeing me then, Tony? Huh? Why did you keep on meeting me? Don’t say you were feeling good about yourself to see a woman make a fool of herself for you. How high and mighty of you! How gentlemanly!" Cindy scoffed.

Tony was exasperated. He didn’t have to deal with this woman’s psychosis. She’s a no-one.

"You were right, Cindy. I only maintained contact with you to get news about Bambina. However, I never did anything for you to make you think my heart was leaning toward you. I made it clear to you from day one, that I only had Bambina in my~"

"Then why didn’t you tell me that woman was Marcella? I thought you were genuinely interested in my day. I thought you cared to listen to my trouble. I thought you were on my side, Tony...Against her! That woman makes my life a living hell each day, and~"

"I’m sorry you feel that way, Cindy," Tony said. He will take no responsibility for Cindy’s delusions. "I think this is it, Cindy. I am sorry it has to end this way. I did enjoy the time I spent with you as a pal. I~"

"End?" Cindy lunged at Tony. "Why? Why should it end, Tony? Please, don’t... We’ve known each other for three long years and... I’m sorry. I’m sorry I fought with you... Let’s forget today happened. Let’s stay friends, this time for real. I- I will... I will be good, Tony. Trust me."

Cindy started begging. She was mad at Tony for using her but when he talked about ending their relationship, she felt her heart cave. She was not ready to lose him. She still has a chance. She cannot let go of an ambitious man like Tony.

"No, Cindy," Tony took a step back to avoid Cindy touching him. "I cannot continue this knowing your feelings. I am sorry. If you value our friendship, just try and get along with my wife. That’s all I ask of you," he said in a soothing tone, trying to calm her down.

The last thing he would want is for Cindy to take out her anger on Marcella. He cannot be the reason she loses her peace.

"Wife?" Cindy asked. "Who- when- Who is your wife? Are you- Did you marry her?" Cindy stuttered.

"Yes," Tony said. He wanted a clean break. He thought Cindy understood him but sadly she didn’t. He was not going to lose any sleep over her but he was willing to put some effort for the sake of Marcella.

"Marcella Dominic. You married Marcella Dominic?" Cindy asked again.

"She’s Marcella DeAngelo and yes, I am married to her," Tony told the truth hoping it would end it there.

Cindy bit her fingernails and spit it out.

Tony sighed.

Go away, Cindy. Please...