Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

  Jerlina stopped and turned. She knew Emma will be stopped by the bodyguards before she even gets five feet near her. And they'd be careful not to break any laws. 

And even if they break any laws, will they be held responsible?

In the end, it should be up to Emma to protect herself. Jerlina didn't have many hopes but was surprised to see Emma stopping with her hand over her abdomen as the bodyguards stood with their hands folded against their chests, covering Jerlina. 

Jerlina peeked through their shoulders at Emma and she looked perplexed. She staggered a little and took a step back.

At least there is someone who gets her unconditional love… And is she that surprised..? 

Well, I was too…

"Why would I lie?" Jerlina asked. She decided to talk it out to keep Emma out of her life. She didn't know why but after she talked with Dr. Kruger, she got a feeling that she shouldn't get in the sight of Emma ever. 

Yes, let's have a clean break! 

The bodyguards stepped aside leaving Jerlina to talk with Emma as she wishes.

"Do you think I am obsessed with you and thinking of you every moment of my life? Pff!" Jerlina waved her hand in front of her head. "Stop being delusional. I don't think of you, ever!"

It was partly a lie, but she said it anyway. She could see Emma getting affected by her words. And she didn't want to go far. She is in the early stages of her pregnancy and negative emotions aren't good for the baby's development.

The world doesn't need another Emma.

"Oh, you don't?" Emma gritted her teeth. 

She could see that Jerlina is truly happy. She was the one who noticed her first. She wanted to tell Jerlina that she is pregnant for the past two days since she confirmed her pregnancy, after all. 

Well, the doctor asked her to be on bed rest since it is an IVF pregnancy, but her family doesn't know that. And she didn't feel right sitting at home all the time. So she brought these women with her for shopping since she deserves it for going through those sh*tty treatments to get pregnant. 

But she is amazing! Even the doctor was amazed that she succeeded on the first try. She was glad too since she didn't want to go through it again. 

And she thought she was lucky to catch Jerlina here with an old man. She knew Jerlina would be going behind that stupid lumberjack's back. That lumberjack would never bring her to places like this and Jerlina is a b*tch. She always knew it but now she found proof.

And look at her with a grin… Who is she texting?

I wish I could wipe that grin off her face! You're caught b*tch!

But before she could speak, her mother-in-law got to it first and she was pleased. But everything that was revealed after that...

It can't be true!

No!!! She must be lying.

"No, I don't! For real!" Jerlina shrugged. "And...so… Let's be on our way from now on Emma. I don't want to do anything with you. Listen to your doctor, take rest and-"

"I've been watching everything happening here silently till now. But I cannot anymore," Emma's mother stepped forward. 

What now?

Jerlina almost rolled her eyes at Emma's mother. 

"Are you threatening her?" Emma's mother asked. "You, with your… fancy bodyguards and…" she pointed at everyone around and her hands started to shake.

"Milady, I think they've lost their mind," Gordon "whispered" so softly everyone around them heard him.

"Are you really related to Jonathan Erling, The Grandsire?" Martha still wasn't able to digest that fact.

For seven years, her son was saying that he found the perfect one to marry, but she forbade him to propose to her because she had no connections. But she was from the Erling family?

THE ERLING FAMILY?

The Erling name alone is the mother lode of connections. How could she be the reason her son missed the motherlode?

"My, oh, my! Is it that hard to accept, lady?" 

The familiar voice from the side made Jerlina's face bloom. 

"Joel! You're here!" she walked to him and he bent and pecked her lips.

"Is the signing complete?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded and hooked her arms in his. "By the way, you should congratulate your half-sister on her pregnancy," she pointed at Emma.

She sensed him tensing up for a moment before he calmed down. 

"Should we buy her a gift, dear?" she asked and he turned and looked at her.

Is this a test?

Her amber eyes had a layer of mist but he didn't see any sadness in her eyes. It was inviting and tempting him. And this little wife of his…..

Yes, he doesn't want his sister dead and he is happy that she is pregnant, but that doesn't mean he is going to fall for her every gimmick now.

And seeing the stiffness of the situation here, he could sense that they've started the trouble. Although his wife doesn't seem to be losing, he wouldn't pity them.

Yes, his wife might have started the trouble here, but still she won't lose. 

"Congratulations, Emma," he said looking at her. "I hope you have a healthy baby. And where is your husband? I should congratulate him too. Is he in the restroom?" he asked.

Jerlina almost held her jaws open. She didn't know if her husband is serious or being savage. 

"Jerry, he's working!"

Maybe she was so used to speaking to him in that tone, Emma's cutesy voice came out when she spoke to Jeremy. 

"Oh, is he? Still, he could have spared an hour or two for you. Like me…" he wrapped his arm around Jerlina's shoulders and pulled her closer to him. 

So, he is being savage!

Jerlina looked at him continuing with his usual smile. But he might be a little sad too. 

"I finished my work to support my wife! And Jeryl…" he looked at her. "Shall we? It is getting late," he pointed at the hallways to leave. "Hello, Gordon. You'll be having dinner at our home tonight and it is unnegotiable," he said with a smile.

Jerlina was stunned that he could be this passive. But it seems like he could be. Maybe he sensed that she is not moving, he turned to look at her. He noticed Martha struggling to get closer to them but the bodyguards were stopping her from getting closer.

He knew she should be trying to stick to them to make sure she is connected to her. It won't work on anyone but his polite wife would allow her to stick around just to be not confrontational. He didn't want those people to be around his wife and he wanted to make sure to let them know that they can't get near his wife in the future. 

"Are you wondering about the gift?" he asked and Jerlina nodded thinking that he is talking about the gift for her great-grandfather. 

"We congratulated her and that's enough." he said.

He's talking about Emma?