Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"You don't want him to know? He might make all troubles go away with a swish of his little finger. And Jerry... shouldn't he know?" Alexander asked Patrick.

Both of them got tired after their verbal battle and became silent.

Patrick pondered for some time. "No need. Just watch over Fitzgerald. Missy will be safe with him."

"Do you not trust 'him'?" Alexander tried to stand up. He cannot be seen staying here for too long. Who knows how many eyes are watching him?

Patrick took in a deep breath, "His Lordship respected him till his last breath but wanted to keep Missy safe from those around him. He wanted Missy to grow up like an average person. He believed that there is more freedom in being average."

"Makes sense..." Alexander nodded. "Such a pity for a girl who had to be pampered with riches to suffer all through her life. 'He' should be giving back-"

"What's given is given, Alex," Rebecca interjected. "All he wanted was for his granddaughter's wellbeing. And Missy's suffering should be attributed to her father's negligence and not on that person."

Alexander nodded. The Hamiltons were always magnanimous and it seems like his sister learned that quality too. But the girl has survived well till now. And Jeremy will keep her safe. He can watch over Jeremy because they all know his connection with him. This way the last heir of the Hamilton can stay hidden.

-----

"Aunt Becky, your breakfast!" Jerlina entered with a smile. She stayed there for some time. She smiled seeing the joy in the couple's face when someone from the Ortho department announced that aunt Becky is chosen to have her knee replacement surgery under their charity initiative.

Jerlina already talked with aunt Becky's doctor and offered to pay for the medical fees. But it would be hard to make them accept her help and she came up with the idea of getting chosen by a charity. The doctor hesitated at first, but somehow TJ convinced him.

Having a buff guy near you is helpful at times – Jerlina thought. For the first time, she was thankful for his presence.

She asked about Alexander Volkonsky and Uncle Pat told her that they were from the same village and they grew up together. And then he relayed the happy news.

Her glassware company got a major order from Alexander Volkonsky! And Uncle Pat's son will be joining her company to help with the hefty order!

On their way back, Jerlina was in a pretty good mood. Only then she noticed that the car is actually a Porche. This is the first time she had ever gotten this close to a Porche and she was a little scared that she might touch one thing or another, damaging the car. Everywhere she touched was soft and there was even an infotainment screen. She didn't know why TJ bought this expensive family car. He seemed uncomfortable driving it.

She carefully kept her hands and feet folded, without touching anything, but she was happy as she looked through the window.

Her uncle is fine, her aunt's knees will get better soon and her company is getting orders! More orders mean more money and more money means it would be easy for her to escape!

But her smile suddenly vanished. She was happy that TJ helped her with the doctor, she didn't mind it when her company's orders were mentioned in his presence. But as the dust settled, she got terrified.

Will he ruin it? TJ is pretty close with that old man and he will listen to TJ, right?

She subconsciously turned to look at TJ.

"What?"

Jeremy was watching her as usual. He never feels tired of watching her face. He was pretty happy himself. He thought she'd ask more about Mikhail but she didn't. Plus she was so happy she was even humming a happy tune ever since she was told about the orders. He was glad he got that order for her.

So, when her humming stopped suddenly, he was not pleased.

Jerlina gulped in fear seeing his knitted brows. But she wanted to know for sure if he'd try to interfere.

"Nothing... I wondered if Alexander Volkonsky might cancel the order if he finds some other better company..." she licked her lips that went dry. She expected a mocking smirk and his haughty proclamation that she cannot be thinking that she can succeed as long as he is alive... or some other villainous response.

But she was in for a shock hearing his gentle voice.

"That guy is good for his words. So unless your products are sub-par, he won't cancel the orders. You don't have to worry since your products are the best anyone can get. And he's someone with good eyes."

Whaaaat!!! Is TJ praising my company? Why? Is this a trap?

Jerlina only got more confused by his behavior and didn't know what to say.

"Oh, thanks. That's good to know," she turned and looked out through the window.

"You spent all of your severance pay on medical bills for them..."

She heard him say and she turned to look at him wondering what he means. He seemed to be questioning her motives.

She didn't understand him for real. The past few hours are the most time she spent with him ever and he seemed to be very unpredictable and odd. He seemed hot and cold, but he didn't harm her in any way except when he talked about his sister.

What goes on in his mind? Is he pretending or there is another side to him?

"All of...It's not the monetary value..." Jerlina fiddled with her fingers reminiscing the painful past.

"When I was little, my stepmother won't feed me properly. My dad never came home on time for dinner and when he returns, she'd lie to my father that I ate my fill already. Even the snacks my dad brings me will end up with Gina. And breakfast... no matter how early I wake up, she'd say I am late for school and send me out..."

Jerlina didn't know why she was telling her story to TJ – the monster. She never talked about this even with Gerard. Maybe because she was able to break free from the shackles of those women today with the support of TJ...

She kept those two close in the past partly because of Gerard's family. Gerard has brought her with him to meet his family a couple of times and they seemed to be the conservative type who valued family structure.

Her obnoxious stepmother likes to spread around lies that she was abandoned by the daughter she raised as her own. So Jerlina spent money on them to shut them up. To have someone she can call family, she gritted her teeth and let them suck her dry.

She truly felt relieved today after cutting off Gina. She need not worry about what others might think anymore – that's what she thought. TJ was with her and she certainly didn't consider what he might think of her.

Come to think of it, he seemed to be on my side then too... He even pushed Gina to the floor. Am I imagining or is he really trying to be on my side? If so, why?