Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"I am sorry" Jerlina added seeing the twinge of disappointment on Samuel's face.

Pressing his lips Samuel shrugged hiding his disappointment. His father didn't ask him to ask her but he thought it would be nice to have them here. But it seems like they already have plans. 

Next year, maybe..?

Jerlina turned to look at the entrance of the tunnel. "Ah," Jerlina muttered seeing Jeremy emerging out and she didn't have to think to walk towards him.

Her pace quickened and her lips curved to a smile seeing him. "Are you finished," she did a quick check on him to see if he is hurt anywhere. He was wearing a light blue shirt and there was no dirt on it. It made her relieved. 

"Shall we rest a bit?" she asked but his eyes looked empty and his breathing seemed to be labored. "Joel?" she tried to hold his hand but as if he touched fire, he zipped his hand away from her. Jerlina noticed that the finger she accidentally grazed upon twitching a bit.

What happened here?

Jerlina could sense that something is wrong with Jeremy and her heart got troubled. But she knew that talking to him now won't be appropriate.

"Samuel, we'll rest for a while before lunch," Jerlina told Samuel and he nodded. She needed to check on Jeremy first.

Two of the staff working in the castle led them back to their room. On the way back to their room, Jeremy didn't say one word to her. Jerlina tried to walk closer to him but he seemed to be in deep thoughts and he didn't even realize that Jerlina is near him. 

He was just walking blindly but it won't be obvious to others. Only Jerlina could see his emotions while he looked like he was functioning normally. 

With his lips pressed and back upright, he seemed like a distant stranger. 

Jerlina did not feel good about it. It hurt her as he treated her like air and she didn't like the fact that he is hurting alone. But she knew it is not the best idea to talk to him about it. She knew for sure that would result in him shouting and her crying.

The enmity between Viper and Jeremy is not something new. It is something that lasts for years. She doesn't know what happened between them in those years and this meeting might have opened some old wounds. 

She understood all that but she couldn't help but feel ignored by him.

Ah. Jerlina… Don't be a b*tch! He just needs to compose himself!

They reached the room and after getting some refreshments, Jerlina sent the staff away. She didn't understand why there should be a staff inside their room all the time. 

Once reaching the room, Jeremy loosened the buttons of his shirt, removed his shoes, and went straight to the bed. With his forearms covering his face he lied on his back. 

Jerlina watched him and let out a sigh. She poured a glass of warm water and walked to him.

"Have a drink," she sat beside him. He lifted his hand and seeing it was plain water he turned to the side. 

"I want a beer!"

Beer? The doctor advised him not to drink anything alcoholic for at least two weeks!

"But you're~"

He let out a scoff before she even finished her sentence.

What a baby!

Jerlina shrugged. She walked to the bar cabinet and looked around. The beer Jeremy likes was not there but there were some expensive brands. Jerlina poured him a glass and walked back to the bed.

"Here…" she nudged him but he didn't turn to look. He probably thought she was still offering water.  "Your glass of beer," she added.

He didn't turn immediately. His shoulder leaned to her side but it seemed like he was controlling himself from turning at her.

"Don't want?" she pretended to get up and he turned immediately. 

His eyes were wide and she could see the desperation in them. She knew how much this guy loved his cold convenience store beer. And he surely will miss it after staying away from it for more than ten days. 

But seeing the glass in her hand his eyes squinted with anger. "Really? A shot glass? Do you even-" he gritted his teeth and plopped on the pillow once more.

What a drama queen!

"Sulk all you want, Joel. But I will not allow you to ruin your health," she said in a strict tone and got up.

"Where are you-" he turned once more and without letting her react, he grabbed her wrist and swallowed the beer. 

Jerlina pressed her lips to stop herself from laughing out loud. He turned his face but she could see him keeping that puny amount of beer in his mouth without swallowing for long.

How long is he not going to not swallow it?

Jerlina turned to leave the glass but he held her hand. He swallowed it and looked at her with his eyes pleading. "One more, please…"

"No," Jerlina answered almost immediately in a strict voice.

"Hmpf," Jeremy knew pleading with her won't do anything and pouted. "You cannot control me like this, Jerlina! You're not my mother!" 

He shouted as if that would make her feel bad for him.

"Oh, look how my baby grew up!" Jerlina with a smile tried to pat his head but he swatted her hand and plopped on the pillow once more, with a thud. "You're so mean! You're just my wife! You can't be controlling me! I don't want to be like this anymore. I'm the man and I hate-"

"Go on, Joel… Say the H-word to me… " Jerlina's tone turned low as the corners of her lips twitched.

Let him dare! He's not even mad at me and he would dare to tell me he hates me? I'll see if he has the balls to do that!

He turned his head to take a peek at her as he realized the change in her tone. 

"I'm waiting…Go on, say it!" Jerlina added making him snort and buried his face in the pillow without saying a word.

Jerlina controlled her laughter and after placing the glass on the table, she walked to the small library. She picked up a book randomly and walked back to the bed. She set the pillow so that it would be comfortable for her to lean back on the headboard of the bed. 

Sitting comfortably she looked to her side. He was still looking away and pouting for whatever reason. 

"Want a hug?" she asked and there was no reply. "Fine then… rest," she said and started to turn the pages of the book. 

She had no interest in learning of the four obsessions of an extraordinary executive or something. Her lack of enthusiasm stemmed from her previous memories of cramming textbooks and not from the book itself.

Her lips curved up when the big sulking baby turned to her side and slowly inched to her lap. She gently caressed the thick brown hair as it felt nice between her fingers.

I knew you'll come to me!