Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 93: Are You Manipulating

Chapter 93: Are You Manipulating

Marcella had her doubts about Paul Romano especially Mark Paulo’s presence in Romano’s house. The only reason she couldn’t continue that thought was because Andrew died with Marcella. Even Paul wouldn’t have let his son die.

After knowing that Paul is Tony’s father, she stopped thinking about that. Even though Tony doesn’t agree, he should have some love for his father. She didn’t want to accuse his father of killing his brother to him.

But if Tony is thinking Paul did it there might be some proof of it.

She felt bad for Tony. Not only did Paul never accept Tony as his son but also, he could have been responsible for the death of the son he acknowledged. Tony loved his brother. It must hurt.

She still wanted to wait for proof. Because of the way the couple acted, she didn’t think Paul expected Andrew to die.

None of them knew any more details and she didn’t want to prod them when she should be asking her husband. She didn’t want others to think that her husband and she does not get along.

They haven’t even been married for a month! It would make them worry needlessly.

She left after talking to them about other stuff. She was told that she doesn’t have to worry about the meeting with Mclaughlin in a few days.

Tony was taking care of it.

Marcella didn’t worry much about that meeting yet. She was worried about the meeting with Emerson though.

After talking to them for a while, she left.

-----

"Why did you lie?" Randy asked Henry with a confused glare.

"About what?" Henry asked calmly.

"About taking Bambi’s side! We all know you’ll support Tony," Randy shrugged.

Hery smiled. "You know nothing, Randy. There’s not going to be a situation where we will have to choose one or the other. They are married. They are one."

Randy grumbled curses under his breath and walked away.

Henry’s smile vanished. He followed Marcella who was walking in the distance.

I hope you can see Tony for who he is, Bambi...

He said in his heart. He didn’t know what trouble they are having. The last time Tony came here, he asked him to be supportive of Marcella no matter what, even if she was in the wrong.

She needs you more than I do, Tony said.

Just like he followed Don DeAngelo, Henry had decided to follow Tony. Tony is Don’s successor. Even if Tony tries to make Marcella the successor, he wouldn’t accept it. But if Tony asks him to follow Marcella, he will.

They would make a powerful team if they worked together. Too bad they have some misunderstanding between them.

He wanted to kill Randy for saying unnecessary things to Bambina. That was the beginning of everything.

Henry could only sigh. As Marcella got near her house, Henry returned.

On her way, Uncle Karl met with her. He gave her the good news that the bank account transfer has been successful and now she has access to the savings left by her parents and her sister. Marcella held the accounts book and her hands shook.

She really didn’t want the money. She wanted her family back.

Uncle Karl also offered her the key to the storage locker of her mother. All her mother’s jewelry now belonged to her. That alone would be worth millions as most of the jewelry her mother owned were precious gems and yellow gold jewelry. She was not very keen on those jewelry like her mother or her sister for that matter.

Maybe I can give them to my daughters if we have any.

She went home and Tony was already there.

"Hello, there," Tony smiled.

Marcella sighed. "Hi, how was your day?" She got off her shoes and walked inside with a slouch.

"How was your day?" Tony walked to her. "You look tired."

"Hmmm..." Marcella hugged him. "Where’s Joey? Are you leaving again?" she asked.

"Joey’s sleeping. I do have to leave. It’s late already. Should we order a pizza?" he asked.

"Um, no..." Marcella took a deep breath. "I’ll whip something up quick. We have... chicken, I guess."

Tony had started prepping pasta dough by the time she had freshened up. They cooked together and dinner was ready within an hour.

"If you are busy you don’t have to come home for dinner. Aren’t you getting more tired?" Marcella asked Tony.

"But then I’d miss dinner with my wife if I am not coming home," he winked.

Marcella smiled. The sapling of doubt that was growing in her heart has withered a little as she didn’t water it. She found her heart was at peace in Tony’s presence when she didn’t think about her doubt.

"Do you like our dinner that much?" she asked.

"I cannot ignore my wife. What if she finds the company of other men interesting?"

"Are you really scared I might cheat on you, Tony?" she asked.

Tony held her hand and shook his head. "I do not. I know you. It’s just... I’ll be relieved to see you eat Otherwise, I’ll worry whether you had dinner or not."

"I am not a child!" Marcella chuckled.

"You are not," Tony kissed her hand. "At times, I hope you were a child..."

Things were different when they were children. Everything was simple. As they grew up everything has gotten complicated.

"You didn’t tell me what bothered you," Tony asked.

Marcella told him about her meeting with Uncle Karl and her hesitation to accept the large amount of money.

"It belongs to you whether you accept it or not. Just like I have to accept my brother’s money." Tony said.

Marcella smiled.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing... It appears that you haven’t figured out a solution either. Usually, you’ll have something to say."

"Some things happening... just have to be accepted as it is. There’s nothing we can do to fight it. This is one of such things," he smiled.

"Ah, the wisdom of the great philosopher Antony Crawford..." Marcella giggled.

"Are you making fun of me, woman?" Tony gritted his teeth.

Marcella could only laugh more. He couldn’t feign his anger for long and started to laugh along.

"I’m slowly figuring you out, Tony," she said supporting her cheek on her elbows.

"O-kay..." Tony cocked his head and looked at her with squinted eyes.

"You’re the sort of guy who goes silent when you don’t like something, right? You are ambitious. You’re following a strict plan and wouldn’t let yourself to be distracted. You do not like to open up about your feelings. You don’t believe that sulking does anything and will find a solution immediately. In case you cannot find a solution, you’d just leave it to fate. Am I right?" she asked.

He did go silent at yesterday dinner. And she did learn those tidbits from his behavior.

"Is this how you see me? Do I behave this way toward you?" he asked.

He looked surprised that she was wrong.

"You think I am wrong?" she asked.

"You’re right that I am ambitious. I talked to you about it. But I am open about my feelings to you. And I express my thoughts to you. I do like to find solutions rather than talking about a problem. You’re right about that."

"You went silent at dinner last night. What made you silent? I thought I made a mistake," she asked.

She couldn’t believe he said that he was open with her. Whenever they talk, they talk more about her than about him. Maybe he doesn’t feel much?

"I thought you were thinking about... you said you are bothered about being called a mobster’s daughter. I was thinking about that..."

"You thought about it?" Marcella asked.

"I had something to say but I was scared to talk to you about it."

"Scared?"

Marcella raised her brows. The sapphire pools of Tony were staring right at her eyes and she wondered what he was thinking.

"Scared that you might find me manipulative," Tony said.

Marcella’s heart skipped a beat.

Can he read minds? How is he bringing this up?

"Why would I think that you are manipulative, Tony? Are you trying to manipulate me?" she asked.

The pleasant ambiance in between them had changed and the air turned a little tense. Marcella’s heart started to pound.

"You’ve built a strong shell around you, Marcella. You retract there ever so often. I fear if I..."

"If you...?" Marcella prodded him to speak more but he went silent.

Who is the one retracting to their shell? Marcella sighed. Staring at his fingers, he was fiddling with them in deep thought. When she looked closely, she could see that his hands were shaky.

Why is he getting this stressed often?

"What were you going to say about what bothered me?" she asked. She decided to change the topic if he doesn’t want to talk about it.

"I wanted to tell you to wear it as a badge—just like I wore the badge of an orphan proudly. When you wear your shame as a badge of honor, it would rattle the ones who hate you as they don’t have a hold on you. They’d lose before they start a war," he said.

Marcella smiled. "You are right. You are smart, Tony. You have a solution to everything."

She really was impressed by his reasoning. It’s tough but the most effective solutions often aren’t easy.

"You taught me this," Tony said.

"Me?" Marcella couldn’t believe it.