Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 81: A Thousand Kisses

Chapter 81: A Thousand Kisses

Tony looked at her with his hands supporting his cheek.

"What?" she asked. The twinkle in his eyes showed his happiness.

"You’re happy," he said with the divine smile that belonged only to him.

"I am," she said after a short silence. "You made me happy," she added.

She might not tell him her every thought and he might be hiding things from her but she decided to at least be open about the good feelings.

They are married. In any relationship, better things must be addressed too. Her mother had told her that happiness doubles when shared.

And... Her mother was right. The proof was in Tony’s smile.

"The flowers or the ring?" he asked.

He was happy beyond happy to see her happy. He wanted to know the reason and so he could always see her happy.

"...and because you decided to help Gloria even though I didn’t ask," she added. "I’m happy you care about me...It is not the first time you are being considerate toward me, but it’s a nice change to feel embraced in the heart. I feel warm..."

Marcella hugged herself. She truly felt the warmth shrouding her. It was a nice feeling; the security and content knowing that she has someone to fall back on brings.

Tony looked at her without blinking his eyes. Marcella sensed his stare and cleared her throat. She’s really behaving like a child.

It probably is the warmth from the candles.

"Sorry..." she stood up to carve the chicken.

Tony got the knife from her hands. "You’ve changed a lot, Marcella," he said with a smile.

"For the worse, I suppose?" she asked.

She used to be stronger at heart even though situations were terrible in the past. But these few days, Tony is only seeing the worst of her with the mood swings and annoyance.

"No..." Tony replied immediately. "If I knew you liked flowers, I would have offered you flowers every time I saw you. If I knew you liked to kiss me, I would have kissed you a thousand times before that night. If I knew..."

He exhaled sharply. In the light of the candle, she saw his eyes glistening.

"A thousand kisses?" she asked covering her lips tactfully. Her lips tingled when he talked about the kiss.

"From the day my heart skipped a beat for you... from the night I dreamed of you and woke up with a need to change my undies... A kiss a day from that day until the prom would have been easily a thousand kisses," he said plating the chicken.

Marcella looked at her plate unable to face him. He is saying that he was in love with her almost three years before the prom.

"Ho-how?" she wetted her lips. "Why did you refuse me then?"

"Your father," Tony said.

Marcella inhaled sharply as she met his eyes. "Did he..."

All these years, it was like a festering wound in her heart, giving her insecurity. And the reason was so simple.

Tony nodded. She sighed.

"Why did I never consider that possibility? Why didn’t you tell me?" She asked.

"It was..." Tony smacked his lips. "I missed the chance," he looked down. His eyes were drooped and the corners of his lips were hanging low. "It was a surprise you asked me... I thought you liked Aiden even then..."

"Oh...?" Marcella leaned back on the chair. "I..."

She didn’t know what to say. Yes, she talked about Aiden all the time to Tony and she fought with her father stating the revolutionary speeches Aiden made. She was very interested in Aiden. She could see why Tony misunderstood.

Back in high school, she liked Aiden, but not the way she liked Tony. She never wanted to kiss Aiden or wished for Aiden to take her to prom.

Tony cleared his throat and walked to the wine rack. "I’ll get the wine..."

He regretted bringing up Aiden to her. He could have avoided talking about him knowing the facts. She did not like Aiden that way back then. He knew it after the talk they had at the party. And recently he learned that her dating life with Aiden did not go well for her. Why would he try to prod on her wounds just when she was happy?

He digs his own hole when it comes to her. He and his darned mouth!

Marcella drank some water seeing Tony’s back. She could "clear things up" but what good will it do? What can she say? I did not like Aiden that way during high school but I ended up dating him for almost seven years afterward...? Is that...believable? She found it was unnecessary to explain it now.

They are married. Should they dwell on the past?

Marcella held the glass as Tony poured the wine. He was smiling as usual. He clearly doesn’t want to talk about it. She was glad.

"That looks expensive..." she read the label of the wine. "It is expensive. Wow! Mr. Chief of Staff, you are rich," she giggled.

"It was a gift," he winked. "...for the Congressman and I misplaced it..." Tony switched off the lights.

Marcella looked around. The entire place turned romantic with the illumination of the candles. She liked it.

"Too bad you forgot to replace it..." Marcella giggled. She couldn’t believe Tony would steal the gifts for the Congressman.

Tony laughed along. He was glad the dark cloud he brought upon them dissipated without doing any damage.

Both of them started to eat.

"This is great..." Tony said after tasting the food.

"Is it? I’m not that good..." Marcella said. She couldn’t control her grin though.

Tony praised me!

"I can see you, lazy cat..." he tilted his head with a playful smile.

"See what?"

"You’re planning on making me do all the cooking by pretending you’re a bad cook, aren’t you?"

"Yeah, exactly! Oh dear, what shall I do? I was caught red-handed!" Marcella made the fainting gesture.

Both of them laughed as they ate talking about mundane and silly things.

As they finished eating, Marcella couldn’t help but stare at Tony. She misunderstood him and he did too. But still, they are here, united, as a man and wife.

She had nothing to complain about.

"We are each our own devil, and we make this world our hell," she said looking into his eyes. The alluring mystique behind those blue eyes made her heart skip a beat.

How can she hate and love someone this much? She must be missing a part of her brain.

In the silence of the dining room, the candle flickered. The curve of his lips widened and in the romantic ambiance, the thin lines around his eyes gave her a thrill.

"Quoting Oscar Wilde?" he chuckled comfortably, leaning forward.

"Isn’t that true in our case?" she asked.

She observed him, trying to digest every single expression on his face.

He went silent. His lips pressed to a line. His pensive eyes never left hers except for the few seconds when he placed down his cutleries. She still couldn’t guess what goes on in that smart brain of his.

It is this, she thought. I am a decently adventurous person. He’s an adventure. Maybe that’s his allure!

"Then, Birdie," he stood up and walked to her.

Marcella’s back got stiff as she tried to figure out what he was going to do.

Also, is that a pet name? Birdie? It’s nice. But that came out of nowhere...

She followed him with his eyes. He kneeled beside her and held her hand. Only when she felt the warmth of his big hand on hers did she realize that she had been holding her breath for a while.

This man is going to be the end of her.

"Let’s be angels," he kissed her hand. With a smooth smile that reached his eyes, he looked at her. "Let’s be each other’s angels, and let’s make this world our heaven."

"You are..."

Unable to find any words to say to him, she buried her face in her hand. Her chest was heaving as if she ran a marathon.

This man surely is going to be the end of her.

"What?" he chuckled while teasing her to show her face. "What am I?"

"You’re a brute, Mr. Crawford. That’s what you are," she said trying to hold her stoic expression to relay her "disapproval" of his methods. But in front of his goofy smile, she lost.

She lost, and she didn’t feel defeated.

She felt delighted in his presence.

"Mark my words, Birdie. I am taking you to the White House," he said.

Marcella opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. The determination shining in his eyes...

He’s not talking about a visit to the White House, is he?

No way! No f*cking way!

Her eyes widened. But he was smiling sweetly as always. He stood up and leaned to her ear.

"Let’s have today’s kiss on the bed," he said.

Before she could form a resistance, he picked her up and walked up the stairs.

Again, Marcell pondered the one question she’s been asking a lot.

Whom did I marry?