Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Alright, that's enough, Romeo," Jerlina pushed Jeremy's chest. She needed to breathe. "I'll have to prepare lunch," she pecked his lips. 

"Just stay here for a while, Luna," he held her around her waist. 

He could see that she is tired. She cried a lot after all. 

"Okay, then. Sleep sooner," Jerlina lied on the bed. 

Jeremy placed his head on her arm and she wrapped her hand around his head and kissed his forehead.

"I love you, Joel… "She said and he kissed her chin.. 

"Me too," he said. 

Jerlina hugged him and as his warm breath fell on her neck, she closed her eyes. His pine scent was mesmerizing and before she knew it, she fell asleep. 

Jeremy got out of her hold and watched her sleeping without a care in the world. The topic she brought up kept him from sleeping. 

He hoped he didn't sire any children outside. 

But she was right when she said that he will take care of the child and the mother. And she is wrong about herself as always. 

He knew if he brings his child to his home, she will probably forget about him and would take care of the child more. She won't let the child suffer the same suffering she endured with her stepmother and stepsister. 

About the child's mother… He would be sacrificing his principles for Jerlina. That is a given. He'd adopt the child and probably would support the mother financially. But that would be a thorn by the side. 

Turning to a villainess? As if she can! 

She'd retract back to her shell and would go silent as she was in the past, accepting whatever is thrown at her. He wouldn't want to put her through it. It all made him feel terrible. 

Ah… as she said… It didn't happen. So no need for worrying.

He checked the time. He knew the old ladies from the town won't be able to keep quiet after the reveal. They'd knock on the door any moment. And they won't come empty-handed.

Just as he was thinking, he heard the doorbell. After covering Jerlina with the duvet properly, he walked down the stairs while popping open a couple of his shirt buttons and opened the door. 

His lips curved seeing the old ladies of the town all standing at the door.

"Here," Gwen said to Jeremy but her eyes were peeking inside to catch a glimpse of Jerlina. "I brought lunch."

"I had baked some excess cookies…" Bella handed a tin. "So, you're staying here? The Motel would have been more comfortable…" Bella fished for details. 

Are they not believing that we are married? Jeremy smiled. Silly old ladies!

He loved their nosy nature. What other entertainment do they have in this small town if not gossiping?

  "I haven't seen her. Where is she?"  Betty walked in. "Oh, this is freshly baked bread. And this is a bottle of plum jam I made. I had a lot at home, so I brought them."

Jeremy thanked the ladies and offered them a seat. 

"Tea?" he asked.

"Do you have wine?" Bella asked and Jeremy nodded. 

"You wouldn't mind if I smoke, right?" Betty asked. 

"No," Jeremy turned to the kitchen with a smile. It seems like the ladies are not planning on leaving any time soon.

He gave them what they asked for and sat keeping a safe distance from the old ladies with very shameless hands. They would  be shameless and touch him everywhere.

"Where is your wife?" Betty asked and her eyes ended up on his bare chest. 

"She's sleeping. She's tired. So shush… keep your voices down," Jeremy gave a suggestive smile looking at the stairs and buttoned up his shirt. 

"Oooh… did we disturb you young things?" Gwen laughed.

"What do you think?" Jeremy shrugged. "We are newlyweds…" he mumbled.

"So!" Gwen got excited. "We can expect babies soon?"

Jeremy smiled shyly and scratched the back of his head. "Well…It's not in our hands, is it?" he took a sip of the tea. 

"Oh, come on!" Bella was not very pleased. "How can y'all be this shameless..? We all thought Angela would end up marrying Whitney's husband after Whitney's passing! They got along well and –"

*Cough* *Cough*

Jeremy ended up coughing as he swallowed the tea in the wrong hole.

What is this new development?

Mother and Jerlina's father..? 

Did they share that kind of relationship? 

No! That's impossible!!!

It was possible that Jerlina and I would end up as step-siblings?

Barf!

"Oh, shush, Bella! Angela was clear that they shared no such relationship with him.  She told that she wished their kids would get married. Did you forget? But you kept on trying to get them together and Angela stopped visiting the town altogether. Otherwise, she'd have to visit here every Christmas, at least! She didn't visit, he married someone else and left the town, and… a lot happened…" 

Gwen went on while Bella started to grumble. Only hearing that did Jeremy relax. And he now understood why his mother stopped visiting the town after Jerlina's mother died. 

Jerlina's mother died when she was two and it is entirely possible that the over-excited elders tried to hook up Jerlina's father and his mother. But his mother didn't like that and she stopped visiting Jerlina afterward.

His mother did want to visit them for Christmas before she died. But sadly, it didn't happen as her death came out of nowhere.

"Mother loved Jerlina, didn't she?" Jeremy interjected the old ladies. 

"Yes, do you remember how she would carry her all around town…" Betty joined in and they all happily chatted.

Jeremy listened to the stories about his mother very eagerly. He wouldn't get tired of hearing them although these old ladies repeat the same old stories. 

Jerlina woke up with a gasp. She was just closing her eyes and she didn't know how she ended up sleeping. Seeing the empty bed, she cursed herself for letting Jeremy do the cooking. 

She removed the tights she was wearing hurriedly since she felt too warm. Jeremy always keeps the temperature higher so that she doesn't feel cold. She won't feel cold even if she walked naked inside the house. 

As she stepped out, she heard the sound of joyous chatting and she walked down the stairs. She wasn't that surprised to see the old ladies sitting in the room filled with cigarette smoke laughing in a loud voice. Jeremy smiled at her with his mug.

"Tea," he whispered as he noticed her eyes ending up at the empty wine bottle on the table.

Jerlina joined them with an awkward smile as she could see it in their eyes what they were thinking. 

"You have to eat well…"

"I think it is going to be tough. He has a big head and you'll feel your insides tearing up-"

"Oh! Shut up, Bella! Don't scare the poor child! Pregnancy is not that scary, Jerlina. Don't listen to Bella," Gwen said holding Jerlina's chin.

They chatted for some time and left. 

"I feel like a storm has passed!" Jerlina leaned on Jeremy's shoulders as the house regained its calm.