Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

She says there is a chance... I have a chance!

Jeremy hugged her. He wanted to jump and scream it to the world. But he decided to keep it for when she accepts his love.

I really hope it is sooner!

Will we have a baby by this time next year? I wish we have a girl. We can name her after our mothers.

He went on dreaming.

"I'll be tending the roses," she kissed his cheek. "You finish washing the dishes," she turned and left seeing him reveling in that little kiss she gave him. 

"I love you, Jerlina... You're my Luna forever!" he shouted as she left the house.

His heart was happy beyond comprehension. Humming a song, he went to finish doing the dishes. He saw the plate Emma used and his smile reduced.

Emma... how could you consider Jerlina to be your enemy? Why do you hate her that much? Who can hate that one with the purest heart?

-----

She patted her face that was blushed red. Her heart was pounding and she ran to the garden.

What's with me! I am not a teenager! Why am I fuzzing about a kiss on the cheek?

"You look like a nerdy twelve-year-old who sneakily kissed a sixteen-year-old jock in the locker room," Scarlett gave a naughty smirk.

"Oh, get your head out of the gutter, Scar!" Jerlina let out a sigh.

"What? I said 'kiss' not-" before Scarlett spoke further Jerlina closed Scarlett's mouth with her hand.

"Oh, dear! Just stop!" she walked to the plants.

"So... what happened?" Scarlett wriggled her brows. 

"What are you talking about?" Jerlina feigned ignorance. 

How did Scar know that I kissed Joel on the cheek?

"Charlie said that it was Emma who ran out with crocodile tears in her eyes... She was here from midnight to wait for Jerry. Charlie said that her face went to all sorts of planes when she learned that Jerry went with you. Charlie decided not to tell her that you went to the dentist but...She really isn't well, Jerlina...She's cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs... She had a bruise..? So what happened?" 

"Oh, that?" Jerlina only then remembered about Emma. 

  "She... tried to play victim of an abuse of her own making..." Jerlina then explained to Scarlett everything that happened there.

Scarlett was not that surprised. "I think no man should be hitting any woman and I don't like that guy at all but... he should have hit Emma...he should've just banged her brains open... And what's with you?" she hit Jerlina in the head.

"If your husband goes behind his manipulative b*tch of a sister like a blinded horse, you grab him by the collar, give him a slap or two to make his a** realize how stupid his a** is! You don't go back to eat lunch! What kind of stupid woman are you? Protect your man, Jerlina!"

"Well..." Jerlina shrugged and went to the garden to start watering. "He is not my man... yet..."

"Yet? You're married... Where is that yet coming from? You can sue him if he cheats on you!" Scarlett chuckled and joined her. "You're stupid, Jerlina... listen to me..." 

Scarlett joined Jerlina in tending the garden and Jerlina had to endure Scarlett's ramblings for a whole hour. 

Scarlett came to the house shortly after Emma left to know what happened. But the scene she saw warmed her heart. Jeremy was hugging Jerlina and was crying.

She had known Jerry for almost two decades. In those twenty years, she had never seen him this vulnerable and defenseless. 

  She didn't want to disturb them and waited outside. Although she wanted Jerlina to speak out more, she was glad to know that Jeremy decided not to follow Emma by himself. 

That is a huge step!

From what she had observed, Jeremy is more or less a captive of Emma. He and Bobby too to some extent are captives of the visibly charming sister Emma. It is more or less like getting addicted or like Stolkholm syndrome.

It is hard to get them out. She knows because she tried with Bobby and ended up as some petty woman jealous of her husband's friend. Like addiction, they cannot free themselves unless they are willing to.

And Jeremy is more self-assertive than Bobby. He never fell entirely for Emma's schemes and would investigate at times. At times, involving Jerlina... but this is a start.

And now Emma would be raging mad and she won't let this go. Her anger will now turn against Jerlina and she would try to gather people to sympathize with her and trash Jerlina. Everything Jerlina worried about will happen now.

But yeah... it can be handled.

But if Emma is stupid enough to go against Jerlina's life; especially at times like this... Jeremy will kill Emma with his own hands and Bobby will take the blame. That is for sure.

And we should stop Emma before that happens!

Even I didn't know  Jerry places Jerlina so high up in his heart, even higher than Emma. 

It's fine... He deserves a good girl like Jerlina.

"Emma won't let this go..." Scarlett decided to give a warning to Jerlina although she knew Jerlina would have figured this out. 

"I know..." Jerlina pressed her lips. "Scar... you'd have an idea who Emma might use, right?" she asked and Scarlett smirked.

"Of course, I'll tell you everything. Let's protect our men!" she raised her hand for a high-five and Jerlina with a smile patted her palm.

"What are you talking about?" Charlie made entry and Scarlett looked at him for a moment. "We'll need your help," she stated and he sat by the little bench.

When Scarlett and Jerlina talked, Charlie seemed to be agreeing with them and agreed to keep a watch on Emma.

Charlie himself was a lot skeptical about Emma. Last night, he could sense his girlfriend was distressed and he urged her to speak her mind. 

At first, she was spouting nonsense that Jerlina said something to Jeremy and Jeremy threatened her aunt and almost hit her and all. 

Although Charlie wasn't with Jeremy as long as Bobby and Scarlett, he knew that guy. He is not the one who threatens someone just because someone said something. And that squirrel had no such talent. 

"Call me when you're willing to tell me the truth," he stood up to leave and his Foxy started sobbing. It broke his heart but he got the truth from her. He could understand that Emma was the one who manipulated the girls to lie about Hank.

Foxy still thinks Emma is a good friend and he knew she needs rescuing. And it seems like others in Emma's deceptive web should be rescued too. 

He was worried when Jerlina left Jeremy alone with Emma, but then she ran back in and it seemed like she is a good influence on Jeremy.

The squirrel's not bad. And so he can help too!

And so in the rose garden, an alliance was formed against Emma and they decided to bring Emma's manipulations to light.