Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 57: Use Me

Chapter 57: Use Me

"Is he asleep?" Tony peeked through the crack in the door. Making sure that the baby was sleeping, he opened the door wider. "Dinner’s ready."

Marcella nodded. He was dressed, thankfully. But he was rather overdressed for dinner at home. He was wearing his formal shirt and trousers. His hair was slightly wet and messy. The contrast brought out a childish charm.

Marcella averted her eyes. She couldn’t ever see him as nothing but charming. She couldn’t understand it. Was it a curse? Is first love that powerful?

"You cooked all that?" she asked seeing the spread on the table.

There was meatloaf, mashed potatoes, peas, beans, an apple pie, and wine, of course.

"From scratch, except for the pie. Didn’t want to poison you by cooking desserts," Tony smiled and pulled the chair for her.

Marcella took a bite. "It’s good," she said. "Perfect..."

Tony smiled and started eating.

"I remember my dad cooking dinner for us all the time. Do you?" she asked.

It’s been a while since a man cooked dinner for her. Maybe Tony is the first man. Fathers don’t count, do they?

"I do," Tony said. "I’ll never forget Don DeAngelo. He was a mentor, a father figure to me..." He bowed his head.

Marcella couldn’t see his face as his fringes covered his face but she could see that he was emotional.

"My dad impressed a lot of people..." Marcella smiled. She’s been hearing a lot of good things about her father lately and her heart was joyous talking about her father.

"I’m lucky I was one of them," Tony said. He respects Don DeAngelo so much he couldn’t compare it with anything else.

"You are impressive too, Tony," she said.

Having said that, she noticed Tony’s expression. He was staring at her and his lips were glistening as he smiled. His eyes looked so gentle under the warm lights.

"Not as much as you," Tony said. His eyes were unwaveringly focused on her.

She didn’t think he was lying. Or maybe he was. What does she know about him?

"How so?" she asked.

She wanted to hear what he says. Even if it was lip service, she wondered what Tony would say about her.

Tony leaned on the table with his hand on his cheek and grinned. He looked to the side as if he was reminiscing about the past.

"What?" she asked. Just his smile made her heart pound.

"Back then, in your house... do you remember the canteen? You’d often go there...?"

"Yes!" Marcella smiled. She loved eating there and spending time with her father’s men. They’d tease and play with her. Some would play fight with her. She learned more about self-defense with those men rather than any classes she attended. They’d put her in her place showing why they are good at what they do, but she always came out knowing more than she did before.

Sometimes, they’d sneak her alcohol without her father’s knowledge. Some would talk to her about their troubles. She was the most welcome there. There never was a dull moment.

"Whenever you went there, they’d celebrate you and it would get noisy. They never listened to you when you’d confront them about calling you Bambi..."

"Yeah," Marcella chuckled. "True..."

"Have you noticed how they reacted when Donna and Missy went there? The entire place would go silent and they’d stand up for them."

"Yeah, they’d hurriedly clean up the place, hide all the alcohol and snub the cigarettes. They respected my mother. Mellissa was a lot like my mother too. She’d get mad when they got rowdy...They respected them more," Marcella said.

She thought that was part of them being ladies. She was awed by how commanding they were.

"You’re wrong," Tony said. "They respected you the most. Almost the same as they did your father. They respected you for who you are."

"No way," Marcella couldn’t believe it. What does Tony imply by saying that those men respected her for who she was? Did he mean that they respected her mother and sister because of her father?

"They treated me as their dumb little brother," she said. She truly believed that was the case.

"Dumb?" Tony scoffed. "No one thought you are dumb. I know. I grew up with them. And... I’m surprised you haven’t realized how similar you are to your father. You are in a way a carbon copy of your father."

"You really are a sweet talker, Tony. No wonder everyone likes you," she said with a smile.

"I’m not sweet-talking you, Marcella," Tony stood up and sliced up another piece of meat for her. "I don’t have to lie about what I truly believe."

"Oh?" Marcella looked at her plate. She couldn’t believe she had eaten everything on the plate already. Maybe she was too hungry because she skipped lunch.

"What else do you believe?" she asked.

She didn’t know whether he was telling her the truth or not. He looked like he did. She believed he did. She wanted it to be the truth.

Because... it uplifted her soul. His words made her believe that she was worth something. It made her feel good.

It had been a long while since she’s felt this way.

"I can bring at least ten men in front of you, right now, who would willingly give up their life for you. Me included. Do not ever think that we would do that just for our loyalty to your father, Marcella...It’s because it’s you. It’s you..." His voice broke as he spoke.

Marcella dropped the knife. It fell on the plate and the fork slipped from her hand. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She looked at Tony sitting in front of her with the same gentle smile he used to have for her. He had more to say and yet he tried to swallow his words down.

Including me... He really said that. He said that he would die for me.

"I wouldn’t expect you to..."

Marcella gulped seeing Tony standing up from his seat. He came to her side and knelt to her side. Her heart pounded non-stop, she thought she would throw up what she ate.

"I meant what I said, Marcella... Use me," he placed his hand on his heart. "You said it’s a man’s world. I don’t believe that’s the case for you. You’re more than a hundred men, Marcella. You have the support of a hundred thousand hearts. You’re..." he smiled as he looked for words.

Maybe he didn’t find any words, he took in a deep breath.

"If you think that you don’t have a place, then, use me as you please. I don’t mind doing anything for you. I’m at your service, forever. And one more thing~"

"You’re telling me it’s okay if I use you...? And what? Throw you away if I don’t need you?" Marcella asked. She didn’t understand what he was saying. Why would he say that?

She believed he was after her for the Codex. But till then, he made no mention of it; not even indirectly. All he does is... uplifting her and giving her confidence while humbling himself in front of her.

Even if he was ambitious enough to do anything to get her by his side, didn’t he succeed? Why is he not using his "authority" as the husband and the man of the house? Why is he kneeling in front of her, offering his service to her?

Not just his service, but his life too?

What is going on?

"You’re talking about divorce?" she asked.

She knew that was not what he meant. But she asked anyway. Because the only other reason she could think of is...

Love.

Does Tony truly love her?

"Divorce is not an option, Marcella," Tony’s voice turned deep and his eyes had a glint of annoyance. "I take the "till death do us part" portion of the vow very seriously."

Marcella raised her brows. That seemed like a threat. If he didn’t mention giving up his life for her, she would have taken it as a threat.

Till death do us part—the marriage is valid until one of them dies.

If she took it as a threat, she would have believed Tony was talking about having her killed if she wanted out of the marriage. But...

It’s not a threat. She could see in his eyes that he was not threatening her. He was giving her a solemn promise.

He would die and relieve her of the marriage if she wanted out.

Tears bubbled from the bottom of her heart.

Why? Does he love me that much?

"Until then," Tony continued. "You were wrong, Marcella. Fidelity in a marriage is not only for the wife to keep. Marriage is a cart drawn by two horses. Both will have to work the same. Marriage is not giving 50-50. No. Marriage is both giving 100%..."

He bowed his head.

"In that regard, I want to apologize to you for failing."

Marcella stood up and placed her hand on his shoulder. She didn’t like him kneeling in front of her like that. It did not feel good at all.

"Do not kneel in front of me, Tony. I do not appreciate it," she said.

It didn’t feel right to see Tony kneeling in front of her like a servant.

"If we are equal, then you should not be kneeling in front of me," she said.

Tony looked up. He smiled.