Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 88: What He Wants

Chapter 88: What He Wants

Tony rubbed her back seeing her stressed.

"Meet him?" Marcella looked up.

Tony nodded. She tried to figure out what he was thinking but she couldn’t. It’s not like she was good at figuring him out anyway.

"I don’t know... Should I?" She asked.

Her face twisted with disgust at the thought of spending time with that obnoxious guy. But she figured that he wanted her there for a reason.

"I cannot tell you what to do," Tony answered.

Marcella was annoyed with his answer. "I am your wife. I have no dealings with him," she said. "He might have wanted to have dinner with me to humiliate you; to flaunt with his peers that it was easy for him to have dinner with Tony’s wife or with the damned mobster DeAngelo’s daughter, who knows? Do you still get along with him? Why did he avoid mentioning you?"

Tony pulled her into a hug and laughed. "You think I’m that fragile to allow myself to be humiliated just because of THIS?"

"You wouldn’t mind it if I meet other men without you?" Marcella asked getting out of his embrace. "I don’t know what I should feel about that. You think I am..." She stopped herself from saying "undesirable for other men".

"Do you hear yourself, Marcella?" Tony flicked her forehead. "Of course, I wouldn’t like it if you enjoyed another man’s company. But you are not thinking about meeting with John to enjoy his company. I know you despise him. You want to gather information. If he said they aren’t investigating Missy’s murder, maybe they are. He loved her truly back then. He must be at least a little curious about her horrifying death. He’s not a monster," he said.

Marcella furrowed her brows. "You should know he’s not a monster. You were his best friend. So was Rudolf."

He was not that close but he got along with them and watched them as they mocked her. She didn’t know why she was still holding against him what happened ages ago.

Tony held her cheeks and smiled. "You wanted me to protect you?" he asked. There was a certain depression to his smile as if he was feeling guilty for what he didn’t do.

"I’ll tell you that I got back at them in my way... if that would bring any solace for you..."

Marcella looked to the side. "I wanted a lot from you back then, Tony... A lot..."

"Is it too late?" Tony asked. "To give you whatever you want? Is it... Can I see the same love in your eyes ever again, Birdie?"

Love again...

Marcella didn’t want to delve into that topic ever. Love has lost all meanings for her. Deeds... she’d trust one’s deeds. At least that is something substantial.

"What will you do if I find some other man’s company likable?" She asked.

She was confused by her thoughts. Aiden didn’t like it when she talked with other men in public even if it was job-related. He wanted his woman to be of certain decorum and considered it a virtue if she was blameless. She used to think that he had high expectations and thought his jealousy cute even; until it became a thorn in her way that tore her apart.

Tony said the opposite to her. He drew a line, obviously. She cannot step out to have fun with other men but that doesn’t mean she cannot step out altogether. The onus is on her. She has control over her life, her decisions, and who she meets with and why. He’s not her keeper. She is his equal.

She should be happy over Tony’s words considering how she suffered with Aiden’s insane jealousy.

But she was not satisfied. It made her wonder if she is a sucker for oppression. Maybe she is screwed in her head or has a couple of loose screws.

To ask that question to a man—not any man, but her husband—the same thing again, after he practically begged her for love... She must be cruel.

In the past, he said that only death would undo their marriage. He insinuated that his death would relieve her from the marriage. It shook her heart back then and thinking of it now, it still brings shivers to her spine.

But why did she ask that question again? Maybe she wanted a different answer?

But... what if he repeats what he said that day?

No, she didn’t have the guts to hear those words again.

"Neve~"

"I’ll kill him," Tony held her shoulders. His fingertips sank into her skin and in his glinting eyes, she saw immeasurable malice. His voice went low and he sounded like a demon from hell. "I’ll kill him and his family. You’re mine alone. I’ll kill every man who gets near you with..."

Marcella didn’t know what happened. With a blink of his eyes, he exhaled sharply. He then took a step back letting go of her shoulder. The malice shrouding his face dissipated to be replaced with a confused stillness.

He turned swiftly and walked to the kitchen. He poured himself a glass of water and sipped it slowly. His eyes ended up at the dining table.

"You bought groceries," he said, his eyes brightening up, returning to its luminous splendor. "I’ll put them away."

Marcella placed her hand over her racing heart. She could feel the pounding of her restless heart in her hand.

Why was her heart pounding? She saw his mask slip up. The mystique behind that smile he shrouds on his face was revealed. He showed her the demon he hides so well.

Shouldn’t she be scared? Shouldn’t she be irked?

But she was not.

To be honest, she loved the change in his answer.

Why should he hurt himself? He’s not a coward who doesn’t know how to fight. And if he truly loved her, he wouldn’t hurt her.

Her father used to say that the ultimate masculinity is protecting the weak and helping the oppressed. The least masculine thing a man could do is to hurt someone who is weaker than him.

Women are in general physically weaker than men. There might be exceptions but it’s the rule. Yes, there are things women handle better than men—pain for example, labor pain and even period cramps won’t be easier for a man to handle, but generally, men have an advantage when it comes to physical strength. It’s what they are better at.

They do have a better grip strength she’s found out. Tony opens the jars easily when it is hard for her to do so.

Respecting and protecting women is true masculinity. Her father lived by example proving he was a masculine man.

Tony would know. Tony grew up watching her father. He wouldn’t lay his hands on her to hurt her.

Aiden hurt her even though he claimed he loved her.

But Tony’s "love" is different. His "love" protects her at all costs. His "love" considers everyone else’s life inferior to her life.

Maybe it’s not terrible.

"I was thinking of preparing a nice Sunday Dinner, for the night," she said walking to the table. She couldn’t hide her smile.

It’s funny how she’s changing her opinion about him so fast. If this continues, she might be looking at him with the longing of a teenager very soon. He might get his wish after all.

And it wouldn’t be bad.

"That’s a good idea. Maybe we can have the Sunday Dinner for dinner," he winked.

Marcella smiled. "I’ll wash up first."

When she returned, he had already started chopping. "You can take rest if you want. I can handle it," he said.

"No, we can do it together," she smiled. "A family that cooks together, stays together. Isn’t that what they say?" she laughed.

Tony laughed along. "I think it’s about praying."

"Well," Marcella shrugged. "I’m going to try making a pie."

"Okay..." Tony said. "Try."

He turned on the music. Both of them prepared the meal together, while singing and dancing. Joey woke up in the middle and the three of them danced together.

Joey didn’t want to sleep and they left him in the living room, on his belly for some time.

"I wonder how the pie turned out. It smells good though, doesn’t it?" Marcella opened the oven with great expectations. She tapped the top. "It sounds good."

"It looks good too..." Tony slid the knife in the middle. "It’s cooked perfect! Wow! We have a great pie-maker in this house!" He shouted with his hands raised to the sky.

"You’re being silly," Marcella playfully hit his arm.

"I’m being serious!" Tony said.

Joey giggled out of nowhere and Marcella couldn’t keep her hands away from the small baby smiling wide showing his toothless mouth.

Tony sat on the couch watching Marcella playing with the baby.

"Did John really love Mellissa?" Marcella asked.

She wanted to find out who killed her sister. If the FBI agent might have answers, she will take a chance to meet with him.

"Yes. She was his first love, and you know what’s that like for men..." Tony pressed his lips probably wondering if he was speaking to the wrong crowd.

"What is it like?" Marcella asked.

How is first love for men?