Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Scar, take good care of your husband who never asks you to break up with you, alright?" Jerlina said with a sigh while looking at Jeremy. He was pouting and looked pitiful.

"...I, on the other hand, will have to get back to my husband who hates me... He already thinks he does not need, me and I even..."

Slapped him...

Jerlina did feel guilty for slapping him. Her guilt overrode the anger she felt towards him. 

He is her husband who loves her deeply and without thinking twice she had slapped him.

She is not someone who raises her hands to hit someone but lately, she finds herself doing things she has never done before. 

He already has something against her and that's why he asked her to break up with him. Add to the fact that she slapped him, he's not going to forgive her.

I don't want to break up with him... I love him...

Scarlett said something and Jerlina couldn't even listen to her properly as she felt her head buzzing due to the alcohol.

Scarlett ended the call and Jerlina staggered to where the glass was broken. As if there was an invisible wall between them, Jeremy was standing behind the broken glasses the whole time. 

"I'm sorry for slapping you. Please have your lunch and take a rest."

She couldn't even look at his face and spoke with her head bowed. She was scared to look at his face. NO matter what, the words that came out of his mouth... even if they were sudden and he spoke it without thinking that through...

How could he say that? Is that his deep heart wish? He already stopped liking me? What did I do wrong?

But I cannot give him up.

She got a broom and started to clean the broken pieces. 

Jeremy watched her without blinking his eyes. She looked indifferent. Her nose was still flared and he couldn't see her eyes properly. He didn't know what she is thinking.

But he could sense that she is angry. She has every right to be angry at him. He started to think about how he can cajole her. 

"Darling... why don't we eat together?" he asked and tried to grab the broom from her hand but she skilfully avoided his hand. 

"Jeryl... Let me help," he stepped forward and she stopped him with the broom. 

"I am not angry that you hit me, you know," he thought he should make that clear. 

He had told her that she can do whatever she wants and at that moment he needed that slap. And it is her! Her hands are soft and the slap didn't even hurt much.

"That's good... I guess..?" she gulped. 

He could see that she is feeling very guilty about it. But he truly didn't mind.

"Give the broom," he tried to get it from her hand. "I'll help." 

"Oh, no... I can take care of it. Don't get hurt," she spoke in a soft voice. 

"Jeryl... are you still mad? About that break-up... I really didn't mean what I said... I am sorry, alright..." he walked behind her as she threw the broken pieces in the trash. "Are you feeling alright? You drank a lot..."

"I am fine," Jerlina turned at him with a smile. It was a smile; albeit a forced one. 

"Just go sit at the table. I'll bring your lunch. I prepared a new dish for you."

"Jeryl," he tried to grab her cheek but she held his hand and led him to the table. 

"Alexander and Mikhail are not going to join us today because they have some business to take care of. It is going to be just us..." she started to plate the dish and Jeremy watched her silently.

"Then bring out your food too," he said and walked out. 

She drank a lot on an empty stomach and that is not going to be good. He decided to make her eat first.

"That planter that got broken was not the grave. Emma must have misunderstood and broken the wrong pot," Jerlina didn't want to let Jeremy know that Scarlett planned it all elaborately. 

What if he starts to pity that cruel woman?

"And Scarlett said that she has the video footage, in case you might think that your dear sister was framed," Jerlina spoke playing with the food. 

She was not in the mood to eat. She didn't feel hungry.

"I don't need that footage," he said and she looked at him. "I knew it was Emma..." he let out a deep breath. "I told her that she need not contact me ever again and I blocked her number. I won't answer her anymore," he decided to be open with her.

She was not pleased that he talked to Emma. So he wanted to clear that up too.

"I know... Scar already told me... You should do as you wish..." Jerlina smiled.

"Are you really fine, Jeryl?" he asked once more.

"Yeah..." she smiled once more and started to stuff the food inside her mouth. 

Jeremy didn't say anything and watched her. She looked down and it made him sad. She said that she is fine and pretends that they are fine, but he knew they are not fine. 

Can't she just tell me why she is mad?

Well. It was a slip of the tongue because I felt like I am not enough. Why is she hanging on to it this much?

"I think it is going to rain..." Jerlina said looking out at the big glass window. 

Tides were high and the sky looked gloomy with dark clouds forming on the horizon. Just like her heart was filled with deep sadness, the sky started to turn gloomy. 

But she didn't want to let him know. She didn't want to stress him out. 

He probably didn't even mean it... Even I got confused by Emma's words and almost doubted him. He probably was confused too...

He probably felt bad because he thought he couldn't protect the grave and let his sister damage it... probably... Right? 

Yes, that should be it!

I slapped him, he apologized... That should be enough.

Yes, that should be enough!

After having lunch, they usually take a walk, but that day since it seemed like a storm was approaching, they decided to return to their room. 

"There are some documents that need your signature, Joel," Jerlina got to business. 

She had checked everything and all he had to do was do the signature. 

"And the CEO of the Sakura Real Estates talked to me directly. He wants to meet you face-to-face before signing the contract. He was pleased with the quality of our wood, but he wants to meet for some reason. He was polite and it seems like he wants to visit our country with his wife. I offered them a tour of our country. And he was happy to hear it. I guess he wants to give his wife a surprise tour. So we need to..." 

Jerlina went on and Jeremy looked at her with pressed lips as he kept on signing the mountainous amount of documents he needed to sign. 

It is not surprising he has this many documents to sign. But he was wondering when his little wife found the time to review all those documents before they came to him for signature.

And she could guess what others might want pretty easily. She is someone very smart. Someone no one would want to lose.

"Lie down for some time," he brushed a lock of her hair falling on her cheek.

He could see that the wine she drank taking effect. She had started slurring and her coordination was not good.

"Okay," Jerlina did start to see double and she tried to clean up the place.

"I'll finish it. Lie down," Jeremy got the papers from her hands. He made her lie down on his bed and she did so without much protest. 

When Jeremy came back to the bed, her breathing was deep and she looked fast asleep. He lied down by her side and stared at her face. 

She might be looking the same as always, but for him, everything looked grey and gloomy. He could feel it in his heart that she is not fine. 

How will I know if she does not tell me?

He wouldn't lie. He got a little mad at her. He apologized and she accepted. She apologized but there was no need for that. 

So what else is bothering her?

In his deep thoughts, he fell asleep. The little woman in his arms had a mesmerizing quality to her. she always makes him feel relaxed. 

Jeremy woke up with the sound of thunder and the noise of raindrops slamming on the window. The curtains were closed and he couldn't see it, but it seemed like it was a thunderstorm.

He looked to his side and Jerlina was not there.

"Jeryl?" he called but there was no answer.

A nurse came in and she said that Jerlina went out. 

"Out? In this rain..?" Jeremy knitted his brows. 

Without knowing, his legs started running. He came to the patio and saw her standing at the edge of the roof, getting drenched in rain. 

Her hair was entirely wet and her clothes were clinging to her body. Her face and lips looked pale.

"Jerlina!" he shouted and got to her. "How long were you standing here?"

He held her shoulder and she pushed him inside first. 

"Don't get wet... Your wound..." she pointed at him.

Jeremy gritted his teeth. "Are you crazy? What were you-"

"Will you disappear from my life one day too, Joel?" she asked with her eyes fixed on him.

Jeremy's heart skipped a beat.

"What?" he asked. 

"Will you not want me one day and leave me?" she looked at him. 

Her eyes were red. He didn't know if it was because she was standing in the rain or because she is crying. 

Not want her? Disappear?

Jeremy wondered what she meant for a moment. And it was then he realized it.

Ah... that guy... he broke up with her one day and disappeared... 

Does she think that I will do that too?