Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 80: Deep Waters

Chapter 80: Deep Waters

Tony hugged her and kissed her head. "Why are you even thanking me?" he chuckled. "You’re..."

"I liked it... the proposal," Marcella smelled the flowers.

What can she say? She used to laugh at romantic gestures a man used to display like giving flowers and offering the jacket sort of things. Maybe she was just jealous like those women said.

She loved receiving those types of gestures from Tony. Her heart felt light. Maybe she has accepted Tony wholeheartedly as she had decided to bury the spite, she had for him regarding her sister’s death.

But then, if she still has the spite buried in her heart, has she truly accepted him wholeheartedly?

She probably will never understand how Tony could decide to let Mellissa die just to protect her. He knew Mellissa just as much as he knew her. His brother too was in danger. And yet, he chose to hide her.

How could he be that hard-hearted? How could he live with that decision knowing he could have saved his brother too? Doesn’t he feel even a little guilt looking at Joey?

If... If I become someone irrelevant in his heart one day, will I face the same fate as Mellissa?

The more she thought about it, the more she found bitterness ruining her peace. That was the reason she decided not to think about it.

She looked at the man standing in front of her as if his life depended on her little emotions. It made her smile from her heart.

"I’ll put these in water," she walked to the kitchen. "You’ve set the table!" she exclaimed seeing the dining table. "Why are you so adorable?"

She turned and smiled at him.

Tony was awed by her smile. She must be in a good mood. It was nice to see her smile from the heart; just like she did in the past.

"Your friend came to talk to me and warn me that she’d blow my head off if I ever hurt you," he said following her to the kitchen.

"My friend? Which one?" Marcella asked filling the vase with water.

Tony cocked his head with a mocking smile.

"What?" Marcella placed the vase on the counter. She glared at him with a pout as he looked at her as if he was astonished by her question. "I have many, many friends."

"Right," Tony chuckled and pulled the chair for her. "I know...I’m sorry for wrongly implying you have only one friend."

Marcella covered her mouth and smiled. He really is...considerate.

"Gloria came to meet you?" She asked. Even she knew that Gloria is the only friend who would bother to talk to her. "She didn’t threaten you, did she?"

"She did... In a way..." Tony shrugged. "I told her that I will look after you better than anyone in this world. She left convinced by me."

Marcella stared at him with a smile. She had a feeling that was not what they talked about but she was not that interested in knowing their conversation from Tony who like to measure his words. He’d skip all the details she wants to know anyway.

Gloria would tell her everything. She will ask Gloria first thing Monday morning.

"Mr. Butler is trying to buy a house in the suburbs." Tony said lighting the candles in the room.

"He is?" Marcella almost stood up. "I’m glad..." she patted her chest. "They had disagreements for some time about starting a family. Gloria was ready but her husband felt like he was not financially steady to support children. He wanted to wait and...It caused troubles in their marriage. I am glad he changed his mind."

Tony said nothing. He is not someone who gets interested in someone else’s personal issues. But he remembered Cindy creating a weird story knowing little about the issues between the Butlers. Cindy spoke with conviction that Gloria kept her husband away because she liked women.

What a b*tch!

He thought he knew people but maybe the poets of the past were right. No one can fully figure out a woman.

He didn’t want Cindy anywhere near Marcella. Marcella is not an innocent flower, but she’s not cunning like Cindy. She could never spin gossip out of thin air with utmost certainty as Cindy did.

Cindy should be sent out of the city.

"Gloria likes the neighborhood of Cherrywood. Hope he gets her a place there," Marcella rubbed her palms together.

"I can help them," Tony said.

"You will? Ah!!!" Marcella’s eyes lit up with joy. "Thank you, Tony!"

She was not surprised about Tony’s ability to help her. He certainly can help. She was surprised about his willingness to help. She was happy he is willing to help her friend out.

Tony sat across the table with a smile on his face. He didn’t know why it made him happy that she accepted his help.

"He’s planning on opening a gun shop next to his pawn shop," Tony said.

"That’s perfect! I can’t wait to tell Gloria all about it!" Marcella was exhilarated for Gloria. Gloria’s long-time wish was to start a family. Now her husband is on the same side as her. She wished the best for them.

"Maybe allow the husband to break the news to his wife?" Tony suggested. "It appears that he is settling everything around him in secret to surprise her."

"You are right!" Marcella banged the table.

She was so happy for Gloria she didn’t think from her husband’s side. Tony is right. She should let Gloria be surprised by her husband.

She thought about how men think. Gloria was worried day by day thinking that her husband will never come around and that he didn’t care for her feelings anymore. She even doubted that he didn’t love her anymore. But he was trying to make Gloria’s wishes come true behind her back to surprise her.

The plan in a man’s heart is like deep water, they say. It is hard to figure out what a man is thinking.

In a way, Gloria’s husband is not so different from Tony. She doesn’t know much of what Tony was thinking. Just like today.

Her eyes ended up on the flowers he bought her. She didn’t expect such a sweet gesture from him.

She understood why Gloria could forgive her husband just with a bouquet. There is something mystique in flowers that just makes the heart happy.