Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Because of Jonathan, Edward had to go to hiding fearing his boy would be the next victim of an "accident". Patrick followed his master, taking my sister with him...They changed their names and they kept it all even from me since I was under Jonathan's radar constantly," Alexander's eyes watered.

"I only could take a quick glance at my only sister's children recently after they are all grown up and are married with kids..." 

His voice was filled with regret and pain. Jerlina could now understand why it is so personal for Alexander. 

"Our family expected that Becca would end up with Edward but she ended up falling for the butler of the Hamilton family," he let out a scoff.

So, here's the other reason.

"But Aunt Becky is happy with Uncle Pat," she will never let anyone say one word against her dear uncle and aunt. "Aunt Becky is kind and Uncle Pat loves her so much. They are made for each other."

Alexander looked at Jerlina and although he wanted to speak more, he stopped. Other than living an extravagant life, his sister has lived a fulfilling life, filled with happiness. He could see it by the way she talked. So he really didn't have many complaints about Patrick.

But he stole my sister from me... that scoundrel! He blindsided me by stealing my sister's heart! I thought he was my friend.

How can he fall in love with his friend's sister? That's betrayal!

Hmpf!

This girl loves them and she won't understand me... I was the one who had to live without knowing anything about my sister for decades.

"So... was he- my great-grandfather the one who wants me dead?" Jerlina asked.

  If Jonathan Erling hated the Hamilton family enough to scrub their name off from the high society, if he didn't want to see my grandpa happy and went as far as to kill my grandma, he might not want to see Edward Hamilton's grandchild alive too... maybe..?

"I've thought about it too... but even tigers don't kill their cubs... Even if you're a Hamilton, your father was Delvina's only child and that makes you special for him... He's very fond of  Aniko Corvin. He's very possessive even now and won't show even her picture to anyone. If he thought Delvina looked like her mother, you'd ..." Alexander looked at her deeply.

"Do I resemble Delvina that much?" she asked. "And is she alive still..?"

Jerlina didn't know what it would feel like to meet her father's birth mother.

"Ah...No... She overdosed soon after Edward went to hiding. I thought Jonathan would die with her, but he managed to keep himself alive. He married and sired children even after that... He's..." Alexander was lost for words.

Jerlina bowed her head and sank into deep thoughts.

"The ones who want you dead must be from the Erling family," Alexander said making Jerlina look at him. 

"I tried to call the President the moment I received news that all contacts to you have been lost. He didn't answer me and I heard the Erling name floating around among the aides of the President. But just as we got Jeremy and you on the flight, we got the news that Erling asked the President to send Marines to save you... In between that hour, something must have happened-"

"It's Rose!" Mikhail interjected Alexander. "I told you, grandpa. It's Rose who talked to Jonathan Erling about Ms. Hopkins. Otherwise, he wouldn't have known about Ms. Hopkins at all!" he stressed only for Alexander to let out a scoff.

"Rose is missing, Ms. Hopkins. I haven't heard from her for more than a day.She wanted to help me-"

"For goodness sake, Mikhail!" Alexander's tone got impatient, "For all we know, she is being held by Jonathan for trying to hurt Jerlina. How are you even sure-"

"I will never doubt her, grandpa," Mikhail banged the table and stood up.

Jerlina winced as she had never seen Mikhail raise his voice. Mikhail realized he has lost his composure.

"Excuse me," he apologized and took his seat taking a deep breath.

There was silence around the table for some minutes. 

"It won't be long before he finds you. What would delay him will be getting permission to land in my private airstrip, but he won't keep the formalities in this case. Perhaps, within hours you'll be met with his people..." Alexander was sure of it. 

When you have billions in your bank account and thousands of sycophants around you trying to gain your favor, you can pretty much do anything.

Jerlina felt some upsetting feeling in her chest. It seems like it is inevitable. But to meet with someone like him... She didn't know if she is willing or not.

But someone who can call the President of a nation and order him to send the military to get one person... Just how much power does he hold?

"You won't be given much choice in this issue," Alexander continued. "He is not someone who cares for consent. If you insist on not meeting him, you should have a head start and I will hide you as long as you wish for..."

Jerlina rubbed her cheeks in deep thoughts. Alexander is sure that this will happen and she didn't want to doubt him. 

Can Jonathan Erling coerce her to do what he wants to do?

Absolutely!

She has a lot of things to protect and even if one of those things is threatened, she would give in. 

If the end is going to be me meeting him, why take the long route, right?

"I don't want to meet him. But I don't want to be running around either. Joel is here and I will stay by his side as he recovers... Let's see what I'll do when that time comes...if that time comes," Jerlina shrugged. 

Who'd have thought!

"I think... naming me after Jonathan's-" she looked up and corrected herself. "Naming me after my great-grandmother was the last olive branch my grandpa extended to Jonathan Erling," she sighed. 

Grandpa fought with my mom to give me that name. He didn't name me after his wife, but the mother of his wife. Did he do it knowing that Aniko is Jonathan's soft spot and to remind him that I am Aniko's blood in case Jonathan wants to hurt me?

Or did grandpa wanted to tell him that he doesn't hate him and that he forgives him?

Grandpa... Why did you name me after my great-grandmother?

"Or it could be the last appeal to Jonathan's humanity..." She added.

"His humanity?" Alexander let out a scoff and mumbled something. 

"Maybe I should meet him. But only after my husband recovers," she stood up. 

Alexander and Mikhail stood up with her. 

"And I want to know about the situation in Peyton," She looked at Mikhail.

She needed to ask more about Rose. But she didn't want to stress out Alexander. She liked Rose although she was acting weird the other day. 

"Yes," Mikhail walked by her side and lead her to the ICU where Joel is.