Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina expected that they would be left alone and would have to stand awkwardly in the corner. But she had decided to meet Alexander and Jerome Brunton too. She was feeling nervous to meet Jerome Brunton but she wanted to meet him and thank him for buying her product. 

She saw Alexander talking with Jerome Brunton and she thought this would be the perfect chance for her to talk to them. She tried to ask Jeremy if he is coming with her but she noticed that there was a crowd around him already.

What the…

He's charming, alright?

She was happy seeing him being treated like a superstar by others. And he handles it like a pro. She truly admired him.

Jerlina slipped out of the crowd and walked to Alexander. But she was blocked by the back of a tall guy with red hair. He was tall… like very tall.

He is taller than Joel! Is he a basketball player?

Jerlina slid behind him to find an opening but was blocked by another tall person – a woman this time.

"Princess Talia!" Jerlina smiled at the woman. This is the first time she is seeing this woman in person and she was impressed. 

She was very tall; almost as tall as Joel and she had an air of elegance to her. And those eyes that almost looked purple…

Ah, she's an angel! She's much prettier in person. Ah… I should tell her that. Jerlina! Speak! Just don't freeze up like a fool!

Jerlina tried to speak further but she couldn't. She froze. 

"Just Talia, please," Talia held out her hand for a shake. "Jerlina Fitzgerald."

"Just Jerlina please, Talia," Jerlina shook her hand. Talia's voice was so soothing that Jerlina gradually came out of her bewilderment.

"I've been hearing a lot about you lately, especially from my grandfather," Talia held her hand. "He wanted to meet you. He even attended the ball to meet you," she smiled.

"Oh, you flatter me, Talia. It would be my honor to meet the Duke of Oakley," Jerlina started to blush.

"Come with me, please," Talia led the way. "I'll take you to my grandpa."

Jerlina turned to find Jeremy and he had spotted her and was walking towards her. 

"Ah, the Titan!" 

Jeremy was blocked by the tall man and only after seeing his face did Jerlina realize that was Arthur Sinclair, the husband of Princess Talia. 

Ah, that red hair… how did I not recognize him?

"Whoa! The King!" Jeremy shook Arthur's hand.

"Ah, but you, Mr. Fitzgerald,  is the King!" Arthur pointed at Jeremy. Jeremy squinted his eyes and cocked his head and then he burst out in laughter.

"I am!" 

  The two men patted each other's back as if they've been friends for ages.

"Fred," Talia smiled and Arthur walked to Talia. 

Jeremy placed his hand at Jerlina's back and they followed the tall couple.

"Have you met him before?" Jerlina asked. The way they greeted was very familiar.

"Eh," Jeremy shrugged and Jerlina laughed. 

Guess men would act like this with strangers too! 

"You're pretty chummy with him," Talia nudged her husband. 

"Yeah, I like him," Arthur replied. "He has a nice beard."

"Oooh, should I be worried?" Talia cocked her brows and looked at him. 

"Because I like him?" Arthur smirked. "Of course!" he let out a stifled evil laugh. "I am going to change my sexuality."

Talia rolled her eyes. Her husband could be very cute but he always strives to make her throw up. 

She pinched his arm. "Not that, but-"

"Should I grow a beard, Iris? He looks cool with a beard. Maybe I should try-"

"Goodness gracious!" Talia let out a sigh. "You see, that was my worry! Please don't, Fred… I'll divorce you if you grow a beard…"

"What? Divorce?" Arthur gritted his teeth and pinched her tiny waist. "Say that again!"

"I'll divorce you, Freddy bear if you grow a beard," Talia with a chuckle stuck out her tongue. "The only reason I am still married to you is to watch you strop your razorblade."

"I'll remind you the other reason you're married to me…" Arthur wriggled his brows and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Make sure the twins stay with the nanny tonight. Maybe we need to make more babies tie you with me forever."

Talia with a blush fixed her hair behind her ear as her throat went dry. It seems like she has woken up the bear n him. 

Tonight's going to be long!

Jerlina and Jeremy who have heard parts of their conversation looked at each other.

"I'll divorce you if you shave off your beard," Jerlina stared at Jeremy and he started laughing. "I am serious. You'd look like a wet kitten without your beard," Jerlina added. 

"Wet kitten?" Jeremy wasn't laughing anymore. 

"Yes," Jerlina was sure. "So don't."

Imagining him without a beard sent shivers through her spine. Back when she was in high school, he was without a beard, and she was terrified of him. Although she is not terrified of him anymore, she has grown accustomed to the prickly sensations his beard brings her.

I cannot lose the raw feelings his beard brings!

Jerlina met with Jerome Brunton and she was glad when he talked about her grandfather. Jerome Brunton remembered more about her grandfather's father than about her grandfather, but she was glad to find someone else who loves the Hamilton family. 

Turns out, the Hamilton family had relatives all over Europe. They did spread their seeds far and wide. Apparently, she is distantly related to the Brunton family and Jerome Brunton invited Jerlina and Jeremy to visit their home whenever it is possible.

"I am old. It is fun when we have guests around," he said. Jerlina nodded although she didn't know if she could visit Esteria. She did secretly announce her pregnancy to the eager elder and he was very happy and asked her to postpone the visit when the baby is of age to travel. They spent their time chatting with others. Many people tried to get acquainted with them, especially with Jeremy since they were intrigued by the prospect that he is the last heir of the royal family of Bonivia. 

Bonivia is a country with many natural resources and Jerlina could see that these people are already trying to get a share of those by putting their dirty paws there. For a country that was under the iron-fisted rule of a dictator, any opportunity would be a good opportunity but not everyone can be let inside the country. 

Some offers aren't worth the trouble they would bring out in the future. 

But she knew her husband is smart and he can handle it. She silently watched Jeremy handling everyone with eloquence and grace.

What a charming man!

She was glad they came here. Princess Talia and Arthur talked to them for some time and Jerlina found them to be very casual and jovial. Jerlina asked about the charities supported by the Princess and was amazed by the involvement the Princess had with her charities. She truly cared about helping people. Jerlina decided to give some donations to those charities in her great-grandfather's name.

Jerome Brunton was not very keen on talking about Jonathan Erling and she understood why. She thought since she is associated with the Erling family too, she wanted the Erling family to have a good name among the good people, although she knew it is impossible. 

The Erling family is sustained with fear and control as principles and there is rarely love. But she hoped it would change in the future.

After attending that Charity ball, Jerlina realized that her world has expanded greatly. It now includes having chitchats with the richest people in the world too. Although she is not very comfortable moving around this circle, there are a lot of good people in this circle too who truly want to bring change to the people with lesser opportunities. 

She could be a part of it too.

She turned to look at Jeremy. He was talking with some men holding a glass of whiskey in his hand. 

How much he has changed my life…

Her lips curved to a smile unconsciously. 

She might have been entitled to the riches from birth. But without Jeremy, she wouldn't be alive to enjoy those riches. And even if she somehow managed to survive without Jeremy's help, she'd still have been that loner woman whose world was her office, her home, and her boyfriend. 

Jeremy is the one who expanded her worldview, gave her the confidence to stand on her own feet, gave her many new opportunities, a very big extended family, and most importantly…

He is the one who showed her what true love is and how amazing it is to be in love!

Ah, my Joel… I love him!

Jeremy noticed her from the distance. He raised his eyebrows to ask if she is fine.

"I am fine..." Jerlina placed her hand on her chest and her lips curved to a smile. 

How can I not be when I am cherished by the loveliest man on the planet?