Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

On the day of Christmas, they had a lot of calls to make. Jonathan Erling didn't end the call as if he wished to keep her on the line for the whole of Christmas day. Jerlina had to ask the help of Gordon to end the call. 

Alexander wished them well in his own way. He did complain that they didn't send him a Christmas card like any decent human being would do. 

"Am I someone undesirable? Why am I getting the company Christmas card and not the family one?"

He went on with his complaining. Only when Rose interjected did he leave the phone. Rose was extremely delighted that she was invited to the  Volkonsky mansion for the  Holidays and Mikhail was curt as always. He did ask her to brace for the New Year and told her that he referred her company to a friend of his.

During lunchtime, they made a call to Daisy. After taking to Daisy, they talked with Jeremy's mom and she looked happy seeing them.

"Chippy!!" 

The cheery voice of Bobby made Jerlina  almost cry. This is the first time she's seeing him after he left the hospital and she could see that he had lost a lot of weight. 

But it is fine. He can get better. He is alive and out of danger and that's all that matters.

"So… Viper has gone, painfully," he said and Jerlina noticed the smirk at the corner of his lips. Cia was patting her little chubby hands on his cheeks and giggling.

Of course, he will be happy! He should be happy! And how cute is Cia!

"Hello Cia," Jeremy waved his hand, poking from behind her. 

Scarlett told Jerlina that ever since Bobby returned from the hospital, Cia has become a permanent fixture in his arms and she could see that Cia clinging on to Bobby like a baby Koala. 

Sometimes adults think that babies don't know anything. But Jerlina could say that Cia could understand that her father is sick and she missed him. That is why she is sticking to him once he returned. 

Daisy didn't look as chirpy as before. She looked like something is weighing in her mind and she sounded detached at times. Jerlina could see the change in Daisy although Jeremy didn't notice it. 

Jerlina talked to him about it and he alluded it to Daisy being tired after taking care of everything. Although that made sense, Jerlina called Scarlett to ask about it and Scarlett confirmed her suspicions. 

"She's like that at the mention of Jeremy's name, Jerlina," Scarlett said and that made Jerlina confused some more. 

"I don't think she is angry at Jeremy per se, but something regarding him. I tried to ask her but she is refusing to answer me…" Scarlett elaborated. 

"Just take care of them, Scar. Daisy and mom, both of them…" Jerlina said with a sigh. "I'll convince Joel to be back there before New Year."

"He doesn't want to return?" Scarlett chuckled. "Are you guys eloping?"

"Ah… I never thought that I'd say this…" Jerlina paused.

"But..?" Scarlett inquired in a playful tone.

"But, I miss Peyton and Wolford. I miss our office and our friends. I miss our dogs, I miss our home…" Jerlina said and heard a deep sigh at the other end.

"I am so happy…How far have you come, Jerlina… From being scared of every one of us to missing us… I am glad! And I am glad for our Jerry!" 

"Are you crying?" Jerlina asked hearing a sniffle. 

"No!" Scarlett refused. 

"Cia! Your mom is crying!" Jerlina heard Bobby's voice from the distance. "Come on! Sing a song to cheer her up!"

"Shut up, Bobby!" Scarlett shouted and Jerlina ended up laughing. 

What followed was Cia's cute babbling. She did have a little tune to her babble and she seemed to be saying 'Dada' and 'Mama' a bit clearer.  Her 'No' was resounding and when Bobby asked her to say Bye-bye, she said it so cutely.

"Joel! Joel!" Jerlina ran to the kitchen. Her adorable husband was doing the dishes and she put the call on speaker.

"Cia, say Bye-bye..!" Jerlina said and Cia repeated it.

"See! How cute!" Jerlina couldn't keep her feet on the ground and started hopping around the house.

"I want a baby, Joel!" She screamed. "Give me a cute baby!"

"Oh, dear!" Jeremy shook his head. 

Does he have to hear it from now on? There is no hurry for them to have children!

Her business is picking up only now and she will get busy soon. Plus she is handling the duties of his secretary too. He doesn't want to have anyone else as a secretary and he got used to her help with work.

He saw how diligent she was in sending the Holiday wishes to everyone related to the company. She asked the opinion of the PR company and did a lot of new promotions for his company that he otherwise would have ignored. And he could see that the price of his company's stocks is soaring. 

He does think that Erling's hand may be in it, but he cannot just ignore it as help from him. He could see how much effort his wife is putting into the company. And it is bound to produce results. 

Should I let her work while I stay home as a househusband?

Jeremy wondered. 

She'd make the perfect CEO!

"Joel… Joel…" she pricked his back with her fingertips. "Joel, let's make babies! Jo-el!" she kept on pestering him while he did the dishes. 

"Will you help me dry the dishes?" he asked not able to bear her pestering. 

He could now understand why men don't like nagging women. They lose all cuteness when they nag.

He turned to look at her.

But she is still cute..!

"Hmpf! Alright," Jerlina said with a pout and stood by his side and started to towel dry the dishes.

"You're a mean man, Joel," She pouted and her lips were sticking out. 

Jeremy turned to the side and seeing her cute pout, he couldn't help but laugh.

She is getting more and more adorable. 

  "Do you want to go back to the peak?" he asked splashing some water on her cute face. 

"Hmpf!" she turned her face away from him. 

"Are you mad?" he asked. 

"You don't want to make babies with me?" she looked at him with the same pout. 

Her amber eyes were clouded and her cheeks were flushed. She looked very adorable.

"That's not it…" he pressed his lips in deep thoughts for a moment before wetting them with his tongue. "You're getting busy and  will it be convenient to have-"

"We literally have a village to raise our child, Joel," Jerlina interjected him and she got a little angry. 

He didn't seem sincere and cooking up some excuse to say to her. That made her angry.