Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 70: The Reason He Refused The Kiss

Chapter 70: The Reason He Refused The Kiss

He sulked for some days. He even scored very low on a midterm test. He got straight Ds. He’s usually a straight-A student. He didn’t remember getting even an A- or B+ on any of his tests. His grandmother was worried and brought him to Don DeAngelo to straighten him up.

Don DeAngelo talked to him for some time; not about his studies but about other things. He asked if he was getting bullied or if anyone was abusing him or saying hurtful words to him. When he said no to all of that, he asked who was that girl he found attractive.

He couldn’t answer him this time. He was not a youngster who was innocent enough to be open with his thoughts.

He lied. He lied that he was not attracted to any girl. He was not interested in dating, he lied.

’Are you plotting on how to take my seat?’ Don DeAngelo asked.

Tony thought he must be mad and filled with hatred for him but there was no such expression on Don’s face. He was smiling just like he always did.

He wondered for a moment if Don DeAngelo didn’t mind it if he vied for his seat. Maybe he planned on leaving it with him.

In the fatherly warmth of Don DeAngelo, Tony lied. Well, not about everything. But he told one of the things that bothered him. He told Don DeAngelo that he did not like that he was an orphan.

’You have me!’

Don DeAngelo patted his back that day. In his eyes, he saw a fatherly affection.

’Prove yourself to me, Tony,’ he said. ’I do not want my girls to live in danger like me.’

He thought that maybe Don was promising his daughter for him if he proved himself. It was the spark that ignited his unmotivated heart. His faith in Don DeAngelo and his hope that he could get Marcella’s hand pushed him toward his goal.

He didn’t feel belittled anymore. He looked forward to his future. He was going to have everything he wanted. He was going to get married to the one he loved.

That was the motivation he needed.

He took every step considering how he could protect Marcella. He made acquaintances in the higher places although he didn’t like most of them, he decided to study law for the sake of her as he knew how much she loved her father, and so much more he didn’t care to remember.

His actions weren’t unnoticed by Don DeAngelo. A month before the prom, Don DeAngelo called him and asked him to ask Marcella to the prom. He said that he didn’t trust Marcella with any other boy.

Back then, Tony couldn’t understand why Don worried more for Marcella when she was the strongest one. But maybe he knew her best. She was not as strong as he believed her to be. Aiden managed to break her.

He asked her for the prom and she said yes. He had a feeling that she would say yes, but hearing it from her and seeing that smile on her face... Her eyes were so seductive as she said yes with a smile.

He wanted to kiss her. The feelings he was suppressing as he focused on his future came rushing out as if the floodgates were blown off with dynamite.

One of his "friends" came out and mocked him for asking the "dyke" for the dance. Rudolf’s nickname he gave for Marcella stuck all through high school among the boys.

He could have stopped it but he was selfish and let that name stick. He didn’t want any boys to circle around her. Even then, he was surprised by the number of boys who tried asking her.

She denied every one of them and said yes to him. He wanted others to see that she was the perfect woman only to have their mouth shut. He made "secret arrangements" to make her the prom queen.

Their school chose the Prom Queen by voting. It’s not that hard to manipulate voting.

Seriously, who else was eligible for the title of queen if not for her? She is the queen, the goddess, and anything and everything.

He was flying in the clouds as they prepared for prom. He suffered from the worst flu of his life in that month but even that didn’t deter him.

She visited him. He couldn’t sleep the entire night as he kept on staring at the chair, she sat in.

The day of the prom came. Wearing the tuxedo she chose for him, with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and a corsage, he knocked on her door.

Don DeAngelo opened the door. He could sense that Don DeAngelo was missing his usual cheer. Donna was all smiles as she welcomed him.

’Don’t worry,’ she said. ’he’s just acting petty because he’s scared he’s going to lose his daughter.’

He didn’t understand it then or now. How can he lose his daughter just because she goes out with another man? She’s his daughter! She loves him the most.

’You will bring her back just as you take her.’

Don DeAngelo warned him. He understood it was a real warning because Don DeAngelo had never used that tone on him ever.

’I have no other intention other than showing her a good time,’ he answered.

That was his intention. He wanted to make her happy. He wanted to do that for a long time and he now had the perfect chance for that.

Don gave him a list of instructions which he had noted on a note. Donna got it from his hand and tore it down to pieces before he even got to read it.

Everything was odd. Donna looked happy and Don looked anxious and threatening. Donna went to get Marcella. He eagerly waited to see her all dolled up.

It’s not only different because she was dolled up, but what made his heart race was the realization that she was going to get dolled up for him.

He was fluttering like a butterfly in the wind engulfed in the scent of flowers when he was pulled out of his reverie. Literally.

Don DeAngelo pulled him by the collar.

’Antony Crawford,’ he hissed. ’If you dare to touch her other than for the dance, I am making sure you will never see her for the rest of her life. I can pay for her studies overseas. So, mind it!’

In that chilly night, when she pretended to be drunk and asked him to kiss her, only her father’s words echoed in his mind.

’No,’ he said blankly without any thoughts.

I cannot afford not to be near her. I would die if I won’t be able to see her every day.