Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 89: First Love

Chapter 89: First Love

"First love for men...?" Tony rubbed his knees looking up at the ceiling. "It’s...It’s something that makes or breaks. Love makes a man who didn’t care for poetry or nature would find beauty in the unfurling of flower petals and can hear the song of the fluttering wings of the butterflies... Nature blurs for him as he thinks of her—ice would be scalding; fire would be chilly, even the nasty smell of the sewer wouldn’t bother him..."

Tony smiled leaning back on the couch. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.

Marcella laid Joey on her lap and watched Tony without blinking her eyes. He seemed to be talking from experience. The smile she saw on his face was so different than the smiles she’s seen on his face. He appeared to be in a place that gives him ultimate joy.

So, this is what even thinking about first love is like for a man. It must be the best period of their lives and even the memories would give them this much happiness.

"Even a smidge of caramel on the dessert would make him remember her eyes; the sunshine slipping in between the leaves would remind the shine in those eyes..." Tony continued.

Marcella patted Joey as she rocked him. It seemed like Tony hasn’t finished.

And caramel... He is talking about her...

"In a crowded place, when she meets your eyes... he’d feel like he’d beaten a thousand men to be crowned an Emperor. And when she smiles...Mmm... He’d leave this plane and enter the heavenly plane to dance with the angels. Her voice would be the perfect melody he would get lost in... The nights, the feverish dreams, the painful restlessness like a sweet sting of a scorpion..."

He stayed still for a moment.

Marcella was impressed. She had no doubts love makes one feel all sorts of things. She used to be in love too. She’s almost felt the same.

But to think Tony felt the same... how did he hide it all well?

Wait... is he even talking about me? He wouldn’t be talking about the elementary school teacher he liked, would he?

"And when you lose her, it... It... breaks you..." He sighed. As if he was awakened from a nightmare, he rubbed his forehead and looked at her.

Marcella didn’t fail to notice the utter despair in his eyes.

"It would feel like someone ripped your soul from your body. It’ll leave a big hole in your heart that no other person can fill. You’d be disoriented and... it would take the spark out of your life. Recovery is hard. You can never recover. And it hurts the most when you see her with another man, laughing and... happy..."

Marcella’s heart skipped a beat. John Emerson was not a good guy, to begin with. If he truly loved her sister and felt the intense emotions after they broke up, he wouldn’t have taken it easy to see Mellissa happy with Andrew.

Could he be responsible in any way for Mellissa’s death? Did he kill Andrew along with her too? It is possible.

"I should talk to John then..." She spoke in a hushed voice.

Tony was still for a few seconds before nodding. He was talking about a heavy subject and she had already skipped it to talking about John. Did she think that he was talking about John’s feelings?

"Ah, he’s asleep..." Marcella carried Joey to the crib.

When she returned, Tony was sitting at the table and he looked contemplative. Marcella joined him and they ate. Marcella didn’t agree with the silence. Tony’s silence seemed weird.

"Who is your first love, Tony?" she asked.

Tony looked at her with his eyebrows furrowed.

"Is it me?" she asked plainly. She didn’t know where she got the courage to be so open. The inhibitions that were holding her back had disappeared into nothing.

She had started to believe his love.

Tony shook his head. Marcella bowed her head. She didn’t think he would refuse her so openly.

"You are my only love," Tony added after a short silence.

"Oh," Marcella exhaled slowly.

Tony sliced the apple pie for her and they ate it. Tony complimented her cooking but she couldn’t feel happy for that. There seemed to be a mist of darkness in between them. She didn’t like that.

Tony cleared the table after they finished. Before he started washing the dishes, she stopped him.

"Shall we dance?" she asked.

"Okay,’ Tony didn’t refuse. She saw the stiffness on his face relaxing.

Tony changed the music to a slow song. Marcella wrapped her arms around his shoulder and he held her waist.

"Are you mad at me for something, Tony?" she asked.

"Mad? No," Tony furrowed his brows. He looked confused. "Did I~"

"Are you sad?" she asked then.

She really thought that she did something to set him off but when she asked him if he was mad, he got anxious. She could see that he was feeling bad for making her worry.

"I’m not..." He said but then he sighed and leaned on her. "Did you get scared when I showed you my evil face? I will not try to~"

"When you told me that you’ll kill the man who impresses me?" Marcella asked.

He was worried about that?

"I’m scared, Marcella. I lost you once and... I know I am an evil man, Marcella. I... promise. I’ve locked my monsters away. I’m having them under control. I do not want to show you but... I slipped. I showed you... I am not the Sweet Baby you think I am. I never was..."

Marcella leaned on his chest. "I may disagree with you on some issues, Tony. But this will be one too..."

He’s not evil. Well, maybe he is. But she didn’t want him to be disappointed and consider that as a fault. Nice guys finish last, they say. To hold power, one must hold some degree of evilness in their heart.

Sheep are innocent. But there never will be a strong leader who is a sheep. Sheep are followers.

Tony hugged her. He thought she would explain herself but she didn’t. But he was glad that she wasn’t put off by him. But what made him sad was something else entirely. He didn’t want to tell her that though. He got what he wanted but he was not happy.

But it is what he wanted. She knows that he loves her. She doesn’t fight with him about that anymore. He was happy about that.

"Your heart is beating fast," Marcella said pressing her ear to his chest. She would have preferred her chest bare, but she could do with this. He was so warm and she loved his scent. He was not wearing any cologne and it was all his scent. She loved it better.

Tony caressed her hair. "Does it say your name?"

"Mmm...Let me check..." Marcella smiled and pressed her ear to his chest. "Who is Ludine? Your heart is saying her name."

"Birdie..." he tickled her.

Marcella giggled and ran away. "It is... Your heart is saying Ludine!"

After running around the couch for some time, Marcella got tired and she resolved to her fate and slumped on the couch. Tony joined her. He didn’t try to tickler her anymore and she scooted closer to him.

"Ah, you smell so good," she hugged him around his waist.

Tony kissed the top of her head.

Marcella leaned on his chest again. She couldn’t gt enough of that scent. The music was still playing and her racing heart slowly stabilized.

"I selected a wedding dress today. Gloria helped me," she said.

Tony hummed. "Did you like it?"

"Yes. I loved it." Marcella squeezed him. "I appreciated the cash you left in my purse too. You’re very considerate, Tony. I can’t believe how you could be this thoughtful."

"I didn’t see a white dress in the bag," he said.

"You will see it only on... Wait... You peeked into my bag?" she asked.

He was not supposed to see those "stuff".

"You left them there. So... you bought lingerie?" he asked. "I’ll wait for you to give me a show wearing them."

She buried her face inside his chest. "I bought them because Gloria forced me to. I will never wear them."

Tony chuckled. "I’ll be waiting to get you off them, Birdie..." He kissed her ear that was red like a tomato.

He loved this side of her.

"What’s the purpose then?" she mumbled. "I wear it for you to strip me..."

"It would be interesting," Tony said. "If you prefer, you can do a little strip tease. I wouldn’t mind..." he chuckled rubbing her red ear.

"You’re..." With a pout Marcella glared at him. "How are you this...casual about it? You must have a lot of experience with a lot of girls..."

"Is that jealousy I hear?" Tony held her chin. "Who said I am casual. My abdomen is burning and all my blood is rushing to you-know-where. I’m employing every bit of self-control I have. You can check if you want," he held her hand and placed it on his abdomen.

Marcella gulped. He didn’t move her hand south and she was relieved.

"I believe you," she opted to stay out. "You don’t look like you’re struggling though."

"I do not want to repeat what I..." he paused for a second. He then pressed his lips and fixed her fringes falling on her forehead.