Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Your husband spoke for you very highly," Scarlett wriggled her brows. 

"What did he say?" Jerlina asked.

Scarlett rehashed the conversation they had previously. 

"It was nice to see him talking for you with assurance. I can see he's gotten more confidence too. Love… It's a magical thing, isn't it?" Scarlett was really pleased.

"Yeah, my husband spoke rightly for me," Jerlina was proud. "I am glad I was of help. When I thought I had no one back then, it was Daisy who helped me in every step, literally. I couldn't even take a step and needed help even to get to the bathroom and it was she…" Jerlina's voice trembled. "She was by my side like a mother would…" 

Although she grieved, she didn't speak about it loudly. Scarlett is the first person she is sharing this with.

"And even after that she… Scar, I don't remember my mother a bit, but I imagine that my mother would have been like Daisy…" She said and wiped the corner of her eyes. "I am meaning it."

"Yeah," Scarlett wiped the corner of her eyes and sniffed. "She was very motherly."

"Ah, the tears… they won't stop," Jerlina said and Scarlett chuckled.

"Tell me about it," Scarlett wiped her face with her hands. "My one satisfaction in all this is, the last time we spoke to her, we told her that we love her and she…" Scarlett started to cry once more and Jerlina sat by her side. 

"It is good that you get to express her what she knew…" Jerlina let Scarlett lean on her.

"Be happy, kids…" Scarlett said and Jerlina looked at her. She had a somber smile. "Those were the last words she told us…" Scarlett started to shake once more. 

Jerlina's eyes filled with tears too. That's more like Daisy. She always wanted to make others happy in any way she can possibly.

"I just wished she was here with us longer and watched Cia grow up and get married…" Scarlett continued to cry.

Jerlina let Scarlett lean on her shoulders and cry.

After crying for some more time, both of them took in deep breaths. 

"You want wine?" Scarlett asked.

"Do you?" Jerlina asked.

Scarlett shook her head with a smile. And her eyes were curious.

"I've decided to keep away from wine for the time being," Jerlina said. She very well understood the reason behind Scarlett's offering of alcohol. It is to check to know whether they are trying for a baby or not.

"Yes!" Scarlett hugged Jerlina. "I can't wait for Cia to have a little sister to play with!"

"Well, it's not decided or confirmed or anything but-"

"F*ck! Who cares! You two are young and healthy and it won't be long!" Scarlett got very excited and started to decide on the baby's name and everything.

How fast!

Jerlina smiled. All the names she said were that of girls and she wondered if everyone will be disappointed if she has a boy. Jeremy too wants a girl. She wants a boy though.

"I wanted to ask you… What did Emma want?" Scarlett asked and Jerlina as usual repeated everything that happened between them.

"Ha! So that guy is worth billions and now she doesn't want Jerry's money anymore. So she cusses Jerry, huh? Who would have thought, right?" Scarlett pursed her lips. "So Jerry heard?"

"Yeah, I haven't talked about it to him yet. I hoped he didn't hear it but…" Jerlina sighed.

"Well… he'd be devastated… But it is good that he heard what his dear sister is actually thinking of him… He has to rip that band aid off!" Scarlett said.

"He would  be very hurt…" Jerlina said.

"Yeah, console him," she wriggled her brows. "Hug him, kiss him, suck his di-"

"Oh, Scar!" Jerlina hugged her. "I missed you!"

Along with Jeremy, there are very few people she could count on and she could be herself without being careful. Scar is one of them. She loved her.

"And what happened with your billions? Why didn't you tell Emma that? You are pretty useless, Jerlina," Scarlett hit her back.

"Why would I tell her? And you said I was very helpful just some minutes ago and now I've turned useless?" Jerlina raised her brows.

"Yes," Scarlett doubled down. "You are helpful and you are useless. You are both!" she laughed. 

"Haha, very funny!" Jerlina said sardonically.

"Just get the money Jerlina…Just to show off to Emma… I, at times, would imagine if I could print fake money and throw it in her face and watch her pick it up…" Scarlett said with an amused smile.

"Well, printing money is illegal and you'd be sent to federal prison for that," Jerlina shrugged. "Do you want a billion? I can share you one or two billion..?" She asked.

"You do not!" Scarlett's eyes widened and she covered her face with her hands. "You're serious?" she repeated as she couldn't believe the casual way Jerlina talked about it.

It's money! And it is a billion!

"I am serious," Jerlina said.

She really was. She had no idea what she would do with that amount of money. She can share it with her friends and use the rest for charity purposes. 

Scarlett was touched. Jerlina was serious. And she didn't mean it in a prideful and boastful way. She was talking about sharing it with her as if it was a piece of cake. 

"No! I cannot accept that! Bobby would kill me!" She blamed Bobby. 

She wasn't very keen on getting someone else's money. She would accept gifts and vacations if Jerlina offers but she is not going to accept money. Especially that amount of money.

"Maybe I will put that money in  a trust on Cia's name!" Jerlina said as that idea popped into her mind. 

Bobby won't refuse it if it is for Cia. Also, she is Cia's Godmother and she should be giving her a billion.

"A trust fund for Cia?" Scarlett raised her brows. "Is my Cia going to be one of those obnoxious trust fund kids?" she pressed her lips. "Nah!" she shivered. "Cia will pay for her college tuition!"

Jerlina only then realized something. "Oh my God! Our kids are going to be those obnoxious second-generation rich kids we hated when we grew up, aren't they? Maybe we should make them pay for everything so that they grow up appreciating money…" Jerlina said.

"It's decided," Jerlina hit her palm with her fisted hand. "Our kids are going to work part-time and earn their own pocket money!"

"Yes!" Scarlett joined. "We cannot raise ingrates!" 

"Yes…" Jerlina nodded. "But…" She shrugged. "Maybe we can give Cia some slack. You see how cute she is, right? And those little cute hands… How can she flip burgers or wash dishes? That would ruin her skin…"

"Yeah, right..?" Scarlett sank into deep thoughts. "Cia is too cute to work…"

Both of them were silently contemplating for a while when Scarlett broke the silence. 

"Well, it is decided that our kids would be spoiled rotten!"

"Pfft!" Jerlina laughed. "I guess so!"