Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 68: She Married Her Father

Chapter 68: She Married Her Father

"Why are you doing this?" she asked the boys standing here shaking in excitement.

She saw the twinkle in their eyes as if they are the groupies meeting their favorite rock star. She didn’t know why she deserves this adoration. She has done nothing for them.

These boys, with their whole life ahead of them... why would they come here, to this dilapidated place and do what they are told only to be used as pawns?

Why? Were they pressured? Were they left with no other choice?

She saw those boys and she felt sorry for them. She didn’t fail to remember the times she encountered this particular gang before. She thought they might be out to get her but they never minded her. The last time she saw them, they saved her.

She thought it was luck but it was by design.

Tony’s design.

These young people are under the control of Tony doing what he tells them to do. He’s the puppeteer and they are his puppets doing what he wishes to do.

It’s one of the reasons she disagreed with her father. How could he try to keep her safe while pulling boys her age into a violent life?

She thought she was out of this life. It was a sweet surprise to hear Tony wanted to run for office. He never had any contact with her father. She thought he was out. She thought she’d be out of that life and can live the life of an elite out in the open. But this life is not leaving her.

She crossed her wrists over her chest. She’s tied. Maybe she can never leave.

"We love this life," one boy said.

Another pulled a finger gun gesture. "It’s cool," he said.

Tony saw the disappointment on her face and brought her out.

"This is not right, Tony. They are kids!" she said.

"I don’t care if it is right or wrong. It’s necessary, Marcella," he said. "You know it’s necessary."

Marcella could only scoff.

Why does she attract people who are extreme? Aiden talked as if he was a hero who can bring everyone to utopia. Tony is acting as a ganglord who doesn’t care about anyone.

Can’t she have normal people around?

Tony ran his fingers through his hair and looked away. He couldn’t believe she was still not out of the "phase" she went through, a decade ago.

She listened to Aiden’s speeches and accused her father of doing more damage than good. She wanted her father to pay his taxes and donate to charity. She even repeated Aiden’s ideological speeches in the canteen causing a stir.

Her father thought it was a phase until she left the house. He thought she’d grow out of it. He didn’t have the patience to handle it again.

He loved her to death but she can be annoying at times. She hasn’t changed in that aspect. He would have appreciated it if she lost that characteristic rather than her confidence.

"You said you were going to start a war... You talked to Caruso as if... Why?" he asked her making sure no one is around. He couldn’t understand her. "I thought you wanted to rebuild what your father lost..."

"I wanted everyone to believe that, Tony. How can you not understand that?" she sighed. "I have a baby to protect, Tony. I cannot be... Damn... Mclaughlin... Why does he want to meet me? He should know of your little gang, shouldn’t he? Is it a trap?" she asked.

She thought people were just curious about her after what happened to those with the DeAngelo surname. She wanted to create an illusion that she was back in the business to lure out the one who wants her.

But now... everything has changed.

"You think I cannot handle McLaughlin? I got Feinstein the congressional seat against McLaughlin’s support. You won’t have to worry about~"

"That’s how you got him to win? Using the gang?" Marcella let out a deep breath. "My God, Tony! God help me..."

She bowed her head.

She thought she was marrying a powerful man so different from her father. Someone who can walk in the light with no shame with his chin high as he was powerful.

But....

I married my father... What the...

She looked at him and sighed.

I married my father...

Guess, I can’t have my cake and eat it.

She sighed again.

"What? Are you disappointed already, Marcella?" he asked. "What happened to your promises? Are you regretting the marriage already?"

"That’s why I am surprised, Tony. You are the smartest guy I know. You said you were going to run! How did you lose your sense? What will you do when your little secret comes out? Being married to me is already a hindrance to your ambition and now~"

"Stop it," Tony gripped her shoulders. "Just stop this, Marcella."

Marcella pressed her lips. He was angry.

She bowed her head and leaned on his chest. "Oh, Tony..." she sighed again.

She didn’t know what was going on around her. She didn’t know whether she should be angry or she should cry in despair.

Tony hugged her and her eyes widened out of shock. She tried to get out of his hug but he patted her back gently.

"You’re not a hindrance, Marcella. You never will be. You’re the opposite. You’re the strong wind in my wings that helps me soar... You’ve only raised me up so far, Marcella. Do not say~"

He stopped as she started laughing. He met her eyes. "What?" he asked.

"You’re mad because I called myself a hindrance?" she asked.

"Yes," Tony said. "Never repeat that to me. You have no idea..."

"No idea of what?" Marcella asked. He looked like he swallowed the rest of the sentence.

Tony looked away. Marcella saw him trying to control his grin and...

Is he blushing?

"Let them go, Tony..." Marcella grabbed his lapel and said. "Please... Let’s stop everything. I do not want to continue doing what my father~"

"Stop?" Tony grabbed her hands and she winced as his hold was tight; her hands hurt. "I cannot stop, Marcella. I stop, I die or worse... You die. I am not taking that chance."

"Let’s do things differently, Tony. There are cops who would protect~"

"Cops? Have you gone nuts?" Tony scoffed. "The most corrupt, power-hungry people are cops. And you’re saying~"

"You trust them enough, don’t you, Tony? Huh? You left me in a holding cell for an entire night with cops. If that is your opinion of the cops, why did you leave me with those scumbags, Tony? What did you expect to happen to me, a woman, in a holding cell?"

Marcella took a step back and gritted her teeth. She herself found the idea of getting help from the cops absurd, but as she recalled that night, her blood warmed up and she was enraged. She fisted her hands and her chest hurt as she held her breath. She wanted to scream out her pain.

While her sister was getting tortured, she was kept in a place where she was looked at like a piece of meat. Tony did that. No one else, but Tony.

Tony was taken aback as a pang of guilt hit him. But he did not regret that night. He had no other way.

But looking at her...

She was hurt as evident from her anger. And the words she says...

A woman, she says, in a holding cell, with cops...

Oh, f*ck! I thought she was safe there.

"Who?" he stepped forward and tried to hold her hand.

Marcella whipped her hand away and walked toward their home.

"Stop! Who?" he asked holding her by the arm.

Marcella jerked as she felt the coldness in his hand. "Does it matter, Tony? Huh? What are you going to do? Bring your gang of little boys and beat the shit out of that fat face? What happened, happened. You did it, Tony," she poked his chest.

"You... You did it!"