Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 58: Sharing is Caring

Chapter 58: Sharing is Caring

Tony stood up and held her hand. "I should have knelt in front of you with the ring," he gently caressed her ring.

"It’s... fine," Marcella got her hand back.

Someone once told her that there was a nerve that comes straight from the heart and ends up in the left ring finger and that was the reason traditionally the wedding band was worn on the left ring finger.

She didn’t know whether it was true or it was a superstition.

At that moment when Tony’s finger touched her finger, she found something touching her heart. She has never felt that way before.

"I think you were kneeling when I asked though," she smiled and rubbed her hand in her nightgown. It was ticklish there.

Tony kept on staring at her hand.

"I wanted to break the news to my friend first. That’s why I removed the ring in the morning," she looked at the ring.

They had a heated discussion in the afternoon and she didn’t want to go to bed before clearing up the misunderstanding. She would never know for sure what he was thinking; maybe it was her fault for not listening properly. But she was moved when he said that fidelity belongs to both of them.

She wanted to know when he was going to get the wedding bands.

"The ring could have been a conversation starter," he said.

It was something that hurt him and he didn’t want to downplay it when she brings it up. He loves her so much and he didn’t want unresolved issues, however small they might be, to grow into resentment.

He would die the day he stops loving her.

Marcella gulped. She’s heard a lot of ’would have been’ and "could have been" from Aiden. At first, she thought he was giving suggestions but she later learned that he was blaming her. He later started commenting on everything she did and didn’t do right to the point where he commented on the clothes she wore.

It was a sore spot for her to hear "could have been" from Tony’s mouth too.

She wouldn’t say she was the smartest person on the earth but still, the level of hurt it brings when the one you like finds you dumb is something else.

She observed Tony to see why he said what he said the way he said it.

However, she looked, he didn’t appear to be blaming her. His voice was gentle and the smile in his eyes told her that he was giving a suggestion and was not blaming her.

She smiled. How terrible it is for her to analyze every word out of her husband’s mouth. She was living a troubling life.

"It could have been," she smiled. "But I couldn’t..."

As she was thinking about it, she realized something.

"The ring is too much for a telephone operator. I guess, that was the reason I tried to hide it," she said.

"Too much?" Tony raised his brows as he was surprised. He wouldn’t have expected this statement from her. But he was more than happy hearing that she did not find their marriage too controversial or abhorrent to talk about. She had an entirely different and weird reason for that.

Too much for Marcella? Why would she even think that? She owned bigger diamonds than the ring.

She had changed after she left her home. She truly survived on her own after she left. Ten years is a lot of time.

"Nothing is too much for you, Marcella. If I could afford something bigger and better I would. Even a piece of the moon wouldn’t be too much for you or a speck of the sun... It’s because you liked this ring, I..."

Tony held her hand and helped her to her seat. He would remind her who she is. She is the all-powerful daughter of Don DeAngelo. She deserves everything under the sky. Treasures from oceans deep are for her to take.

She owes everything.

Marcella watched him without even blinking her eyes. He looked happy. She could see his lips were curved up more than usual.

"I only used Cindy to know details about you. I tried to cozy up to your friend Gloria but she was married and she didn’t even consider talking to me. I had to settle for Cindy," Tony said slicing the pie.

Marcella couldn’t believe what she heard. "You knew Cindy had feelings toward you?" She asked.

Tony could get cruel when he wants something. She didn’t know that before. But it shouldn’t be a surprise. He trapped her in the holding cell while her sister was getting tortured and killed slowly.

Tony didn’t answer her and she didn’t push him either. Whatever the reason he tried to save her, she couldn’t forgive him for choosing to let her sister suffer.

"I have to get to the office now. A bill needs to be checked for final touches. I might have to stay there for the night," Tony said taking a bite of the pie. "This week would be hectic. Maybe this weekend we can get a matching ring."

"Okay," Marcella nodded.

She needs to move on. Tony is a human with flaws. She can try and forget what he did. Maybe he meant everything he said earlier. Or maybe it was all excuses to tell her that even her father’s men would have chosen to protect her over her sister.

But her sister should have been the one to live. Little Joey needs his mother more than anyone else.

"You didn’t have to cook if you are busy," she said bringing up a smile to her face.

"No, I should do something around the house. I cannot just... You too are working and I cannot just live the way I used to. One more thing, I am a heavy sleeper. I didn’t even hear the baby crying. You should wake me up. I can change a diaper and if you teach me, I can feed him too. It’s not your duty alone to look after the baby," he said.

Marcella chuckled. "You’ll change his diapers and give him the bottle?" she asked. She found that funny.

"What’s so funny about it? He’s my nephew too. I should be responsible too. Sharing is caring," he said.

"Okay," Marcella agreed as he sounded so serious. But she didn’t have any hopes for it.

That time, the baby cried.

"I think he’s hungry," she said.

She’s found that the baby cries differently each time. He had a different cry when he was hungry and when he needed a diaper change. He had a distinct cry when he was colicky too.

"Wait," Tony stood up. "I’ll get him. I want to see how you prepare the bottle."

Marcella walked to the stove with a smile. She didn’t have high hopes. It took her some tries to get it right but Tony takes everything as a challenge. He can try and see how he fares.

Tony walked out with the baby. He was holding the baby in his arms and his hold was almost perfect. By how big the little one’s mouth was open, she could understand how hungry he was. He went silent for a moment only to suckle on his finger.

He definitely is hungry.

Marcella showed Tony the cleaned and sterilized bottles. She then explained the amount of formula needed for him and showed him to check the temperature of the milk before feeding him.

"Hold the bottle like this. Make sure there is no air bubble and..."

Marcella showed him the proper way. Tony looked a little uncomfortable and scared at first. But then he got a hang of it.

"No, no... careful..." Marcella got the bottle out. The baby sucked in a lot at a time and choked.

Marcella got the baby and patted him laying him on her shoulder.

"Did I screw up?" Tony said.

"No, I did the same mistake too. You cannot tilt the bottle too much. You have to have just enough in the nipple and tilt the bottle slowly as he sucks," she explained.

Tony looked apologetic.

"See, he’s fine now. Ready to drink more, aren’t you little Joey? You are one greedy baby, aren’t you? You’ll greedily suck without knowing how to swallow, aren’t you?"

She cooed the baby and he stared at her with his bright eyes.

"You’re so amazing," Tony looked at her with his bright eyes. He meant it. She knows everything.

"Am I?" Marcella smiled.

He was all praises for her and she loved it.

Who doesn’t like to be praised?

"You are..."

Marcella finished feeding him. He looked tired and he slept before she finished one lullaby. She made sure he was surrounded by pillows, so he won’t roll down the bed. He was too young to roll but she didn’t think it was wrong to be careful.

Tony was standing by the door.

"He’s getting used to the bed, isn’t he?" he asked.

She couldn’t see his expression because the lights were on his back, but if she made a guess, he sounded disappointed.

"I think he was used to the bed. He sleeps well on the bed," she said and walked to the door. She wanted to clean up the dining table and the kitchen.

Tony didn’t move away and was still blocking the door.

"That’s not good..." Tony said. "For us...to have a baby between us..."

Marcella’s heart skipped a beat.