Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy was all smiles as he drove to Port City. The image of her on his bed with those sexy shoes still made his throat dry and abdomen tighten.

But when she said she had planned for their second date, he couldn't refuse her. 

He has asked Bobby and Charlie to keep an eye on the other gangs. From the intel gathered by them till now, in the Tigers gang, this meeting was known nothing as short as TJ handing over the kid with no problem. 

They are saying that TJ is scared of Wyatt and that's why he handed over the kid and the tiger with no hurt to them. 

But... Whatever.

He didn't want to hurt the little boy. Then his wife's opinion about him will be ruined. She is thinking of him as a King.

In Peyton, news had spread on how courageous Jerlina was in the face of danger. Word has spread she openly stated her displeasure for Wyatt for almost causing a gang war by not looking after his child and how she protected Jeremy from the tiger not minding her life. 

Her popularity among the townsfolk has doubled by now.

Although Jeremy was sad that he almost got her injured, this acceptance she got made him happy too.

Even he was surprised by her blind courage. She is a careful person, but when it comes to him, she seems to act before she thinks.

Even when she hated him, she tried to help him, and now...

Has her mind changed about me?

When she asked him to wear the clothes she picked out for him, he felt an immense delight. 

No grown man should be happy someone else chooses his clothes, but he was. 

Or maybe it is only unacceptable if the mother does it even after the son becomes an adult. If the wife does it...

I have a wife who chooses my clothes!

Jeremy couldn't contain his glee.

"Where to?" Jeremy asked. She's been scrolling through her phone the whole time. Her face was so serious.

Is she making arrangements for our date? How cute she is...

"Ah, yes... The pier..." Jerlina looked at him with a smile.

Jeremy now understood why she has dressed up warmly. She wanted to take him to the ocean!

He was delighted and seeing the excitement in her face, he became more delighted.

Jerlina was happy and a lot excited. 

She knew a guy who arranges for a romantic candlelit dinner on a yacht. She has never been on one, but every time her ex-boss forgets (purposefully) his anniversary, he'd take his wife to one of those dinners and all will be forgiven. 

She always wanted to go on a yacht.

Why not now, right?

She got some advance payment from Volkonsky and she wanted to spend it for their date. 

Jeremy was rather proud of her. Although he wanted to spend money on her, he was happy to receive from her too. And something prepared by her... 

How could he refuse?

They reached the pier. And the guy came running to Jerlina. He apologized as they encountered some technical difficulties with the yacht and for not being able to get another yacht for them.

Jerlina insisted that he finds her another yacht and she almost started a fight with that guy but Jeremy interrupted and sent the guy away.

"I'm sorry," Jerlina turned to look at Jeremy and the tears in her eyes made one anticipate whether it would fall down or not.

She looked pitiful and all Jeremy could do was smile.

How cute...

"I wanted to bring you on a date. It's my fault for not preparing for it beforehand..." She felt bad for thinking of this at the last moment.

She wanted to cheer him up and at the same time wanted to go on her dream date with him - Joel, the guy who loves her for who she is.

Ever since she saw Benny's eyes, she got reminded of Gerard and the baby she lost. It gave a sinking feeling to her heart. 

She wanted to get over that feeling. She thought she got over Gerard but the moment she saw green eyes, she got reminded of him. She didn't know if it was because of the baby she lost or she still hasn't moved on from Gerard.

Thinking of Jeremy's love, she felt like she was cheating.

That is also another reason she wanted a change of place.

But when she was kissed by Jeremy, she didn't feel anything wrong with it. And she wondered if she has moved on.

She didn't want to think about it all and wanted to have a good time with the man who was sulking.

Her heart started to flutter when she saw the happiness in Jeremy's face when she said she'd be taking him on a date. 

She was eagerly waiting and wanting to make him happier,

But nothing seems-

"Nothing goes our way today, huh?" Jeremy hugged her and rubbed her back. 

In the morning they were prepared for a regular day, but they were interrupted by a tiger and it made him feel sad. And now, she is sad.

But he has a way to end the day on a high note.

"Do you want to have dinner on a yacht?" He asked placing a kiss on her pouting lips.

"I wanted to bring you on a date... I've never brought a guy on a date before... And..." 

It was then she suddenly remembered.

"Joel, will you be okay on a yacht?" 

She held his hand.

"Hmm," he shrugged.

Only after she asked did he remember about his phobia and past trauma.

He's never been on a yacht before, so he wouldn't know.

But looking at those pretty amber eyes that had all the concern in the world for him, he knew he'd get by.

With her near me, I can do anything! And even if I am in danger, she'd rush to save me.

That's what he thought. 

He is not someone who leaves his safety and his burdens with others. He liked to carry his responsibilities. 

But lately, he has found his character changing. And he didn't think it was something to be concerned about.

"If you can't handle it, tell me, alright? We can leave immediately." She said holding his arm. 

As much as she wanted her dream date to happen, it cannot happen over the suffering of the man she's with.

He saw her eyes glistening with love under the street lamp. He hugged her close.

I'd die for those eyes alone!

"Mikhail!"

He dialed the guy who'd have access to yachts in this city. 

Jerlina was a little sad to have Jeremy arrange for the date when she wanted to. Plus they are asking her client. But in the end...

I am going on a date! With... Joel!

She thought they'd get some rich guy's private yacht, but she was surprised when Mikhail welcomed them.

"My yacht is here, so I thought..."

He smiled brightly and hugged both of them before bringing them to his yacht.

There... Jerlina was in for a surprise.