Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Scar..!" Jerlina looked at Scarlett.

"What is it?" Scarlett sat beside Jerlina. "I told you not to interact with Tara. What did she say? And what did that hothead yell? The whole office shook with his roar."

"He... it's not his fault... It's..." Jerlina sat hugging her knees.

"Look at you taking his side!" Scarlett smiled and patted her back. "So what bothers you?"

"Scar, what will happen if Emma reveals my past relationship with Gerard to everyone? Won't the townsfolk stone me to death?" Jerlina looked at Scarlett.

Scarlett could get what Jerlina means. Jeremy is a celebrity here and his personal life would be discussed by all. If they find out everything, there is a chance that they think that Jerlina somehow managed to worm her way into Jeremy's life with an agenda. And they won't take it well. 

But she was sure Jeremy thought about it all already and has a plan in case it is revealed. And most of them are very happy Jeremy is finally getting married and they won't care about anything more. 

In the end, what matters is his happiness, alright?

And people who've met Jerlina have already formed a good opinion about her and most likely they won't care about her past. And in this place filled to the brim with violence and drugs, who is without blame?

Who can cast the first stone when everyone's living in glass houses? 

The townsfolk won't bother much unless they get provoked by say... Emma.

Now that's something to be careful about.

But Emma... will she let go of her pride and let everyone know that she married Jerlina's ex? Or will she decide to play the victim anyway?

"That's not going to happen..." Scarlett rubbed her back. "We won't let that happen."

Scarlett has a lot to talk about, but she knew she cannot talk about it now when Jerlina is distressed. 

"But..."

"What else?" Scarlett asked. This can't be the only reason she is crying. She felt pitiful watching this woman cry. Maybe it is her motherhood, but she has become a lot more sympathetic lately and she doesn't like seeing this one cry.

"He... I don't want him to love me... It makes me heavy here... when I think about it..." she pointed at her heart. "I don't want to feel this way... I don't want his love..." her eyes teared up once more.

"Hmm..." Scarlett rubbed her back. 

She understood as she used to feel a similar way in the past; like she was smothered by Bobby's love. You'll feel guilty for not being able to return the love you receive and it would make you feel bad.

Although Jerlina's situation is a little similar, she has a lot of external factors weighing in. Too soon after she went through a traumatic incident, she was hit with facts after facts making her disoriented. And even she played a part in it by speaking about Jeremy and asking her to sleep with him.

It can be overwhelming!

"What else?" Scarlett asked and watched Jerlina struggling to speak. She kind of guessed what it might be. 

Cold feet!

It would be nerve-wracking to go through a wedding ceremony with a partner you love. She knew because she experienced it. She was not even that scared for her debut catwalk, but her wedding gave her the jitters. She who never took a misstep on the ramp, almost fell on her nose walking down the aisle.

Weddings are scary if they are your own.

But in Jerlina's case, it is entirely different. Her wedding is not even a real wedding, or so Jerry wants to make her believe. And for someone traditional like Jerlina, it would be stressful to go through a fake wedding.

A fake wedding with the man she knows for sure is in love with her, for the sake of saving herself, in front of her ex-boyfriend who is her brother-in-law now. 

Show me something weirder than this! 

Scarlett knew Jerry is considering the wedding as his first and last wedding and making preparations as such. He knew he'd stress her out and so he hid all the preparations from her. But judging by the way she is, she'd break down in the wedding hall seeing all the thought went to the preparations, it seems. 

"Hey, Jer! Why don't you stay in our home until the wedding?" she got an idea. 

She thought it would do her some good if she stays away from Jeremy for some days and in those days she can slowly prepare her heart for the wedding ceremony and have nice chats together.

Jerlina sniffed and looked at Scarlett. She looked serious. She thought it would be a good idea if she lived somewhere else to clear her mind, but she has to take care of her planter.

"But I have to-"

"She has a comfortable bed to sleep in her home and why would she come to your little hut"

Jeremy's voice came from behind them and Scarlett clicked her tongue. 

Jeremy glared at Scarlett. 

He shouted at Jerlina out of anger as he was pissed she keeps on telling him not to go through the wedding. 

That's the one thing I ask of her and she can't even do that for me?

But then he calmed down remembering her hurt face. He knew she'd be hiding and crying somewhere. And before he found her, it seems like Scarlett found her, and she is hellbent on ruining the little happiness he has. 

Can't I live with Jerlina in the same home without this idiot's interference? 

Jerlina quickly wiped her face and turned to look at him with a pout. "Scarlett's home is not a hut!" she glared at him.

"What the..." Jeremy was astonished. 

Have they gotten this close with each other already?

"You heard her..." Scarlett grinned.

"But... Jerlina your-"

He was going to say 'planter' but he stopped himself. He felt really bad pretending to threaten to hurt the planter before and he didn't want to be seen to repeat it again.

"Then Scarlett can stay in our home and I'll stay in the guest house for the time being... Until the wedding, you say? That's only five days, right? And Jerlina, you promised you'll cook me breakfast every morning," Jeremy knew he cannot win against those two united women and waved the white flag. 

The best thing he could do for now is asking for a compromise.

Jerlina's mind went blank and she didn't want to be discussing any of that while Scarlett and Jeremy started discussing the details.

Our home he says... It is his home! How can it be my home?

In the end, it was decided that Jerlina would stay in Scarlett's home since baby Cia will be comfortable in her own home. Jerlina will be visiting Jeremy in the morning and have breakfast with him and she spends the rest of the time in Scarlett's home.

Jerlina didn't listen, but she saw how seriously Scarlett was discussing with Jeremy. She was touched.

Scarlett - she's a good friend, isn't she?

Happiness bloomed in Jerlina's heart.