Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

*Cough*

Jerlina was stunned to hear the familiar sound and turned behind her to see Alexander entering the room. 

Jerlina felt bad for not remembering that Alexander is there at first. Rose was walking a step behind him and she seemed to be in a pretty good mood. 

Has everything worked out in between them? Did Alexander agree to the wedding? 

Aww… I am so happy!!

"Grandpa!" She smiled and was about to stand up seeing Alexander but Jeremy pulled her hand. As Jerlina wondered why he is stopping her from standing up, Alexander stood to their front and placing his hand on his heart, gave a bow to Jeremy. 

Since Jerlina was sitting beside Jerlina, it seemed like he was bowing to her and that made Jerlina uncomfortable. She turned to her side to see Jeremy's reaction but she was surprised seeing the pride… It's not pride, it was more of a regal smile on Jeremy's face. 

"Alexander!" Jeremy said a voice that neither was too gentle to be an affectionate one nor too stern as a command.. "Glad you could make it here."

Jerlina didn't know what was happening for Jeremy to act differently. She looked around and Jonathan was not looking at them and Samuel had a weird smile. 

"Grandpa, did you have lunch?" she asked not minding the others. 

"Yes," Alexander held her hand and kissed the back. 

Okay! What is this? Whatever!

Jerlina watched as Alexander greeting Jonathan after greeting them first. She tried to listen to what Jonathan was saying but she couldn't hear. 

Jerlina might not have understood what happened there but everyone else knew. Alexander was trying to affirm the lineage of Jeremy as royal blood and Jeremy obliged. It was why Alexander bowed to Jeremy to show everyone from the Erling family that Jeremy cannot be considered lowly or without support. 

Well, no one there seemed to be planning to discomfit Jeremy anyway. 

Jerlina's attention turned towards Rose and she gestured her to come closer to her. 

"What happened?" she whispered in Rose's ears. "Did he say okay?"

Rose shook her head but she couldn't control her smile. "He asked me to address him as grandpa and he asked me to prepare lunch for him. We had lunch together and although he didn't say much, I think we got along well…" Rose whispered. "Mikhail thinks the same. So…"

"Yay!" Jerlina wanted to scream but she controlled herself as there are a lot of elders in the room. 

"I'll have to great the Grandsire," Rose whispered. She couldn't help but giggle and Jerlina was happy seeing her happy face too. 

"Yes," Jerlina nodded and watched as Rose walked to Jonathan.

"Joel, did you hear? There is going to be a wedding soon," Jerlina almost pinched Jeremy's arm as she tried to hold it.

"Oh, my! I don't remember seeing you this enthusiastic for our wedding," he mumbled as he wrapped his hand around her shoulder. 

There was  an obvious tone of jealousy in his words and Jerlina pouted. She really was not very enthusiastic about their wedding as she was having a hard time accepting that she is getting married without love. 

She turned to her side to see Jeremy seeming to be sulking and she sighed. He was hugging her but she felt a little cold in his embrace. She couldn't even find any words to say to him and so she just kept silent.

Their wedding was not a conventional one, right? He has reasons to feel bad. 

"I love you, Joel," she turned to the side and whispered in his ear.

Yes, whatever the reason for the wedding was, they are in love now. So why should they feel bad now thinking of the past, right?

Jeremy turned to her side and his nose touched hers. He pressed his lips on hers, "I know," he said with a smile. "I love you too."

Jerlina smiled and rested her head on his arm. She felt warm and that made her relaxed. At that time, the screening started on the big screen and Jerlina started to concentrate there.

There will be a lot of usual things missing from that video. Like reading the vows and the groom meeting the bride before the wedding for the first look.  And it made her feel sad a bit.

Only a bit.

As she looked at the decorations and settings for the wedding entirely, she was stunned. She didn't have a good look at them that day. And everything looked so much better as it was filmed and edited by professionals.

She always knew her husband is handsome than most men. But when she saw him in the video, he looked much better than any star she's seen. She didn't know he was this much photogenic. Having a perfectly symmetrical face, he looked handsome at all angles. And with him having the hairstyle she suggested, it only added to his handsomeness.

I am the reason he appears ethereal!

  For no reason at all, Jerlina held her nose high up, pointing at the sky. 

Wait…won't I look ugly beside him then…

And that thought made her heart skip a beat.

Eh… Who cares how I look! I snagged me a handsome husband! Hahaha!

It was time for her appearance. And she was stunned. 

"Is that really me?" she whispered in his ear. "You didn't hire a body double to record it again, right?" she pulled his sleeve.

Jeremy turned to look at his wife who has turned silly again. It seems like she has a switch somewhere to control her intelligence. At times she gets really stupid. 

She was watching very closely and he guessed she doesn't want the answer. He turned to look at the screen. he remembered that day vividly. Her face as she stood at the end of the red carpet, the way she looked at him as she walked towards him and the smile she gave him.

At another angle, she still looked beautiful. 

"I love you, Jeryl," he whispered in her ear. 

That day he wanted to tell her that but he didn't. And now he did.

Jerlina didn't even hear what he said as she was watching intently. Even she was surprised seeing the expression she donned. There was no hesitation after the few seconds she stumbled at the start of the bridal march, but after that, she looked really  happy. Happy and… in love. 

Am I that much of a good actress?

Jerlina wondered. She thought she was giving in to his wishes and she knew that she trusted him even then. But why does it look like she is in love?

Yeah, and she thought that he is handsome too!

Is that what love is? That simple?

That day… It was perfect in every way, wasn't it?

She leaned on Jeremy's shoulders with a smile.

I don't want to change a thing.

After the first screening was over, Jonathan asked to repeat it and even Alexander was expecting another screening. And this time, Jerlina had to introduce everyone from the wedding guests to Jonathan.

"That one doesn't seem too happy," Jonathan pointed at one guest.

Jerlina shrugged.