Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

In a couple of days, Jeremy started to feel better. The doctors advised him to take walks to diminish the soreness in his muscles and Jerlina helped him take a walk in the garden. 

They could see the beach at the distance and Jeremy remembered her saying that she wants to buy a mansion facing the beach.

"Do you want a place by the beach, Jeryl?" he asked her. 

The previous day, he watched her running around, handling his company and he did feel a bit bad. He wanted to push himself but he knew it might result in him getting more hurt and so he decided to follow the doctor's advice and take it slow.

And even now, she seemed to be in deep thoughts. He wanted to know what she is thinking but he decided to wait for her to open up to him.

Walking side by side with her... It's like a dream come true for him.

"Hmm?" his question brought Jerlina out of her thoughts. 

This morning Emma called her and more than inquiring about Jeremy's health what she talked more about was about her.

For some reason, Emma blamed her for Gerard's infertility. Although Jerlina felt sad for Gerard, she was in no mood to blame herself for what happened with Gerard. Even Joel cannot be blamed. 

He is to be blamed for what happened to him.

Thinking of that day, and his touches and kisses, made her cringe all over. 

Plus, she still hasn't told Jeremy that she is related to Jonathan Erling. 

  "I am not so sure about beaches anymore..." Jerlina shrugged. "More than the sound of seagulls and crashing waves, I like the sound of Robins and Sparrows, and the sound of the wind against the trees better... and the scent of pine and roses in the morning is more refreshing than the morning sea breeze," she smiled at him.

"That's..." Jeremy was lost for words.

She is saying that she likes his home better than the dream home she had in her mind. 

Ah! I just want to get better soon and take her to my home and start a family. 

Family...

"Jeryl," he held her hand. "I don't know if it is too soon to talk about it and if I can..." he hesitated.

He wanted to tell her that she can plant the rosebush she has on her balcony in the ground. He knew she used the planter so that she can take it with her when she leaves him. And the tens of identical rose planters with the same rose... 

He knew she brought them there to sneak her baby's grave out.

And after what he pretended to do that day when she tried to leave, he couldn't even blame her for deciding to sneak her baby out. But till now she hasn't done it yet. 

Yeah, it used to hurt him, and it made him feel insecure, but now their relationship has turned for the better. She has fallen for him and confessed and she even told him that she wants to have kids with him. 

If so, she should freely consider his home as hers and she should bury her baby in her home.

"What..?" Jerlina saw him hesitating and looked at him. "Joel, are you hurting somewhere? Should we return?" she asked and started checking his bandage. "You aren't bleeding, are you?"

  "I am fine," he held her hand with a smile. "I was just going to ask you about what you said the other day... you know about what..." he smirked playfully.

Looking at her eyes, he still didn't have the guts to bring up the baby she lost. It is still a wound in her heart and it is a thorn in his heart. He didn't know how she'd react if he brings up her baby.

"What are you talking about?" Jerlina's face turned red and she turned and started walking.

Is he talking about our third date? This guy! Can't he think about something else for one moment?

"You don't know?" he asked and walked towards her with a smile. Her ears were red and he couldn't help but want to tease her more.

Yeah, she is mine. One day she will find our home as hers entirely and will bury her baby there. I can wait.

  "About that thing..?" 

"What thing?" Jerlina pouted. 

She could see he is trying to tease her and still she couldn't do anything to counter him. 

Why am I dumb?

"The thing about having two kids?" he asked. 

"Shut up!" Jerlina's face burned and she closed her ears. She didn't know why that makes her embarrassed. But it did.

"A boy looking like me and..."

"Shut up, dummy!" Jerlina shook her head. But he held her hand and she didn't want to strain him and she looked at him.

"...a girl just like your mother..." Jeremy smiled at her and she rested her forehead on his chest softly and gripped his sleeve.

"Yes... we can name our boy after my grandpa and our girl after your mother... or however you please..." she whispered.

Jeremy placed his hand on her back and kissed her head. "We can do whatever you want, honeybuns..."

Somehow his eyes watered. 

She was not saying this loosely that day just to make me feel better... She actually means it.

"Okay then, I'll have more say since I'd be the one enduring childbirth," Jerlina added and he hummed.   

"That's true... I'd just be standing by your side... You can have all the say..." he hugged her closer.

"Careful..." Jerlina pulled back. She didn't want to cause damage to the surgery site in his abdomen. 

"Don't hurt yourself..." she looked at him and was stunned to see his reddened eyes.

"Why are you crying, idiot?" she wiped the corner of his eyes. "How long were you waiting for me to say these things to you, huh?" she smiled. "Can't you believe it? I'll tell you again and again..."

He closed his eyes and leaned on her palm and she rubbed his cheek tenderly.

"You don't have to wait for me anymore. I am saying these words from my heart..." she said and he looked at her. His blue eyes were shimmering with love and expectation and her heart skipped a beat. 

"I want you as mine forever... As my friend, as my family, as my lover, as my husband, as the father of my children... I want you, Joel, because I love you..."

She didn't know why her eyes water each time she says it. Maybe because seeing his happy smile makes her happy? Or is it just her expression of love? She felt like she was never in love like this before. This novel feeling that makes her heart leap...

She loved it.

"...yeah," he looked at her. "I know... But keep on telling me, alright? I want to hear it a thousand times," he said and she nodded.

At that time she received a call and she answered it since it was  Joel's lawyer.

Her face paled hearing what he said.