Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Mikhail could sense Jerlina was in great distress and is sceptica about everything.

"Ms. Hopkins, Jeremy is my King. Take it as you please and I don't know if you know it or not, but my family and I are greatly indebted to him. I won't even wish harm on him," as he spoke, his hand naturally ended up on his chest as he spoke from his heart.

Jerlina who was stressed to the max could feel his sincerity. She figured he was talking about the kidnapping incident that Joel talked to her about. 

"Thank you, Mikhail...." Jerlina let out a sigh. 

"It's okay, Ms. Hopkins...I'll stay on the line if you wish," Mikhail asked. 

If she is driving, she needs to concentrate and stress won't let one concentrate. He just wished he could help her in any way he can.

Grandpa won't be able to handle it if something happens to Jeremy.

 "Okay then," Jerlina didn't refuse him.

She needed some support. Although Mikhail cannot help her in any way, she would feel better if she had someone to talk to.

She wiped the snot coming out of her nose with the back of her hand. She didn't want to cry, but she couldn't help it.

"Joel, how are you?" she checked him as she didn't hear from him for some time. "Joel?" her heart skipped a beat as he didn't answer her, but she composed her 

"Jeryl..." he gripped her hand. Although there wasn't much strength to it, she was happy. 

"Yes?"

"Jeryl... I think this would be it..." his lips curved up. 

Jeryl and Joel forver... That would be nice.

"What would be it?" She asked as she got scared. Why does it feel like he is saying something odd? Something pessimistic? 

"Jeryl?" he said again.

"What Joel?" Jerlina swallowed the sob that was rising from her chest. "I am almost at the exit. We can reach the medevac flight soon, alright..?"

"Say it..." he said. 

She didn't even know how conscious he is or if he is speaking whatever that comes to his mind.

"Say what?" she asked.

Please, hold on a little more, Joel.

"Tell me that you love me..." he tried to sing a song, but his voice had gone hoarse.

"Water?" she looked around the car. There was no water.

She saw a gas station ahead and she wondered if she should stop and get a bottle of water. 

Ah, I don't have any money on me.

How pathetic am I? I can't even give a sip of water to a guy bleeding! Stupid! Useless!

"No!" His voice was loud as if he used his strength to gather her attention.

 "Those three words I wanna hear..." he was trying to smile but his lips were twitching. His lips were parched and the skin looked peeling.

He's losing a lot of blood and of course, he'd get dehydrated.

How pathetic of me!

And he wants to tell me what exactly?

Stupid...

Stupid...

What will he do once I say it?

What if he sleeps after hearing it? 

What if he leaves me forever once I say those words he wants to hear?

He'd leave happily and contently, but what about me?

"Jeryl, say it!"

Mikhail was having the call on speaker while he made the necessary arrangements with the other guys. He put it on speaker in case Jerlina asks him something. But now he felt like he is intruding in between a couple. He wondered if he should end the call but there was another voice in his that said that now is not the time to be caring about this stuff. 

"Say what, Joel? I am not going to say 'I love you' to a dying man..." she sniffed. "I am angry at you for getting hurt... I will never tell you what's in my heart. Because if I say what's in my heart...ah!" she couldn't keep her sigh in and let it out.

I want to say it but I don't want to say it. What should I do?

"How can this happen, Joel? My heart hurts... What will I do if something happens to you? What will you do if I tell you what you want to hear? Survive! Survive and I'll tell you how much I love you. Survive and I'll tell you how much I wish to be in your embrace!" She took the exit for the airport.

Tears streamed down her face and she wiped them and sniffed. But she continued speaking.

I'll tell him... Only if he lives, he can have and hold me.

"Survive! And I'll dedicate the rest of my life to you... Survive! And We can make babies... I want two babies... A boy who looks just like you and a girl who looks just like my mom... Survive and let's start a family... I won't tell you what you want to hear unless you survive, fool!" she screamed.

"Don't think I'll do what you want just because you took the bullet for me! Idiot! Why didn't you let me get hurt and you could feel the pain I'm in now? Selfish idiot!"

Mikhail bit his lips and took in a deep breath hearing that confession. 

"Haha..." Jeremy chuckled.

"I already told you not to laugh, dummy!" Jerlina stepped on the gas. She could see the entrance to the airport. 

A little more!

"You... already did... dummy..." 

She heard Jeremy's voice trailing down. 

"Joel?" she turned to see and he had closed his eyes. The car was filled with the stench of blood and with his clothes wet with blood, she couldn't even guess how much blood he has lost.

Her hands went cold and her hands started to shake.

"JOEL!!! Come on... A little more..."

But there was no movement from him. She wanted to shake him but she feared if that would cause more damage or not. And so she held back her urges.

"Mikhail! He's fainted I think... I don't know what to do?"

"Ms. Hopkins," Mikhail's voice was calm as ever. "Do you see a black SUV to your front by now?" he asked.

"Yes! A Land Rover!" Jerlina screamed. "Joel is..."

"Follow that car. Help is just a couple of minutes away. So stop panicking!" He slightly raised his voice.

"Oh?" Jerlina found strength in her heart hearing that. 

Yes, just a little... He'll be fine.

Jerlina followed that car and the moment it stopped, she stopped too and there came a rush of medical professionals and a stretcher. 

They properly checked him and transferred him to the stretcher. 

"He's lost a lot of blood," she heard one of them say.

"I am O positive just like him... I am not drunk and I can donate blood..." she followed them.

I don't mind it even if you take the last drop of my blood if it would save him.