Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina saw Martha's face getting flustered. "Tha- He didn't believe your lies, of course! He said he- he was always careful – very- and even if you got pregnant it can't-" with a stutter Martha spoke and Jerlina fisted her hands. 

"Then why are you here talking to me, liar!" Jerlina smiled. "I can see you're lying. Now get lost," she turned to leave. She didn't want to interact with that lying woman.

"You're showing your lowly birth by the words you use," Martha smirked. "You can try but you'll never become one of us. Remember that. You are a lowly orphan and-" 

"Yeah, yeah... and you're the greatest nonce Harold Feldstein's sister-in-law. I admit. You're better than me," Jerlina said in a sarcastic tone and scoffed seeing Martha's flustered face.  She was lost for words.

Jerlina was not feeling guilty. That woman has no right to talk about her birth.

At that time, Scarlett came back and Jerlina gestured that they can leave. 

"Who is she? Your fellow grifter? Is there a gang of people like you trying to seduce capable men?"

Martha wanted to have the last say and started saying whatever came to her mouth. Jerlina held Scarlett's hand to stop her from engaging with Martha, but it seemed like Scarlett doesn't have much patience.

"You want to know who I am, old hag?" Scarlett turned. "I am the one who called you a b8tch and slapped your son. Didn't your son came to you crying that day?"

"What? You slapped-"

"You laughed at me?"

Emma's loud shout made Martha pause. It seemed like she had a problem with one of the salespersons laughing at her. Martha ran to Emma at the speed of an Olympian. 

The manager was called and demands for the salesperson to be fired were placed. 

"Let's leave, Scar," Jerlina didn't want to be involved in their spat. And she felt really tired and hungry. Scarlett nodded and both of them walked out.

"Do you know who I am?" Emma shouted. "I'm calling my brother!"

  Scarlett grunted. "I swear if Jerry helps Emma with this, I am finished with him."

"He does that for real?" Jerlina asked. Emma used to brag that her brother would do that, and she used to believe that. But after learning about him, she didn't think Jeremy is that cold-hearted to ruin the livelihood of someone who needs a job.

"He once covered up a hit and run for her," Scarlett curled her lips with disgust. 

Jerlina was stunned. "Is that true? Hit and run?"

Scarlett nodded and they walked to the exit. 

"Was she behind the wheels?" Jerlina asked. She wondered if that was the reason Emma left the city and joined the school in a little town. Emma refused to talk about it and Jerlina found that weird and wanted to know the details.

"She was with-" Scarlett, who was about to tell Jerlina the story, stopped with a stunned expression. " Jerry?" 

Jerlina looked in the direction Scarlett was looking at and indeed TJ was walking into the store followed by Charlie. 

Superman's got nothing on him! He's just one call away for his sister!

  "You've finished shopping?" Jeremy walked towards them with a smile. But he was stunned to see the not so impressed ladies in front of him.

"Here for your sister?" Scarlett asked, not hiding her disgust.

"Ah, right! She called and I was driving so I didn't answer..." Jeremy pulled out his phone.

"Oh, so you don't answer her calls at times? That's news to me!" Scarlett said with a sardonic expression.

"She's in," Jerlina pointed inside the store. "She wants to fire an employee."

Although she tried to keep her contempt to a minimum, it spilt out. Jeremy noticed it but his legs started to walk in. "She's not hurt or anything, right?"

Scarlett rolled her eyes. "What?" she asked Charlie who was looking at her.

"You coming in?" Charlie pointed inside. "Get in," he used an authoritative tone with Jerlina.

"Let's leave, Scar." 

Jerlina, who was not impressed with Charlie, decided to leave although she was curious about how it would play out with Emma now that Jeremy is here.

Charlie glared at Jerlina and Jerlina stared back at him. She was not afraid of him. 

So what if he is called "Chainsaw" Charlie? He probably got that name after hacking someone to death with a chainsaw. He spat on me! I don't like him.

Well technically, he spat in her direction but it hurt her. Ever since then Jerlina kept her distance from Charlie and maybe because Jeremy interfered, Charlie didn't appear in front of her, until today.

"Come on!"

Jerlina was dragged in by Scarlett who couldn't leave when a drama is about to happen.

  "Wait, Scar..." Jerlina tried to get out of her grip but she mowed through with determination and she was adamant about bringing Jerlina with her.

"F*cking squirrel," Charlie mumbled with a chuckle and followed behind. She's a bit funny, he should agree. 

After that day, he was admonished by Jeremy and was asked to stay with Bobby for a while. And all Bobby spoke was about that "cute squirrel" and her adventures. He also talked greatly about how much Jeremy changed after meeting her and listening to her advice. And that change benefitted Peyton. 

As someone who waited for a woman for four years, Bobby seemed to be understanding Jeremy, although Charlie couldn't understand that concept. 

But it seemed like he had no choice but to act nicely with that woman if he wants to stay with Jeremy and the gang. But he still couldn't believe she is the reason there is this gang as Bobby says. That credit is a crown so big for her head, in his opinion.

When Scarlett and Jerlina went to the office where the problem was shifted. When they entered, Emma was speaking about how firing that girl was for that girl's benefit.

"She has Tourette's syndrome and she cannot be a salesperson. That's what Martha was trying to express and that's what I meant by firing her. Jerry, you will help her get a job where she doesn't have to face a lot of people and get anxious..? Pretty please, Jerry," Emma placed her hands together and begged Jeremy.

"What an act! That's not what she was shouting moments ago..." Scarlett whispered in Jerlina's ears and went to discuss with the designer she was familiar with.

Jerlina looked at the girl and maybe because of stress, her tics were increased and her lips were twitching giving the impression that she was laughing. At a glance, it seemed like she was happy, but Jerlina could sense she was highly uncomfortable and she probably might be having an anxiety attack triggered by Emma and Martha's shouting. 

She thought Jeremy would not get himself involved in other people's business. 

If her boss likes her here and that girl has no problem working here till now, why should others offer her another job?

"My sister is so compassionate... I'll get you another job. Meet me tomorrow," Jeremy stood up from his seat and Jerlina was stunned.

What the...