Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Hello, sister-in-law!" Jerlina clenched her jaws hearing that familiar voice behind her. 

"Well, who are you?" Jerlina asked with her face stiff as if she didn't know who Emma is.

She was just trying to shock Emma a bit and then smile and act as if they were a happy family. 

The wife of a wealthy man standing beside them paused the glass by her lips and stared at them as if she has found juicy gossip.

Jerlina saw Emma's face paling and she won't lie if she said that she was happy seeing Emma's distressed face. Jeremy stood by Jerlina's side without saying much. Jerlina could see Gerard standing beside  Emma, but she didn't even look at him.

Jerlina took in a deep breath to change this tense situation, but Jeremy pulled her to his side closer.

Jerlina noticed the current congressman of their district coming to greet Jeremy and he pushed Jerlina forward by gently holding her lower back and introduced her to him before the congressman got to talk to him.

"Jerlina Hopkins -  CEO, the old ball and chains..." he chuckled. Jerlina laughed along. He was so suave and she could see the charm he has when he is working the crowds. 

She didn't even mind it even if he did it to make Gerard jealous. She wasn't even thinking of Gerard. 

She couldn't keep her eyes off of Jeremy.

"Ah, My better half..." he softly placed his hand on her exposed shoulder and kissed her cheek. "Without her, I don't amount much," Jeremy said so casually as if he has been saying it his whole life.

  Jerlina shook hands with the congressman and she could see all the women around looking at her with jealousy. Not every man will put their wife first before them. 

And she didn't know this gesture would make her feel so warm and confident. 

Emma pushed forward and Gerard followed her. Seeing Emma standing close to Jeremy, the congressman looked at her. He knew her because he was reminded by his people that she is a pretty important person for Jeremy Fitzgerald.

"She's your relative, right? Ms. Emma Harrison?"

"I'm Jerry's sis-"

"Ah, yes. She's my halfsister," Jeremy's voice was more powerful swallowing Emma's voice and Jerlina wetted her lips bowing her head. 

"And this is her husband Gerard Cooper," Jeremy continued.

"Ah, yes... How do you do, Mr. Cooper," the congressman shook Gerard's hand and they did some small talks. Through her peripheral vision, Jerlina saw Emma staring at Jeremy with her eyes wide. Jerlina pretended she didn't see anything.

Of course, Emma is shocked. Jeremy probably never introduced her as his half-sister.

Well, this got nothing to do with me.

Jeremy on the other hand did that on purpose. He recently started investigating his Harrison family. Mikhail told him that Jerlina might be in danger from the Harrison family that day, and after he saw the hate in Emma's eyes, he couldn't ignore Mikhail's warning.

He found a lot. Well, he was not that surprised by what he learned, but he decided to put a distance between him and the Harrison family. 

And then the Senator came to greet Jeremy. The congressman made the introductions and Jerlina could see the Senator wanted some donations too. They talked about the Presidential election fundraising. He was then followed by some other congressman from some other district. 

Jeremy showed himself to be not interested in making larger donations this year and the congressman was trying hard to get more money from Jeremy. He was shocked that Jeremy isn't keen on donating to them anymore. But he is here and that means his decision can be changed and so he was speaking in a roundabout way to have a private meeting.

Even Jerlina found the congressman a little pitiful as Jeremy pretended to not understand his intentions.

And Jerlina was not that surprised that everyone comes to meet Jeremy and not the other way around. She knew the reason. She went through the records to see how much he donates for their campaigns. 

It was a lot! Enough for them to act sycophantic!

She wondered if the President too will act this way to Jeremy when he asks for donations. 

Probably...

Wow! Who did I marry?

Emma gritted her teeth as she was ignored by both Jerlina and Jeremy. But she was glad to see Gerard staring at Jerlina angrily. The angrier he gets at Jerlina, the better it will be for her.

He still isn't revealing any of his secret connections and her father is pressing her to get some details from him. Their company is facing some troubles now that the stupid lumberjack is pulling back his support. 

He doesn't even use his surname anymore. He started introducing himself as Jeremy Fitzgerald like in the past. 

Well, isn't this all the b*tch's fault?

  Jerlina looked around and she noticed Amanda the journalist she hates at the distance, conversing with the Senator's wife. It seems like the senator's wife is her aunt and since the senator doesn't have daughters he considers Amanda as his daughter.

And Amanda Prescott uses his love for her to get what she wants. 

Isn't there a reason I hate her? She's a lot like Emma.

Jeremy was talking to some other wealthy businessmen of the city and Jerlina gestured to him that she's going to talk to Amanda. He glared in Amanda's direction and Jerlina noticed the senator's wife getting flustered and the senator noticed Jeremy glaring in the direction of his family.

It seemed like he kind of got why one of their biggest whales is refusing to donate this year. It seems like his family is the reason.

Aww... How amazing is my Joel! He already made my job a lot easier.

Jerlina with a smile walked to the bar. As she expected, the senator's wife walked to her with a smile. If she doesn't know what to do without being told to, her husband wouldn't be a senator.

She knew usually the people in power only would converse strictly in a business manner with others to avoid any troubles. Any kind of underhanded means will be either handled by their secretaries or their wives.

What better place is there for it than a cocktail party?

And the senator's wife will now come to her to speak for her husband and Jerlina will now have to represent her husband. It's the norm in high societies.

"Chocolate Martini. Shaken, not stirred," Jerlina sat on the barstool and crossed her legs. 

"Mrs. Fitzgerald," Senator Hawley's wife nodded at her and sat on the stool beside her. Jerlina saw Amanda glaring at her from a distance.

"Oh, just Jerlina, please, Ma'am," Jerlina smiled sweetly. 

She naturally has a childish face according to Scarlett (cute face is what she said). Apparently, she doesn't have to try hard to act friendly or cute. 

She trusted Scarlett's deduction. Maybe that's why she looks younger than her age.

They engaged in small talks first but then slowly their conversation turned to the upcoming elections. 

Well, no surprise there!