Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy, on the way to the hospital, called Mark. Since Mark knew of the associates of Feldstein, Jeremy asked him to handle who the Cooper family would go for help and block access to them.

"For this cause, his family might go to the State Attorney General. She was the one who got him the job. But I can stop her from making a move," Mark said playing with the glass in his hand. "Do you want to crush the Cooper family?" Mark asked. 

With the connections Jeremy has, the Cooper family is nothing now that they know what they are hiding.

"...No," Jeremy said after thinking for a while. "My sister is married to that family."

In the hospital...

"Jerry... I..." Emma hugged him and Jeremy patted her head.

"Is his family here?" Jeremy asked. He wanted to know how they are reacting.

"Martha is pretty mad, Jerry... Howard is making calls to a lot of people. The cops are filing this case as an accident after Charlie gave his statements? How? Why did Charlie do this..? Three broken ribs for a slight slap? How is this..?" her eyes teared up as she looked at Jeremy pitifully. "I get it. Charlie loves Jerlina. Everyone loves Jerlina. I get it! She is better..."

"Wait, Emma..." Jeremy pushed her away from his embrace and took a step back. "Charlie loves Jerlina? How do you know?"

Emma's heart skipped a beat seeing the slight doubt in his eyes. 

After that incident of the car crash, her dad started to be very strict with her and didn't let her be free. It affected her greatly as she grew up. She used to be her father's favorite, but after that incident, she was cast away. It made her long for his affection and she tried to become "Daddy's favorite girl" once again.

How can he ignore me?

And she always took her every step carefully and well-planned. She tried to read emotions at a very small age and she has high EQ. That's how she survived this long. By reading expressions. 

And now Jeremy is doubting her. All she has to do is act like a scared rabbit and he'd start comforting her.

"I...That day I met her..." tears rolled down her cheeks and she saw Jeremy gulping. She knew her act is working as always. "Charlie was peeling fruit for her and I assumed-"

"Assumed? If you assumed, don't spread it around as facts, Emma. I believed what you said and asked Charlie. Charlie already has a girlfriend." Jeremy's voice was stern. "Rumors spread by assumptions can cause serious problems. Can you realize? Charlie's girlfriend might doubt him... That's not good, is it?"

His voice turned softer as he saw Emma's eyes getting red. "You're right about one thing though," he said and her face brightened a bit. 

"Jerlina is better. She is loved for a reason. You can learn to be better like her. You're already twenty-eight. It's time for you to let go of your childish habits and be responsible. I am telling you this because I care about you. You understand, right?" Jeremy patted her head and Emma nodded.

"You're right. I have to act according to my age," Emma said and bowed down her head, pretending to wipe her eyes.

"But Jerry... the attack on Gerard... I hate to say this but Charlie went out of line..." tears started rolling down her cheeks once more. 

"No matter what, he is your brother-in-law and my in-laws are not pleased. Dad won't be pleased with this and you have to send someone to jail to pacify everyone...He broke three of his ribs, Jerry! That's cruel! He couldn't even move and his mother... I am scared to be in..."

Emma went on explaining how it would affect her peaceful life and Jeremy stared at her. He could see how different she is from Jerlina. Jerlina is willing to go through the trouble of deleting security footage and lying to the cops to protect Charlie, but Emma wants someone to get thrown under the proverbial bus.

He would have thought it would be Jerlina who'd be mad at Charlie for hurting Gerard, but it is Emma who is pleading with him for that woman beater.

Jerlina didn't hide her contempt for Emma but she got out of it immediately and worried about the next step. 

Is it because she is angry that he hit her? But she doesn't like Charlie either and she has a history with Gerard. Yet she took Charlie's side – she took my side!

Isn't she best suited to be my mate? Why should I give her up?

And her blushed face when I kissed her...

"...Otherwise, everyone's anger will turn on Jerlina, I fear. Already Jerlina is hated by my in-laws and dad will be on their side now because of the involvement of your men. It would be wise if you ask Charlie to surrender and apologize. That would..."

Emma was still going on.

How shallow she is! To think she and Jerlina are of the same age. Emma is actually older than Jerlina. But age and maturity are not related, it seems.

  Emma has not changed. She never sees the bigger picture and likes to stay in her comfort zone. If she thinks, she'd realize that if Gerard can hit Jerlina, it won't be hard for him to hit her too. She is naive. Also, he knew she desperately wants to be in the good books of her father.

Jeremiah is thinking the Coopers are his ticket for more connections. And so she cannot leave him even after she knows he beats women and her safety is threatened. Plus, she worries for Jerlina too.

"Stay here. I'll talk to those two," Jeremy walked towards Martha Cooper who was glaring at them.

"Jerry, about Charlie..?" she whispered.

"I know what to do. Don't worry," he gave her a gentle smile and she knew she has succeeded – as always!

Emma leaned on the wall and she remembered his previous words. She clawed the paint off the wall, gritting her teeth. 

  He... that stupid lumberjack!  How could he speak this way to me? Jerlina is better? Oh, is she? And I have to be like her? 

She laughed in her heart.

But he asked Charlie? He stopped believing everything I say? First, it was the plagiarism, then it was the knife and now this... If this keeps on, what more will come out?

At least, he has to throw Charlie under the bus this time. Charlie needs to go. Why can't he be like Bobby who believes whatever I say? It is his fault for not believing me! And he is tattling to Jeremy? That's a big no-no.

Who am I? How can I be questioned?

She saw Charlie at the end of the hallway and walked to him. "Charlie, Jerlina is not hurt, is she?" she gave her best I'm-worried expression.

She didn't want Charlie to think she talked to Jeremy against him. Everything was decided by Jeremy himself, alright?

As always, it is Jeremy's decision. Not mine! 

She giggled in her heart.