Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Have lunch with me," Alexander smiled. 

"After I check up on my husband," Jerlina smiled back.

The old man pressed his lips and banged his cane on the marble floor expressing his displeasure using his authority. 

"After I check up on my husband," Jerlina repeated and Alexander let out a sigh.

"Give way," she added. "How long did I sleep?" she mumbled and jumped over the cane. That old man really is very adamant.

But where am I? This doesn't look like a hospital at all.

Jerlina was confused. The last she remembered was when she was on the medevac plane and she blacked out.

And now she is clean and wearing clean clothes and currently is standing somewhere unfamiliar.

"You're a very careless person, aren't you? While your husband was getting surgery for a gunshot wound, you ended up resting peacefully," Alexander said and Jerlina stopped.

"Surgery?" her eyebrows furrowed. "How is he? Where is he?" Her heartbeat quickened.

Of course, he had surgery! He had a bullet lodged inside his body! And without caring for him, I ended up sleeping for hours?

"Where is-"

"That's enough, grandpa. Stop provoking her into guilt. She did great yesterday," Mikhail walked towards them fixing his cuffs.

Yesterday? Did I sleep for an entire day?

"Mikhail, where is Joel?" Jerlina walked towards him. "Take me to him, please..." Her eyes clouded.

I am useless, alright? I am nowhere near how affectionate he is. 

Please, be fine, Joel...

"How is he? Was the surgery successful? What did the doctors say?" Jerlina stacked her questions to Mikhail. 

"Well, the bullet was lodged in his intestine and there were no shrapnels or any other complications and so the surgery went pretty well..." Mikhail explained as he led her through the hallways.

Of course, Mikhail hid the fact that Jeremy's heart stopped once during the surgery and he had to be resuscitated. But thankfully there were no more complications than that and the doctors are saying that he can recover to 100% within weeks.

She had blacked out yesterday out of stress and she had to be hospitalized and medicated. He heard from others how much she went through that day and he was impressed by how strong she is to handle it all. 

He turned behind to see his grandfather walking closely observing him. He wanted to talk to her about Rose, but his grandfather must have figured it out and is having a close eye on him.

Jerlina was relieved to hear Jeremy is really not in danger and walked like a blinded horse where Mikhail led her to.

There was a part of the house that was designed like a hospital and it looked identical to an ICU.

Jerlina peeked through the glass and with a lot of tubes attached, Jeremy appeared to be sleeping on the bed. 

Seeing them standing out, the nurse came to them. Jerlina confirmed everything Mikhail told her and only when the nurse affirmed it too, did she feel relieved.

It is not wrong to double-check, right?

"Can I..?" Jerlina's throat closed as she pointed at the door. She had an urge to touch him and affirm that he is fine. 

The nurse was about to shook her head 'No', but then she changed her mind. "Yes, but please follow the instructions..."

Jerlina was asked through various sterilization processes and was asked to stay silent and not disturb him.

"He won't wake up for at least four hours," the nurse said and Jerlina nodded. 

"I'll be careful," Jerlina walked in. The door closed behind her and she preferred it that way.

There were a lot of machines beeping and she saw various numbers and waves getting displayed on monitors.

She carefully walked closer and sat at the edge of the bed. She knew she was asked not to touch him, but she couldn't help but hold the tip of his finger.

"Joel... "

That's all she could say and she started to cry once more. Maybe because she had people around here who truly cared about Jeremy, she did not feel the need to be strong for him anymore and let her weakness take over her.

"Joel, I love you..."

She bowed her head and pressed her forehead on his finger she was holding.

Every time those rough, big hands caressed her came to her memory and she took in a deep breath.

He'll be better soon! He'll touch me the same way soon. He'll kiss me the same soon.

  "I said I'll tell you once you survive, right... Wake up soon, okay? I'll say it again and again until you get saturated with it... I'll tell you that I love you so many times that you'll shout at me to shut up...We can keep on talking as much as you want. I'll kiss you, hug you, and then we can..." 

  We can... show each other how much we love each other every day through our bodies.

Jerlina raised her head after sneaking a kiss on his finger when the nurse wasn't watching. She sat by his side until the nurse asked her to leave. 

The nurse wouldn't have asked her to leave if only that big baby with the cane stopped pestering everyone that he is hungry.

Jerlina wanted to get mad at that intruding old man, but she knew he has done a very great help for them – one that would make them owe their lives to him.

"Thank you, Grandpa..." Jerlina thanked him from her heart as they walked to the dining room.

The old man still had that silly smile on his face. "You're still a careless child," he said making Jerlina roll her eyes.

He's not going to make me feel emotional towards him, is he?

But he is a very good man... kind of like my grandpa.

Huh! Another kind person I've had the fortune to meet just because of Joel.

Joel...  You gave me so much, you're giving me so much... I'm overwhelmed by everything. 

I am going to stay with you forever. Even if you push me out, I'll stay by your doorstep begging you to let me in. I will not let go of your hand ever.

I don't want to lose anything I have now.

Jerlina sat at the table and was surprised to see everyone getting served different dishes. Apparently, this is their summer home on a private island and they have an in-house nutritionist and a chef who take care of the meals.

Jerlina looked at her porridge and shrugged. She didn't feel like eating but she needs to eat to gather her strength. She wanted to stay by Jeremy's side and look after him after he wakes up.

All the staff here are so hot! I don't want them to look after my husband!

She was about to ask about the situation in Peyton, but Alexander started the conversation first.

"Be prepared. Jonathan Erling will summon you for an audience soon."