Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Hey, Scar!" Jerlina whispered. "Gerard... is he-"

"He's still in the hospital," Scarlett shrugged. 

Charlie made sure of it.

"But I heard Emma is here. And she was talking to Tara some time ago and Tara is now outside wanting to talk to you," she whispered back.

"Emma?" Jerlina's face twitched. 

"Don't worry about her. She'll have to pass me to get to you. I heard Jeremy was not glad she was here and... I bet she is wearing a champagne white dress," she smirked.

"Why?" Jerlina was confused for a moment, but then she realized it. "But my dress is pure white...Don't tell me you lied to her purposefully... That color will wash her out though..." Jerlina giggled. "Scarlett, you're savage!"

Jerlina doesn't like to create troubles, but that doesn't mean she won't laugh at those who fall into their own traps.

"I kept my promise to Jerry," Scarlett fixed Jerlina's hair a little. "You're really shining like the moon!"

"I am?" Jerlina looked at the mirror once more.

I do!

Although she hardened her heart to go through the wedding, she still wasn't accepting everything that went on in her life that made her stand here as a bride. Her eyes started to sting and she wanted to cry.

"Jerlina, don't think about anything serious. Have fun... As I said," she leaned closer and Jerlina wondered what she was going to say. 

"If you cry, your mascara will smudge all over your face. And you'll look like pennywise."

"You..! Why didn't you use one of the waterproof ones?" Jerlina gritted her teeth and Scarlett gave a villainous smirk.

"Traitor!" Jerlina grumbled. 

I can't cry then! I won't cry!

Jerlina blinked her eyes and looked up while Scarlett giggled. 

Scarlett did use the waterproof one, but she lied to Jerlina anyway. She knew no one would want to look like a clown on their wedding day even if their wedding is fake; especially Jerlina. She cares for her appearance more than she agrees to care.

"Stay here, I'll clear the way..."  Daisy went out and Scarlett saw Bobby whispering something in Daisy's ears. 

He winked at Scarlett and gestured the okay sign. His eyes were dripping with lust.'Waiting for tonight!' he mouthed putting his index finger through the 'O' of the okay sign before leaving, making her smile.

Bobby, the love of my life!

"Honey, you can talk after the wedding," Daisy's voice was harsh and Jerlina was surprised. 

"But I just want to congratulate her!"

It was Tara's voice and Jerlina stood up to talk to her. At that time, the photographer entered the room for taking her pictures.

"You're wearing black, Tara honey," Daisy was firm. "I think you can skip on your congratulations."

Before she could listen on, the photographer asked her to make a series of poses and Jerlina followed like a blinded horse.

"You're looking pretty today, Ms. Hopkins! Jerry would faint looking at you," Mikhail entered and Jerlina smiled widely at him.

He is the one she is doing business with and the one who is going to pay her, after all!

"You look great too, Mr. Volkonsky. And please... you can call me Jerlina," she shook his hands he extended for a shake. 

"Mikey boy! You've lost weight!" Scarlett was excited and gave him the posh cheek kiss and he complimented her making her all proud.

"Can I take a picture with you? For my grandpa?" Mikhail asked and Jerlina agreed. She asked about the rude old man and it seemed like he was feeling a little down to attend the wedding and so he sent Mikhail.

After the pictures were taken, it was time for her to walk down the aisle, and uncle Pat came there. 

"Missy..." he couldn't even speak as his throat closed. "You are...pretty. Your grandfather will be very proud of the amazing woman you've become. Your father too..." he kissed her cheek. "Although I am sad they aren't here to see you as a bride, I'm so honored to have this privilege to walk you down the aisle. Shall we..."

Jerlina nodded and held his arm as they walked. She wanted to accept his words, but she wondered if her grandpa and her dad would be happy that she is marrying like this – a fake wedding to cheat others.

They were in a makeshift room made for her to get ready in the woods behind the Fitzgerald Mansion. She was told the wedding was arranged in the woods and she thought it would be a simple arrangement and that's all she needed.

But after a short walk, she reached the venue and her heart stopped seeing the magnificence in front of her. There were roses arranged in a way that it seemed like a fairyland. The music stopped just as she arrived for the bridal march.

Everyone's eyes were on her and just as there were seconds for the bridal march to play, an overwhelming feeling washed over her.

Her heart raced and her fingers trembled. Her eyes started to cloud and her head hurt. 

How much did he spend? Why did he spend this much on a fake wedding?

Even if it is to save a life, isn't it too much?

This is not how I thought my wedding would be... Where is the happiness to know that I get to share my life with the amazing man I love? Where is the overflowing love in my heart?

Love... there is love, but isn't it entirely one-sided?

Why do I feel burdened?

Why don't I want to move forward? Should I run away?

-----

Jeremy was standing in the front and he didn't know why he was nervous. He knew she had agreed to this all and Scarlett promised she will not back away, but still, he was nervous. 

The priest was asking something and he was blank. He could see Bobby was saying something and he couldn't hear a word. Emma was seated with his "family" and somehow he was not in the mood to smile back at Emma when she smiled at him.

That's a skimpy white dress... I don't know much about dresses, but isn't that an evening gown? Why is she wearing that dress for a formal morning wedding?

  Mikhail was at the distance with a happy smile and he wondered what he was about to say before.

I should talk to him. It is not possible Jerlina talked to him about Emma, is it? Lately, I don't get Emma... Am I getting too skeptical?

As he was in his thoughts, he heard the crowd murmuring and seconds later the bridal march started playing. His heart skipped a beat and he turned to look.

In a pure white dress, like the lily bloomed in the crevice of a mountain facing the moon and with the same glow like the moon; like a blemish-free moon...

There she is... my love, my Luna!

His heart started to race and his chest went heavy. His eyes misted and his ears started to ring.

I'm going to faint!

-----

The bridal march started to play. Jerlina stood rooted to the spot, panicked.

Just then...