Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremiah Harrison knitted his brows. The belligerent son of his never brought home a woman and there were all kinds of rumors surrounding him. Rumors like he likes "little" girls and men. Both cannot be true, but in either case, he cannot sire children.

That was fine because...then the billions that b@stard owns will be inherited by his children and grandchildren. He made sure they are his next of kin. 

But to rain on his parade, he brings home a woman? And she looks healthy...She looks like a girl but she has the hips for childbirth...and young; very young. She's pretty. She'd be prettier with a little surgery in the chest.

Jerlina could feel the lecherous eyes on her and her lips curled with disgust. Who would look at someone the same age as their daughter with such eyes? And even after meeting him in the eyes, he still stared at her in a lewd way.

What a shameless pervert!

She subconsciously leaned closer to Jeremy and his hold on her waist tightened.

  "I'm here to introduce my wife to my 'family'... Meet Jerlina Hopkins – my lawfully wedded wife."

"Wife?" 

Emma was the one who shouted first while others looked confused. 

  "Wife? You f*cking-" Gerard lunged at Jeremy and Emma pulled him back getting out of her shock.

What I feared happened already? Did that b*tch smarten up and seduced Jerry? Did she do it to get back at me? That is a blow I cannot handle!

  "Jer! What is he saying? Why are you silent?" Gerard still didn't calm down. 

Jerlina tried to cover herself from his view unable to face him by getting behind Jeremy. She didn't know why she felt guilty to face him when she did nothing wrong.

"Gerard, calm down," Emma said holding Gerard's arm and he took a step back. He knew he cannot be losing his composure now. "Jerry, will you explain?" 

Hiding her emotions, Emma walked to Jeremy. Jerlina saw the big tower obstructing her from Gerard, leaving her. She almost pulled  Jeremy to stop him from leaving. 

"Emma, I am sorry I kept this from you. We'll talk about this later, alright?" Jeremy patted her head.

Emma had a lot of questions, but she had to agree with Jeremy. She saw Gerard looking at Jeremy with a burning gaze and clenched her fists.

She wanted to know the details, but she can ask about it later. Jeremy will tell her without asking anyway. But she needed to contain the situation since Gerard is emotional. If her husband candidly cared for another woman in her own home, that would be very humiliating. 

Jerlina was scrambling to hide behind Jeremy, but Jeremy was not even looking at her. That gave her an odd pleasure.

This marriage must be a ruse. Yes, it must.

"It's okay, Jerry! As long as you're happy I don't mind it. Although I am a teeny-bit sad that you didn't tell me first... Congratulations!" she said with a bright smile and hugged him tightly.

She preferred Jeremy to leave, with Jerlina.

"Congratulations, Jerlina. Welcome to our family." Jerlina extended her hands for a hug and Jerlina smiled knowing Emma is acting. She didn't accept the hug since she is not that good of an actress to pretend she is close with Emma. 

"Ehem!" Their little discussion was interrupted by the cough of Jeremiah Harrison. 

"Ah, right...dad! The wedding ceremony is on...never mind, I'll send you the invitation. Just be there if you wish ... or don't... I don't care," Jeremy shrugged with a sneer.

He saw his father's face reddening with anger and smirked. 

Try and talk back to me, "dad". Call me names. I am waiting... Ah, right! You won't. You need me for your connections.

"Jerlina is not a secretary, Jeremiah. Like you and me, she's a CEO. CEO of Hopkins Glassware. Mind that the next time you open your trap!" he smirked and turned to look at Gerard. 

Gerard was surprised and clenched his jaws. He was under the impression that Jeremiah is the patriarch of the family and everyone listened to him. But it seems like Jeremy is the one with real power in this family. And that made his blood boil.

Jerlina felt a tug in her heart when Jeremy loudly proclaimed her as a CEO. Even she never considered her a CEO and mentioned her secretarial job as her primary occupation.

But I am a CEO, albeit a small one. And now I have a chance to improve my little company thanks to...

Who should I thank? 

She looked up to see Jeremy looking at her with a smile and she immediately bowed her head unable to look at those piercingly blue eyes filled with pride.

"She used to be a Secretary. Maybe that's what father-in-law meant," Gerard couldn't put up with the way Jerlina was looking at Jeremy and the way Jeremy is speaking up for her. He knows Jerlina the best. 

He couldn't understand how she could get this close to Jeremy when she used to be scared of him just weeks ago. His heart filled with the bitterness of jealousy and in his attempt to speak against Jeremy, he belittled Jerlina. 

Jerlina let out a scoff with a smile hearing what Gerard said. Oddly, she understood he was not purposefully belittling her. He probably wants to support Emma's father.

As the situation got tense, Emma's mother took control and they were all led back to the drawing hall for chatting. Jerlina knew they'll be digging for information about her out of curiosity after TJ crudely announced his wedding.

He said five minutes. Isn't five minutes up yet?

With a sigh, Jerlina sat on the loveseat with Jeremy. To their right, Emma and Gerard were seated, and to their left were Harold and Jennifer.

To their front were the parents. Jerlina saw Emma's mother nudging Jeremiah with her elbow signaling him to talk.

"I cannot give permission for your wedding. Who even is she? Woman, who are your parents?" Jeremiah asked.

Before Jerlina said anything, Jeremy spoke, "When did I ask your permission? Clean the wax in your ears, Jeremiah. Or is it that you could only hear the whispers of young women, scum? I said we are already married. The ceremony is only for... I just wanted to spend money," he shrugged.

Jerlina gulped and looked at Jeremiah who was fuming. He started to cough and his wife gave him some pills. Jerlina assumed that was for controlling his blood pressure. Emma and her brother stood up and asked their father to calm down.

She bowed her head and she could see Jeremy sitting leisurely with a smirk.  She didn't think anyone would speak to their parent in this tone. No one in the house was surprised by TJ's words as if it was common and no one rebuked him for angering his father.

What a thug! But maybe Jeremiah deserves this!