Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina rested her forehead on her knees as she sat hugging her legs. Her head hurt thinking so much. She thought he might be pretending to be in love with her and make him fall for her.

Before she knew it, she had written a very elaborate story in her mind. The story of a very devoted brother who wants to give his sister what she wanted and willing to go to any lengths for her.

Since his sister wanted some other woman's boyfriend, he separated the woman from the man and got his sister married to the man she wanted.

But the brother wasn't convinced marriage will stop the woman. And so he kidnapped the woman in the pretence that her life is in danger, forced her to marry him, and killed her baby. But he knew killing the baby might backfire. If the man knows his child got killed, he might hurt the sister.

And so the good brother devises a devious plan – Honeytrapping!

He knows the woman is in a pretty vulnerable state after losing everything dear to her. If he puts her through more stressful events and acts like her savior, she will fall for him. And she won't look for her ex-boyfriend anymore since she has a man who "loves" her.

Umm, Jerlina! This explains everything that happened today. From taking you to the hospital, helping you with the thugs, praising your company, taking you to the doctor, offering you a job, pretending to control himself after trying to r*pe you, apologizing afterward...

Like he can force himself to sleep with you! He despises you!

It's all an act! It's all his plan to take you through an emotional rollercoaster to make you confused and make you think he cares for you; that you solely have him to depend on. That's why he isolated you from everyone else.

And you almost fell for it! Good thing you thought deeper and saw through his plans...

She patted herself in the back.

Having detected TJ's sneaky plan with her "brilliance", Jerlina decided the best plan moving forward would be to pretend that she believes him. That way, he will think that his plans are working, while she can secretly take steps for her escape. She, for her plans to succeed, will have to pretend to need him and to fall for him.

But can she do that?

Jerlina slowly slid down inside her duvet. She didn't know what type of mattress she has, but it was incredibly comfortable. As she was slowly falling asleep, she heard the door opening with a bang.

Geez! I forgot to lock the door!

She lifted her head and she saw Jeremy's silhouette entering at a large pace. She felt butterflies in her stomach and the next moment out of reflex, she rolled down from the bed and crawled under the bed.

She patted her chest that was beating like crazy out of fear. Only after getting down, she realized, she was supposed to be on the bed; pretending to be pitifully crying to get comforted by him, and not leap from the bed like a fish escaping the net.

Running away from him has become a reflex for her and she does so before thinking.

-----

Gerard opened his eyes and was startled to see Emma still sitting by the window staring at the ottoman. She was chewing her hair and she looked messy.

He was irked and clenched his jaws. This is the type of woman he despises. The type who is cunning. The games she played to get him... She is insane! If only she didn't threaten him with his past, he never would have married her. That, and for Jer's safety.

Ah, Jer... She's the purest flower he loves. The pure, clever, and sweetest smelling flower. She can try and she cannot be cunning. She is clever though.

And of all the women he's been with, she's the one who could make him go crazy in bed. The way she enjoys making love... There is none like her!

He closed his eyes and the image of Jerlina under him came to his memory making his abdomen tighten. His breathing got heavy and under the covers, his hand slipped inside his briefs.

"He didn't call you..."

That meek voice dampened his mood and he opened his eyes. Emma was still in the dress she wore last evening and her eyes were reddened as if she didn't sleep the entire night.

"He usually does within ten minutes of my call. But he didn't... Did he forget about me?"

Her voice was low and shaking. It gave an eerie feeling as Gerard met those pair of empty brown orbs.

Him? Who..? Jerry!?

She gloated to expect a call from his brother to take her to the vineyard last evening. EVENING! It is the next day and she is waiting still?

What the...

This kind of obsession... She is clinically insane and should be institutionalized!

Gerard gulped as he felt something might go wrong if he acts distant from her. He didn't want to get killed on his honeymoon, by the woman he hates. He still wanted his life with Jerlina.

"Sweetheart, why don't we go out for brunch?" he got up with a forced smile.

"Really? We can?"

Emma's eyes lit up immediately hearing that and she sprang up. "I'll get ready!" she got to him and standing on her tiptoes, placed a kiss on his lips. Humming a tune, she skipped her way to the bathroom.

Gerard wiped his lips with the back of his hand. Taking in a deep breath, he searched for his phone. Seeing it at the ottoman she was staring at before, he pressed his lips.

She's... What have I done! Jer, my love... Was I wrong?

He picked up his phone and unlocked it with his fingerprint. Logging in to his social media account, he searched for her profile.

What the... Jer!

His heart skipped a beat realizing she has blocked him.

Jer, are you mad at me? I am sorry, but it will be fine soon. Trust me.

-----

Jeremy entered the room and like a startled squirrel running to its hide, she rolled from the bed and crawled under the bed.

In the past, he'd think of her as the moon in his lovesick state. He could see her and feel her radiance, but he could never touch her and so she considered her 'The Moon'. But Bobby would call her 'The squirrel' because every time she sees them, she'd dash out. And she'd be always busy doing one thing or another, planning for her future – like a squirrel gathering nuts.

He could now see why 'Squirrel' suits her more, but it broke his heart to see her hiding under the bed.

But he wanted to talk to her, even if she is scared of him. In the past and even after the recent incident with her miscarriage, he stayed away to give her space, and it is not working. The divide is only widening. He wanted to fix it.

He was desperate!

Not because he wanted her to love him back. He knew she will never love him especially when she thinks he killed her baby on purpose. But he at least wanted to be friends with her. It was a long shot, but he wanted to give it a try.

His fault today was to think of her as his wife when she never accepted their marriage. But they are married. He needs to make her accept the fact and set certain boundaries.

Yes, he is the one who needs to have boundaries. He should accept the fact that their marriage is not like any other marriage.

He just wanted her to get along with him and not be scared of him.

His heart pounded as he reached the bed. This used to be his room until a month ago and today walking in, he felt like he was barging in someone else's territory. But he pushed through.

He couldn't even bend down to look through the gap as he was terrified of small, constricted places. It gives him panic attacks.

Is she uncomfortable under there too?

"Jerlina, I don't want to leave. I want to continue-"

"Continue what? R*ping me?"

Her meek voice stabbed him.