Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

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.

'No one?' he asked and Jerlina's eyes clouded. 

"I do," she said holding his cheek. "I trust you."

Jeremy's heart burst with joy and he kissed her. His hand holding her cheek traveled down and ended up on her abdomen. 

Of course she would trust me… I knew it!

Jerlina wrapped her arms around his neck and rubbed her cheek on his cheek. Her heart is filled with happiness after she met him and she started acting cutesy with him.

Jeremy chuckled hugging her and he kissed her temple. He could see that she is happy and he is the happiest. He is happy that she trusts him but he felt a lot guilty for not being totally honest with her. So he decided to come clean.

"I met Gerard in the hospital when I went to see Emma," he rested his chin on her shoulder. "And I got angry when he uttered your name."

"Hmm?" Jerlina patted his back. 

When will he stop getting jealous? I feel nothing for Gerard anymore.

"He said that you're pretending to be in love with me because you want to get back at me for-"

"What?" Jerlina interjected him. 

She remembered how Gerard behaved oddly and said these stupid words to her. She told him again and again that it was not the case and yet he dared to tell these nonsensical words to Jeremy now. She was hurt by what Gerard did and she looked at Jeremy to see what he actually feels about it.

"Silly, of course, I didn't believe him. I know you. You cannot stab someone in the back. You are the last person who can hide your hatred. I know that," Jeremy said holding her cheek.

He would never think that she faked her love for him. She is no such person.

"Good!" Jerlina patted his chest. "I would have broken up with you if you doubted me!"

"Break up? You're bringing up breakup?" Jeremy gently pinched her waist and she yelped. 

"Mmm, I thought he has gone cuckoo for cocoa puffs to think you'd turn into someone vengeful and pretend to be happy with me…" Jeremy pulled her closer. "But then again, we tend to see others in the same light as we are, right?"

Jerlina heard the weirdness in his tone and her heart skipped a beat. She had a feeling that Gerard is planning something dangerous during her last conversation with him and now she wondered what he might have done. 

"What did he do, Joel?" she asked.

Jeremy patted her head and hugged her close to her chest. 

"He convinced Emma to get pregnant by having an IVF fertilization and then erased any detail of those appointments. According to records, she got pregnant naturally, but Gerard is… you know what. Well, he tried to… frame…" Jeremy let out a sigh. "He replaced the sperm, Jeryl… He planned to slander Emma as a cheater from the beginning, Jeryl…" he loosened his hold as she struggled out of his embrace.

Jerlina couldn't believe what she is hearing. She knew Gerard for a long time. He might be selfish at times but she has never seen him acting vengefully or malicious before. She didn't think he would change into someone entirely different out of nowhere. She was filled with distrust in anything that involves Emma.

Emma might be saying this story to get out of her cheating accusations.

"Are you sure Emma is not lying?" Jerlina asked Jeremy. 

"No," Jeremy's tone got soft. "I investigated and found out myself. But I am not going to let others know. Emma deserves anything that gets thrown at her. And she killed his baby and he is entitled to punish her however he sees fit."

Jeremy said those words not knowing why he is taking for Gerard. Jerlina raised her brows and observed his face. He was telling the truth and she felt sad. She wrapped her hand around his waist and leaned on his chest.

  "It's sad we cannot know someone even after knowing them for ages…" she said. 

Her sadness made him a little sad. He thought she would despise him immediately. But taking in her scent, he could understand her. He was in a pretty similar situation back then regarding his sister. Whether he likes it or not, she loved him for years. She thought of him as someone worth spending the rest of her life with. 

He patted her back. He didn't feel any jealousy towards Gerard anymore. Whatever her thoughts are, she is currently leaning on his shoulder, and more importantly, she is carrying his child. He didn't find any need to be threatened.

-----

Gerard took in a deep breath. 

It's fine… She can kiss him all she wants. But she will be joining me soon. If we cannot live together, we can die together.

He wanted her safe and left her with another man after thinking very deeply and having no other way. She lost her child and even after knowing that the man she is smiling at killed their child… 

How can she betray me like this? How is he special? No! My Jer didn't betray me. She is under his spell. I should release her from his spell and we can be together forever!

He knew he cannot touch even the tip of her finger without her permission now that it is revealed that she is the great-granddaughter of Jonathan Erling. 

And this is the only way left for me to have her. Till death do us apart, right, Jer? 

His hand didn't shake anymore and he pointed at her. He has enough bullets to kill them both. 

Here I come, Jer… I know you will appreciate this.

Gritting his teeth, his finger hooked around the trigger. As he was about to pull the trigger, he felt a coldness at his temple.

His heart skipped a beat as he could see a tall man by his side through his peripheral vision. 

  "Drop the gun," Charlie whispered. "Breathe and I will pull the trigger. Unlike you, I am very used to it!"

Gerard's hands started to shake. But he still didn't want to let go of the gun. 

One shot and I can be with my Jer for all eternity! How can I miss this chance? I should just focus. 

"Hmm," Charlie pressed his weapon hard on Gerard's temple."Drop it!"

Rubbing Jerlina's back, Jeremy's eyes ended up at the dark corner of the back of the pub and his lips curved to a smirk. His eyes that were trained to see in the dark, noticed the muzzle pointed at him. 

Or is it pointed at her? 

Gerard, Gerard… You are stacking up mistakes over mistakes. You're willing to put her life at risk; you're putting my family at risk. You cannot be allowed to live. 

He nodded at Charlie. 

He knew Gerard would want to kill him after he provoked him at the hospital. He was prepared to face Gerard and that's why he didn't want to put Jerlina in danger and asked her to stay in.  But she is here with him and now he has to fight to protect her. 

"Jer!" Gerard shouted unexpectedly and Jerlina turned back towards the sound of the familiar voice.

"Gerard?"

She didn't notice the gun in Gerard's hand and stood up. She didn't understand what was going on and Charlie was having a gun pointed at Gerard. Only then she noticed Gerard holding a gun.

Is he pointing at me?   

*Bang*