Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy who was enraged enough to turn to a murderer, came to his senses as the softness enveloped him. He saw the little trembling figure, hugging him around his waist and there were glaring scratch marks on her arms and hickeys on her neck. Her dress was hanging on her waist and she was sobbing.

His heart broke as he rubbed her naked back. He didn't even hear Emma's shout.

"There, there..." he hugged her. "I'm here... you're safe, little woman." He spoke in a soothing tone.

"Yeah..." Jerlina said amidst sobs. She didnt want to cry like a baby but she couldn't help it. 

She felt shame and disgust, combined with her inability to protect herself, it made her feel pathetic. But that warm hands around her back covered her shame and his soothing voice sucked out all the negative emotions she felt. 

He pulled her dress up as she composed herself and helped her wear it properly. Those scratch marks were still visible and he removed his suit jacket and wrapped it on her shoulders.

Gerard saw the scene unfolding in front of his eyes. He could feel one of his ribs got broken once more. 

The pain meant nothing to him as he was happy.

He, in his wishful thinking, ignored everything else. All he could see was how Jerlina hugged Jeremy to stop him from hurting him more. 

She still loves me!

Emma saw Jeremy hugging Jerlina with love dripping through his eyes and she didn't want to rub salt on her own wounds. She knew she is now in a very disadvantageous position. Gerard won't be spared by that lumberjack, but she needed Gerard for now.

She was already thinking of how to handle the situation.

But when she saw Gerard sitting on the restroom floor with a weird smile on his face, she wanted to hit him hard in the chest. His forehead was wet with perspiration and by the way he was holding his chest, she feared if he broke his ribs once more.

I cannot handle his tantrums once more!

Jeremy held Jerlina's cheeks and made her look at him. Although he was gentle with her, the boiling rage in his veins that was burning his insides wasn't doused.

Making sure she is composed, he walked to Gerard once more. He thought he'd feel a little pull from his back from the woman who went through a terrifying ordeal, trying to stop him from hurting that guy now having a weird smile as if he has lost his marbles.

But no, Jerlina wasn't stopping him.

"So you dared to..." Jeremy let out a scoff and walked closer to him. One of his feet was between Gerard's legs as he still lay on the floor.

"Yeah, she's my Jer-" 

"Ahhhh!"

The next second the entire restroom was filled with the painful screams of a man. The leather soles of the man with the wolf tattoo, stomped on the man on the floor, right on his crotch, crushing his jewels.

Jerlina stood wrapping herself in Jeremy's jacket and she clenched her teeth as she fixed her eyes on Gerard. 

She's heard that even a slight hit on the balls would hurt a lot, but Jeremy was squeezing on Gerard's crotch like he is stubbing a cigarette on the floor.

She didn't find the need to stop Jeremy. This is not the first time Gerard is doing something stupid on her. He slapped her that day and found Charlie breaking his ribs a bit excessive. And what did she get in return? 

He tried to violate her in a public restroom!

Gerard's face went red as he screamed in pain and he seemed like he'd faint as he wriggled to get out of his hold. Emma pleaded with Jeremy holding his leg, but nothing stopped Jeremy.

Ha! Isn't this how I felt some time ago?

Jerlina heard a loud gasp and saw Amanda's eyes widening and they were red as she held back her tears. She closed her mouth with both of her hands trying to swallow her sobs.

See... this is the man you tried to provoke! Meet you? He'd have you killed for hurting his mother!

The sound of the breaking door and the screams from inside attracted onlookers and Jerlina knew it won't be good for Jeremy if he keeps on with it and Gerard dies.

Plus she didn't want to publicize what happened to her for a lot of reasons. 

Jerlina walked to Jeremy's side and placed her hand on his hand and he took his feet away.

"What is it?" he turned to look at Jerlina and she saw how his face turned from enraged to gentle in mere seconds. "Do you want to leave?"

As he was speaking, Emma noticed the congressman's assistant and some others walking in the restroom. Jerlina noticed them too and they started mumbling among themselves. She knew they'd try to contain this situation since it won't be good for their campaign if rumors of a fight in their fundraiser event spread.

Jerlina knew it would be better for them to leave for now. Gerard looked at her with a smile even then and it made her shiver. She just wanted to leave. It seemed like Jeremy has decided the same too as he held her back and turned to leave. But then Emma's nasal voice made him stop.

"Jerry..." she hiccupped. Her eyes were red and her makeup was smudged making her look pitiful. "You might not like my husband... But you almost killed him when it was your wife who came on to him... How could you..." she sniffed.

Jerlina's hand on Jeremy's arm slipped and her heart started to pound. Her eyes blackened as she forgot to breathe. 

What? She knows nothing and yet she speaks with conviction?

"Liar!" she screamed but Emma was continuing her act.

Jerlina's throat went heavy and she saw the others looking at her with what she interpreted as contempt. She felt like she was getting judged and she felt shrinking in front of them. 

Joel... Will you trust me? 

Jerlina felt Jeremy's hand on her back leaving her and she let out a sigh as she closed her eyes. She hugged herself.

*Slap*

The restroom echoed with a loud slap and followed by small thudding noise.

Jerlina opened her eyes to see Emma on the floor holding her cheek. There was a teardrop at the tip of her nose and she was shocked beyond belief as she stared at Jeremy.

Pointing his index finger at Emma, Jeremy growled, "I told you time and time again to be careful with your words, Emma."

Jerlina was stunned. 

He hit Emma!

Jeremy turned to look at Amanda and she took a couple of steps back. "That guy..." she pointed at Gerard. "He pulled Ms. Hopkins while she was talking to me..." She gulped as her throat went dry. "When we came here... he was... he was.... forcing Ms.Hopkins... there..." she pointed at the stall where it happened.

Jeremy then turned at the assistant of the Congressman, "Is your boss that deprived for funds? If he asked, I'd have thrown a billion in his face! Is he trying to humiliate me by inviting whosoever here? Strike my name off your donors' list!" he roared.

Grabbing Jerlina's hands he walked out, not minding the assistant running behind him.

Emma looked at Jeremy's back with utter shock.

He slapped me! 

He slapped me!

ME!

He slapped ME!

And did he just blacklisted the Harrison family from the high society? Seriously! Who would dare to choose us, going against Jeremy Fitzgerald?

Why?

For her?