Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 53: The Truth

Chapter 53: The Truth

"My husband saw everything going on with his eyes. He didn’t have any good opinions about Don DeAngelo till then. Most people he knew didn’t like Don DeAngelo as his neighborhood gang was in a turf war with DeAngelo’s people. He was the wide-eyed rookie who wanted to change the world by getting rid of all dons. But..." Gloria wetted her lips.

"My husband saw how the police got handouts from the local gang leaders. When Don DeAngelo became their "enemy" they tried to get him by illicit methods. They succeeded in a way, but then..." Gloria took a deep breath.

Marcella could see that Gloria has a lot of respect for her father.

"My husband was so elated with the judgment of the court. But they got him in the end, those b@stards," Gloria fisted her hands.

Marcella’s heart skipped a beat. Is Gloria implying that the cops were responsible for her father’s death? Come to think of it, there is always that possibility.

She wondered what other conspiracies were going on against her father. If it was just hatred, his enemies wouldn’t come after his children this hard. Who did my father anger that much?

She didn’t think it was about the codex either. She knew a lot of politicians, city councilors, and businessmen who had all sorts of deals with her father. But thinking about it deeply, are those secrets that abominable that they would kill to keep that secret?

The one who is after them might not even be associated with her father.

Marcella’s palms went cold. That truth is far scarier than an old enemy wanting revenge. If he is someone with whom her father didn’t have any contact, finding that person would be like finding a canary in a coal mine.

"Mars!"

Marcella came out of her reverie as Gloria pinched her arm.

"Yes," Marcella took a deep breath.

"You were saying..." Gloria raised her eyebrows. She had found a pack of peanuts and started eating it.

"I... I am Don DeAngelo’s youngest daughter. My sister died recently... Mellissa Romano... she is my sister..." Marcella bit her lips. Gloria’s hand froze dropping the peanut she was holding.

"Yeah... I am Marella DeAngelo. I am now married to the chief of staff of Congressman Feldstein. His name is Tony-uh- Antony Crawford."

"Are you kidding me?" Gloria shouted coming out of her shock.

"No, that’s what I wanted to tell you earlier. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my real name before," Marcella said.

"You didn’t..." Gloria furrowed her brows. "I’ve tried my best to... Why?" she asked her lips trembling. She looked hurt.

Marcella held her hand. "I was scared, Glo. You are my only friend. People don’t like my father in these parts of the city and I... I thought if you knew who I am, you’d... want nothing to do with me. You are so precious and I wouldn’t..."

Gloria let out a deep sigh. "I can’t believe you are a gang lord’s daughter. And also someone I respected so much. My husband said how loyal his men were. They were not with him for his money. Those people were willing to give their life for them and Don-your father was calming them down so they won’t get hurt. He was awed by the loyalty he commanded and the respect he was given. He concluded that he must be a good man."

"He was," Marcella said. Her eyes filled with tears. "He was a great man. He helped anyone who came to him and he was a great father. There is no man like him."

Gloria held her hand. "I know..."

Marcella nodded and wiped the corners of her eyes.

"I was told that the youngest was raised like a boy and bold like a lion..." She looked at Marcella with her eyes squinted. "You’re nothing like that. You’re worse than a kitten."

Marcella shrugged. "I reinvented myself to become a lady," she chuckled.

"A lady?" Gloria looked at her from top to bottom. "As if..."

"Do I not look like a lady?" Marcella asked. She tried to impersonate her mother for the past few years. Was she failing?

"Look like..." Gloria shook her head. She couldn’t even ask whether she was not a lady. Even she knows that she was pretending to be a lady; or just a version of a lady. "You dress like one; I’m not going to argue, but..."

"But?"

"But you’re not a lady," Gloria said. She was so sure.

It piqued Marcella’s interest more. She thought she was impersonating a "lady" so well, everyone would see her as a lady. But Gloria differs in her opinion.

"Being a lady is not what you wear or how you act. It’s a... state of being. You do not respect yourself enough to be a lady," Gloria said.

Marcella was tongue-tied. Gloria at times would give out such profound words of knowledge and she couldn’t even find anything wrong with what she said.

"It’s not saying that you’re a bad person. You’re just... I always felt like you were not being yourself."

Marcella let out a deep breath. She felt like truth hit her like a gust of cold wind hit her face. Gloria was right.

"Why did you leave your home?" Gloria asked.

Marcella was staring at her palm for some time as she ruminated. Maybe she was self-reflecting. That was good. But when Gloria saw the sadness filling her face, she wanted to change the topic.

"What Cindy talking about earlier... Was that the reason?" Gloria asked.

Marcella looked up.

Gloria rubbed her arm assuring her. "I am not going to judge you, Marcella. I want to understand you better. I can see you have a high opinion of your father. Why did you leave your home? Did he force you to marry the man you don’t like?"

"He did arrange a marriage for me even after I refused..." Marcella sighed.

"So you slept with him?" Gloria asked.

Her eyes widened with curiosity.

Marcella let out a deep breath.

"It’s..."

"I will not forgive you if you lie to me, Mars," Gloria glared at Marcella.

Marcella bit her lips. She then took in a deep breath. "Gloria, I will tell you the truth that not even my mother knows...