Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Will you just state the reason for your visit, Gerard?" Jerlina didn't want to be arguing with him. 

Was he always a d*ck? Did I fail to notice it? Or is it just the recent events made him anxious like this?

"Jer... " he let out a sigh seeing her unimpressed look. "I know... I am sorry for being like this... Ever since that day, I haven't stopped thinking about you and our... " he stepped closer.

Jerlina's throat went heavy seeing his clouded eyes. Gerard, who cares for his appearance and grooms himself well, was looking terrible with his stubble and his unironed shirt. His shoes weren't polished and he looked different from the man she once knew.

She knew...although she hated to admit it, and try to bury that thought... looking at him, she couldn't hide it.

She might have suffered alone, but the loss of their baby is for both of them to grieve.

"Jer... I'm sorry you had to suffer alone. I was... I shouldn't have left you alone. Not a day goes by without me thinking about you, flower..."

Gerard tried to hold her hand but she took a step back. Her eyes naturally get drawn to where Charlie was standing and he was turning his back at her.

Her eyebrows twitched and she looked to the side not willing to look at Gerard.

"You don't want me to... that's fine..." He took a step away from her. She turned and saw a teardrop rolling down his cheek and her heart got crushed.

"I've been wanting to meet you ever since that day. I was driven out by those things and... Jer, shall we talk? Will you come with me? I don't like for us to be this... distant... It hurts," His voice trembled a bit.

Jerlina, although was feeling bad for Gerard, was in no mood for reconciliation with Gerard. 

"Gerard, there isn't much we can speak about. You left me with Jeremy for my protection and he is doing everything to protect me. The title of his wife gives me protection and hence I have to go through this wedding. Everything is going as you wished for. So just stop meeting me like this. Fake or not, you're married to Emma and it won't be in our best interests if we keep on meeting-"

"He is protecting you?" Gerard snorted. "He, who bragged that he killed my son? Jer! Wake up!" He held her shoulders and shook her. "Did he brainwash you while you were feeling down? Is that why you're-"

"Stop this, Gerard," Jerlina gritted her teeth. "He had nothing to do with my miscarriage," she got out of his hold, knitting her brows. "So Please... Let go... I wish you well." 

She turned to leave and her eyes clouded. She thought she'd be spending the rest of her life with this man here, but...

"You're breaking up with me?" He asked and Jerlina stopped.

"What relationship do we have for breaking up? You broke up with me through a text and married another woman. You broke our relationship a long time ago, remember?"

She said without turning back. All she remembered was the agony she was in that night she realized that she was pregnant and that despair she felt seeing the "Just Married" sign on his getaway car while she was enduring severe pain as she lost her baby.

"Stop!" Gerard held her arm and turned her to look at him. The corners of his life were twitching and he looked unhinged, making her scared.

Gerard was livid. Yes, he stupidly sent her to Jeremy because of Emma, but must she bring that up every time?

And shouldn't she grow attached to me since we are grieving for our child? But she... about Jeremy...

The more Gerard spoke to her, he confirmed that she is on a vengeful spree against him.

"How can you give up on us? We were together for seven long years. And-"

"You left me, Gerard. You married Emma. How many times should I repeat this? It's finished between us. For me, it was not when you sent the breakup text but when you left me in the middle of the road with the man you know I was scared of, after meeting my eyes, with your newlywed wife who happens to be my enemy, while I was losing my baby. So yes, I gave up!" she shrugged.

She tried to be calm, but she couldn't and she shouted in the end, getting the attention of Charlie. He turned towards their direction and Gerard met eyes with him.

Is she shouting to gain his attention and use him to scare me away?

"Jer... fine I can see you are mad. We can talk about it later," he said composing himself. He could see she has gotten used to the temptations of the wealthy life.

It was my fault for not being able to give her the riches she desired and now her heart wavered when another man offered her that. But he can make her understand. Riches are not permanent. Love is.

"I heard you met mom at some shop. I know she can be too much sometimes, but I heard Jeremy was rude to her and you let him..? She was so sad about it and skipped-"

"She said I was lying about my miscarriage. So..." She shrugged. She for some reason didn't even want to look at his face.

Gerard held back his anger. His Jer won't be indifferent to other's suffering even if she hates them.

"I see there is a lot of work going on in your company," he pointed at the workshop.

"Yes, we got some orders," Jerlina didn't want to give him the details. Emma might get it from him.

"But it would be just this once, Jer. You can't be depending on this income alone. I can understand anyone would like to be called CEO, but there is reality. I heard you quit your job and working for that thug..? Jer, you used to be more sensible...How did you turn stupid? You know not to depend on a thug and...CEO? That's a joke right? Is he stroking your ego and you're falling for his..."

Gerard went on and Jerlina watched him. He seemed superficial and filled with some fear. She sensed that her title as CEO bothers him for some reason.

"Don't talk in a patronizing tone with me, Gerard! I am not a f*cking child!" Jerlina sighed. "Are you jealous, Gerard? That I can survive without licking a**? That I am left with an inheritance that I can build to something great? Are you jealous of my title as CEO when you can hardly become one?" 

She saw his face twitching with anger.

"You're insane!" he gritted his teeth. "Pride got you! You're lusting for money and fame! That's why you got bored with me and-"

Jerlina shook her head and turned to leave.

"Don't leave when I'm talking to you!"

He shouted and the next moment she was pulled by her arm and before she gathered herself, she felt her cheek sting.