Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Jeryl?" Jeremy placed the gun back in his belt and walked towards her. Placing his hand on her shoulder he observed the guys with her.

"I told you not to-"

"I wanted to watch the moon here," Jerlina interjected Jeremy who was glaring at those men. She was not very pleased that he is not looking at her and is concentrating on those guys.

Jeremy was a little angry at her wandering around with the men arranged by Jonathan Erling even after he asked her to stay in Patrick's house today. But hearing what she said, he forgot everything else and looked at her.

"The moon?" his voice got soft as a feather.

With a pout, Jerlina bowed her head. "I saw the moon and I missed you. You told me not to meet you and-"

Before she finished her sentence, she was pulled into a hug. She wrapped her hand around his waist and took in his scent. She heard the men retreating and her lips curved to a smile sensing him kissing her head.

"Joel," she looked up and held his cheek. "I am happy I got to see you here…" she said with a smile.

Jeremy got exhilarated. He was not expecting to see her here. He wanted to be here because his thoughts were around her. So out of habit, he ended up here. Sitting on the rock, he was staring at the moon. He has come a long way with her and he is going to become a father. It all seemed surreal and it made him afraid at the same time.

Although he had many male role models, father-figures in his life, he never had a proper family with a mom, dad, and siblings.

Will I be a good father? Can I manage my family and keep my wife happy?

He pondered. But thinking of her face and her smile, he found himself getting filled with calmness.

We can get through this together. 

The sound of someone approaching made him snap out of his thoughts When he saw the two guys he got angry. Jonathan's involvement in his issue made him angry.

But her words…

She is here… In the same place, they met for the first time on a full moon day.  And she came here thinking of that day?

Isn't my wife adorable?

"Jeryl," he bowed and kissed her lips. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted her, deepening the kiss. Jerlina responded to his kiss by wrapping her hands around his neck.

"I missed you too, my Luna," he rested his forehead on hers. 

"Joel…" Jerlina rubbed his cheek and couldn't stop kissing him as he carried her to the rock. 

Her face bloomed with a smile, sitting on his lap. He didn't let her sit on the rock because it won't be soft on her butt and offered his lap which is not that different. But she was not complaining.

His lap is warm and a little cushy. And his pine scent is mesmerizing her as she is close to him.

"Joel…" she kissed his chin. 

It hasn't even been a day since she saw him and she talked to him just an hour ago, but seeing him made her so happy.

"You little…" Jeremy kissed her lips holding the back of her head and she closed her eyes. 

Leaning on Jeremy's chest, Jerlina played with his shirt. She wanted to tell him that she is pregnant. She should check first but by now she had confirmed in her mind that she is pregnant. 

Maybe I should confirm first?

"How is mom?" she asked not having the guts to look at his face.

It's been more than a day since she learned the truth and she still couldn't gather herself to talk to Dr. Kruger. She is an important person but she hid a fact from her, breaking her trust.

But she still loved her.

"What can I say..?" Jeremy sighed and his fingers trailed down her spine softly. "She hid that report. Daisy found out about it and she didn't agree with hiding it. Gordon knew it… And when we were in your hometown, she had a heart attack and was admitted for days. She hid it from us so that we don't return in a hurry…ugh! Why is she this way?" he sighed again.

"What?" Jerlina was shocked. "Why would she do that? She's a doctor and she should know that she'd need support in such situations!" Jerlina felt very bad.

"You know what they say about doctors. They are not good patients," Jeremy's tone was dry. 

He then kissed her head and rubbed her arms. Wrapping his hand around her arms, he continued. "She thinks she is giving back to me. Back when her husband died, she was a lot depressed and at that time I tried to support her. She feels guilty that she didn't raise me although I have nothing against her. For someone in my situation with no family, she supported me greatly and offered me every support there is. She is not understanding it although I talked to her about it…" Jeremy rested his chin on her shoulder. 

"I am not a kid anymore…" Jeremy sighed.

Jerlina hummed. Dr. Kruger did tell her that Jeremy acted up when she started fostering him but later he became very supportive of her. And she could understand why she tried to hide the fact that Emma caused her miscarriage from her. It was out of her love for Jeremy.

"Joel, can I ask you something?" she asked turning at him. 

He nodded and fixed the lock of hair brushing her cheek.

"Why don't we bring her to stay with us in our home?" she asked.

"But she is not agreeing. She'd rather stay alone or in a retirement home than-"

"We are bringing her home, Joel. That's it," Jerlina patted his chest. 

Jeremy's heart filled with glee. 

"She thinks you're angry at her. You haven't talked to her yet?" he asked running his fingers through her hair.

"I haven't…" Jerlina rested on his chest. His steady heartbeat made her feel secure. "I will… soon…"

"Hmm," he kissed her head. 

He won't force her to talk to his mom immediately. She would be hurt and it would take some time for her to heal.

"She did it out of the love she has for you," Jerlina said and Jeremy hummed as he knew that is the reason. "She must have worried if I'd leave you."

"But I didn't know-"

"I know…" Jerlina said and closed her eyes. 

She slept the entire day and still, she felt tired.

"Patrick threatened me today…" Jeremy chuckled. "He loves his Missy enough to kill."

Jerlina nodded. She used to think that she will have to face everything alone all her life. But now she knows that there are a lot of people who care for her and who will take her side.

She felt grateful.

"Uncle told me today that no one trusts me with you," Jerlina sighed. 

"No one?" Jeremy held her chin to look at her face.

He didn't care about others. He wants to know what she feels.

Jerlina looked at Jeremy and in the faint moonshine, she saw her image reflecting in his eyes. The scent of spring, the whispering breeze, and the chirps of crickets gave a peaceful solitude for them to express their heart.

And they failed to notice the dark figure lurking in the shadows with evil intent in his heart. 

Gerard's hands holding the gun shook and he held his hand with his other hand to steady himself. 

He's been here for more than thirty minutes. Jeremy was there alone and he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger. Every leaf that moved, every shadow that formed on the ground made him jumpy. 

But then he saw it...

His Jer... Jumping at him and smiling at him...

At that thug! 

And now...

She's in his embrace... kissing and...

How can she? 

His fingers on the trigger stiffened and he felt the tension of the trigger. 

Yes, I should do it!