Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

*** Expletives Alert***

"F*cking coward!" Matt gritted his teeth. "After everything you did for her, you're letting her go? Should I pity you? Should I bless you and tell you to follow your heart and become a c*ck? You f*cking c*nt! F*ck off!!"

Matt ended the call and Jeremy gritted his teeth. He didn't know what kind of reply he expected from Matt. But Matt doesn't get this angry at him ever.

What do you know, Matt? If I follow my heart, I will steal her and take her to the end of the world and keep her with me. But will she be happy with me?

-----

"Since you waited for me, I hope you are planning to tell me why you married Emma. I don't buy the story I was told. I will just walk away after the first lie you speak. After all, I know when you are lying."

Jerlina spoke in a flat tone sipping a non-alcoholic cocktail. She just wished Gerard was honest with her after the relationship they shared for years. 

"You're not wearing the ring," Gerard said and only then Jerlina realized she had forgotten to wear the ring that day.

"I forgot," she shrugged. Maybe if it was an actual engagement, she would have proudly worn the ring, and she won't forget wearing the ring.

"Gina called me and she was pretty distressed-"

"Gerry, I am not in the mood for small talks now. If you keep on with this, I will leave," Jerlina placed her hands on the table and was about to stand up. 

"Can't you wait to run back to him? Is it because he is rich?" Gerard's face got stiff. It seems like he is the one melting away thinking of her, but she seems very fine. She even has put on weight. 

Is she glad that she found a multi-millionaire? Was Emma telling the truth?

Jerlina looked at him unwaveringly. Her eyes were sharp and she knew Emma might have told him what she told her the other day. But...

"If I have to explain that accusation you throw on me, I can safely say that you don't know me at all," she said and he bowed his head.

"I am sorry for being so...ugh! Jer, I feel like I made a big mistake by breaking up with you that day," he rubbed his face.

"Why did you do that then? Were you scared of the people behind me? I can understand if-"

"Scared? I stayed with you for months before that and the threat was the same. I am not scared of some thugs after you..." he looked at her.

Jerlina met his eyes and she can see he is deliberating something. 

"You were right..." he whispered and pulled his chair closer to hers. "Emma has something on me."

"My last name was not Cooper always. It used to be Feldstein." He whispered and Jerlina stayed silent to let him continue.

"Do you know Harold Feldstein?" he asked and Jerlina nodded. 

"That infamous movie producer who was charged with s*xual harassment of minors and for using casting couches?"

Gerard's face fell when she put it like that. He didn't think she'd remember entertainment gossips from more than thirteen years back.

"And?" she asked wondering why he is affected by it. But then she realized.

"Is he related to you?"

"He's my uncle... My dad's elder brother. Yes, real brother and they grew up together," he added.

"Oh..." Jerlina realized they must have changed their name after that predator was caught and settled in this city with their new name. "But why does it matter? It was not you who was a predator and no one can blame you for what your uncle did. And he killed himself in prison, didn't he?" she asked and he nodded.

"But it is not as simple as that... My uncle had a ledger and we have it..." he whispered in her ears.

"Ledger of what?" she whispered back and looking at his face it popped in her head. "Don't tell me there were other powerful people like him? He had the receipts? And ... Holy moly! Did he even kill himself or-"

"Shhh!" Gerard's face went pale. 

"Oh my God!" Jerlina placed her hand over her mouth. "So your identity cannot be revealed?"

"Actually some know about us, and they'll help us from time to time. How do you think I got to where I am at my age? It's all the connections. My uncle, despicable as he was, was smart enough to gain connections for staying in the upper-echelons of the society. If only for that guy who got exposed because he ran for the senate race, my uncle wouldn't have gotten caught. And I can become a billionaire in a day if I wish for it. They'll pay me any amount I ask," he spoke with his nose high up.

Gerard was not planning on revealing this detail to Jerlina, since she has a sense of justice and will find blackmailing abhorrent. 

But seeing how worried Jerlina got for him and to brag how superior he is, he revealed it all out of excitement. He couldn't accept the fact that Jerlina might think that Jeremy is richer and well-connected than him and in his jealousy he did a blunder.

Gerard sighed in his heart seeing her shocked face. He was supposed to say 'yes' when she asked if his life might be in danger because of this secret. 

Ah. Idiot! Are you really going to tell her the real reason Emma is blackmailing you? That you killed someone in an automobile accident and your family used the connections to help you escape jail time? Jer will definitely leave you if you say the truth!

"Jer, the truth is that when we came here, Emma was in my school. I was a senior and she was a freshman. But at one of the parties, I accidentally revealed the secret to Emma. And she is threatening to reveal it to everyone and it will cause my downfall because of my association with that sick pervert which I had no control over. I mean I cannot choose who my uncle is and..."

  "So you knew Emma even before I knew her? Why did you never mention this to me?" Jerlina interjected him. She knew whenever he starts speaking fast, he is lying. And she knew he is lying. But she wanted to know what is he lying about.

"It's... we used to date... just for a month though and after that Emma left our school and joined your school. I didn't want to mention that Emma was my ex-girlfriend..." Gerard gulped and looked at Jerlina laughed wryly.

"Seriously?" Jerlina let out a deep breath.

In just minutes she had learned that he is not the man she knew he was. His family blackmailed perverts- who should be in jail, for their own benefits, and Gerard is okay with that. 

And he hid the fact that Emma was his ex-girlfriend from me for months when I told him my misgivings with Emma. All those times I was wondering why she cannot get another man, he kept mum.

This is the answer to why Emma stuck to him like glue after meeting him. She must have thought since he was her boyfriend first, I had no right to have him. She hates me after all.

"But I only love you!" He held her hand and Jerlina got her hand out of his grip.

Gerard seemed proud that he had secret connections and is sure it is not life-threatening when that pig might have been murdered by one of them. So he might have some sort of agreement with them?

And if it gets exposed, how will it hurt him? His boss will gladly promote him for those connections and other firms will try and hire him. 

Did he even lose the partnership promotion as he said back then? What else is he lying about?

And if he has those kinds of powerful connections, why didn't he use them to save my life and why did he send me to TJ?

Did he not want to bother them for my life? Or is there more to it?

"So why did Emma leave your school?" she probed.