Chapter 212: Fighting Battle
Joey’s second birthday was nearing and Marcella started showing. Everyone was excited for her. Marcella saw the love everyone had for her. She understood why her father went to any extreme for those who loved him—it was fulfilling.
She was surprised she didn’t have any morning sickness, except for the sleepiness at night. When she lay down, she slept like a log throughout the night. She didn’t even know if that was a morning sickness, but she appreciated it.
Her baby was so considerate of her and didn’t trouble her in any way. She must be a girl, right? She should be!
Since they both wanted a girl, they asked the doctor not to reveal the gender. Marcella didn’t agree completely with Tony’s suggestion and wanted to know beforehand. But she convinced herself to be surprised during the birth.
She carried on with what the papers wrote as "activism". She didn’t consider herself an activist. It implied she was bringing great change. She was just someone with the means to do good for the people and considered it was the least she could do. If she was an activist for it, so be it.
Beth visited NYC just a week before Joey’s birthday for a premiere of her movie. That year, two of her movies were released, and did well at the box office. Hailed as the "rising star of Hollywood" and "glamourous beauty" after one of the characters she played as the "other" woman became an iconic character, Beth was glowing.
When Beth met Marcella, however, there was a slight sadness in her eyes looking at her belly. Marcella almost asked whether she had kids. She had to use all her willpower to not ask the obvious question. Beth’s husband tried to cause trouble but Tony told her that it was "settled" by the bigshots in the industry.
"I heard Tony Crawford is running for Congress," Beth smiled sipping the hot coffee. The smile on her face as she took a spoonful of cake was alluring.
Even in real life, her demeanor had changed into a glamour star. The way she drew her eyeliner, the red lipstick, and the tasteful cleavage reveal all worked well together and suited Beth.
Marcella would never dare to come out looking like that. She tried that look from Beth’s movie once at night just for his consumption. She had to force him to bring her to watch the movie. She thought he would be impressed with the "other woman’s" look. But he looked at her as if she had gone insane.