Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina called Jeremy after waiting for an hour. She couldn't rest somehow as she felt uneasy in her heart. 

"Are you okay?" Jerlina asked as his voice was not fine.

"I am fine…" he said with a sigh.

"What happened with Emma?" Jerlina asked. She worried if something happened to Emma.

Yes, she worried. After thinking about what she did out of rage the previous day, she was not feeling guilty no matter how much she thought about it. But she worried. She still isn't sure about Jeremy's feelings towards Emma. Last night she slept before talking to him more. She wanted to meet him and talk to him.

"Where are you, Joel?" she asked.

"No!" Jeremy refused immediately. "I'll meet you tomorrow morning."

"Okay…" Jerlina could sense his reluctance. "Why? You're not seeing someone in secret are you, Joel?" she jested.

"Hmm…" 

She only heard a hum from the other end and she rubbed her forehead.

He is totally out of it!

"Joel?" she called but there was only silence at the other end. "Joel, is Emma hurt?" she asked. 

She thought maybe Emma is seriously hurt and it affected him.

"Emma had a miscarriage, Jeryl. Emma killed the baby," he said followed with a sigh.

"What?" Jerlina asked as she didn't quite understand what he is saying. 

Because right now she thinks that Emma killed Emma's baby. But that cannot be true. After personally seeing how Emma's family reacted to her pregnancy, there is no way Emma would do that.

Is the meaning to say that I a not responsible for Emma's miscarriage? 

"Emma killed her baby, Jeryl," Jeremy repeated. "That baby isn't Gerard's and she's in trouble…"

"Oh..?" Jerlina was shocked. 

She thought she wouldn't be shocked by Emma anymore. But Emma is the gift that keeps on giving. 

So to hide the fact that the baby isn't Gerard's she did that? Oh, dear! 

Jerlina let out a sigh. But then she worried if Emma would use this chance to garner the sympathy of Jeremy.

"She tried to protect herself and this time she failed, Jeryl…" he said and sighed. 

"Where are you, Joel? I'll come to meet-" Jerlina asked and Jeremy's panicked reply came immediately as a shout.

"No!" But then his soothing voice followed. "Take rest, Jeryl. Emma is a hurt snake and… I need you to be safe. I have to be sure you're safe. So, please… Just for today…"

"Okay…You don't want me to meet you today?" Jerlina found that weird.

"Yes," he said without any hesitation.

"Everything is fine with you, right, Joel?"

  Jerlina wondered why he is so adamant but she didn't want to force him after he showed himself to be fine. Also, she didn't feel like going out to meet him either because she felt a little giddy the entire morning. She ended up falling asleep for the whole day.

When Rebecca woke her up for dinner, the first thing Jerlina did was check her phone to see if she missed any calls from him. But she found it odd to see no calls or texts from him. She felt like something is wrong with her heart for some reason.

She wanted to meet him. 

She didn't feel much hungry but she ate something to fill her stomach. She called Jeremy and he answered. He seemed to be busy with something and she ended the call. 

She felt a little bloated and came out to the front yard to take a short walk around the garden. Spring has started and still the temperature is chilling at night. Rubbing her arms, she looked up at the sky.

The sky was clear with the silver moon shining and millions of stars visible. She started thinking about Emma and ended up staring at the moon for a long time. Staying inside the house for an entire day made her feel stuffy. 

Looking at the moon made her remember the pub and she suddenly had the urge to visit the rock. Mark is no more but he did a big favor for her. And she remembered Mark's words that Jeremy would sit at the rock and stare at the moon at times.

I want to sit on the rock and stare at the moon today…

Jerlina got a jacket for herself since she felt cold and informed Patrick that she wishes to go to the pub. Patrick offered to drop her at the pub and Jerlina didn't refuse. With how vindictive she knows Emma is, there could be danger lurking anywhere.

As they got out of the house, Jerlina noticed a black SUV trailing them and as she looked closer, there were a couple of guys wearing black suits, sunglasses at night, swirly wired earpieces, and had stiff expressions. 

"So my great-grandpa sent Agent Smiths to follow me around?" Jerlina asked Patrick and he chuckled.

"No one trusts your husband with you anymore," Patrick said after some time. 

"I trust him," Jerlina refused him immediately out of instinct. Patrick chuckled and after that he said nothing.

She really spoke from her heart. She trusts him. There are no ripples in her heart when she thought about trusting him. She knew that she is the most important person for her Joel. The disturbance in her heart is mostly about considering his mental health after seeing his sister suffering.

And did Emma cheat on Gerard? 

Martha wouldn't let Emma go after what she did to her son.

Ah, Gerard… What will you do now?

"Missy," Patrick stopped Jerlina before she alighted from the car. "Know that your life is not one person. We are all here for you. You should be happy forever," he said and Jerlina nodded.

"Thank you, uncle."

She understood what he means. He is saying that she should not lose hope in case Jeremy breaks her trust. He won't do that but she could accept her uncle's well-meant words. Those words came out of his heart because of his love for her. She won't blame him for that.

"They are here," she pointed at the SUV. "I'll come back with them after staying here for some time, uncle," she smiled and sent Patrick off. 

Her smile turned to a grin seeing Patrick talking to the men. Those two nodded incessantly and only after talking to them for a good minute did Patrick leave.

Jerlina looked at the pub that was not as busy as usual probably because it is a weekday. Her sneakers made a crashing noise on the gravel as she walked towards the rock. The moonshine spread a pleasant spring scent and her heart was uplifted.

This is where we first...

She stopped as she saw some shadows in the woods behind the rock. Confirming her suspicion, she heard the men following her pulling out their guns from their holsters.

"Who's out there!" They shouted. "Come on out!"

Jerlina heard some rumbles and the next she saw a familiar tall figure approaching her at a high speed.

"You…" he shouted at her.

  Jerlina took a step back as her bodyguards ran to her front and covered her.

"Hands where we can see 'em!"

They shouted at the approaching figure.