Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Jerry, has Emma changed a lot?" Bobby's face filled with hurt and Jeremy let out a sigh.

Others might feel scared to talk to Jeremy about Emma, but Bobby had the right to speak to Jeremy about anything. 

 "I don't know, Bobby. Has she? You tell me... That day, her face was filled with extreme rage and pure hate as she tried to attack Jerlina. For what?" Jeremy rubbed his forehead.

That image of Emma is imprinted in his heart. He never thought that Emma could make that expression never.

 "Chippy?" Bobby raised his eyebrows. "What's the deal between them? Did Chippy tell you anything?" 

Jeremy shook his head. 

"I don't know... But maybe I was wrong to stop anyone from complaining about Emma, Bobby," Jeremy pressed his lips.

"What did you find out?" Bobby could see Jeremy was holding a great burden and asked.

When Jeremy asked him to have an eye on Emma he didn't ask any questions but he followed through. And what he found was a bit disturbing. 

Jeremy told Bobby about the lies regarding Hank and his doubts that Emma might be responsible for the rumors that Jeremy is interested in Scarlett.

Bobby was silent. He couldn't say a word.

"On your wedding day, Emma was chatting with me. Everything was casual until she started talking about your relationship with Mike. I thought she misunderstood that I feel sad that you value Mike more than me because he is rich..?" Bobby knitted his brows. "But now it seems..."

They are not having a competition on who is closer to Jeremy. They are all men and they understand that they can have different circles of friends and still can be friends.

Jeremy has his friends with the aristocratic circles and he has his friends who are interested in fishing. Jeremy won't complain when he goes fishing with his fishing buddies and he doesn't complain when Jeremy goes drinking with those rich men.

Is having different circles of friends a big deal? But we love each other the same!  

Bobby at that time thought that Emma was being ignorant of this when she talked to him, but now it seems like she might have tried to form a divide between them?

And what she did with Hank is terrible. If it was someone else who caused the death of one of his people, Jeremy would have hurt them equally. 

But this is Emma! How did that little bird turn out to be this calculative? 

And for what?

"Ugh, I need a drink!" Bobby stood up. This was too much for him. "Talk to Chippy... She might know why Emma hates her."

"Yeah..." Jeremy knew Jerlina has no idea too, but he wondered if she'd tell him even if she knows. "She'd be more open with Scar. Check with her," he added.

"Yeah, Kitty," Bobby sighed. "She doesn't like Emma anymore and- Ugh! My mama was right when she told me to listen to my wife! But... It could be nothing, right? Emma can't be some evil... F*ck!" 

"Wait... Who did she meet with yesterday?" Jeremy asked. 

He understood Bobby's pain because he felt ten times more of that pain. But knowing this is better. They can be careful in the future.

"Volkonsky's Manager. It looked like a casual meeting at first, but my man said how Emma was talking in a loud voice with her friends about a terrible glassware company as the manager was sitting closer to them. I know Chippy's company is providing glassware to Mike's bar. I thought Emma was... Man! This sucks, " Bobby shook his head.

Jeremy knew the manager Mikhail has for his bar, is the righthand man of Alexander Volkonsky. He is very much trusted by Alexander and is considered as his eyes and ears.

Did Emma think spreading misinformation about Jerlina's company to the manager will make Alexander Volkonsky interfere directly? She thought Alexander will make Mikhail cancel his order?

Ha! If only!

Emma... Was it not enough for you to take her boyfriend? And now you want to destroy her company?

Why do you hate her this much?

Ah, Jerlina... Weren't you smart to hire a PR firm anticipating stuff like this?

"Continue watching Harold and Emma. And increase the protection when the glassware are delivered..." Jeremy paused as another thought came to his mind.

If Emma hates Jerlina this much, what if Emma wanted Jerlina dead?

"Bobby, any more news about the driver who died?" he asked. 

"Nothing. I am still investigating. That guy wasn't from around here and so he has no gang affiliation. He was a trucker all his life and is from the South. His son has cancer and recently he's been offered help from a charity organization. I am trying to find out more," Bobby got serious.

"A charity organization?" Jeremy knitted his brows. "The timing seems a bit... Investigate more about the charity. Ask Mark's help if necessary." Jeremy said.

He wouldn't have considered it much but he remembered how Jerlina paid for Patrick Davies using the name of a charity. 

Was the trucker was asked by someone to murder Jerlina in exchange for his son's treatment? 

"It's that famous charity organization. But... I'll see what I can do..." Bobby was a bit confused but he agreed anyway.

"Yeah, see who made big donations to the charity recently. And, thanks for everything Bobby," he smiled at Bobby.

"Eww! What is this?" Bobby cringed. "Why are you thanking me? Ah, speaking of... Don't forget to tell Chippy to wear blue for Thanksgiving. This year our team will win! Go Peacocks!" Bobby went out with a shout.

Jeremy smiled. But soon his smile turned to frown thinking of Emma. 

-----

"Hello, brother-in-law," Harold sat in the barstool next to Gerard. "Did you have lunch yet?" he grimaced seeing the empty shot glasses in front of Gerard. 

"Well, it's 5 p.m. somewhere, right?" he playfully patted his back.

"What?" Gerard was not in the mood to talk to Emma's brother. 

After being held as a captive in his home for days since he is "recovering" he sneaked out to have drinks. 

Nothing seems to be working for the pain in his heart anymore. The excessive amount of painkillers and even alcohol is not helping him.

My Jer... she didn't come to visit me even once. How could she be this heartless towards me?

"So, how are you doing?" Harold started to speak and Gerard muted him entirely. 

These people from the Harrison family are extremely sycophantic and annoying as f*ck.

"Dear Gerard," Harold wrapped his arms around his shoulder after speaking for a while. Gerard gritted his teeth and turned to look at him. His chest hurt a lot. Otherwise, he'd have punched him.

"I bet you can't lose out to those who married later than you... By how close they are it seems like my father's first grandchild will be Jeremy's," Harold smiled slyly.

Gerard felt the world around him darkening.

My Jer... She's getting that close to Jeremy that there are speculations that she would get pregnant?

My Jer carrying the child of the b@stard who killed our child? 

No! Impossible!