Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

When Jerlina woke up, she felt the gentle breeze on her face. She was still sitting in the car, but they have already reached home.

Did he leave me be because I was asleep? He could have woken me up rather than leave me in the car...

She yawned and started to unbuckle her seatbelt, but paused hearing the slight murmur the wind carried. It seemed like Jeremy and Charlie were conversing about something serious. She decided not to eavesdrop, but when she heard her name, she decided to listen.

Her heart pounded as if she was breaking into the Louvre Museum since she is not used to eavesdropping. Jeremy and Charlie were at a distance talking and their voice was very dull. Jerlina couldn't even hear properly.

But then, the wind changed direction and she heard their voices a little better.

"...I was wrong to ask you to respect her as my wife. You saw how she acted before...that's her true self. That's who she is. Respect her for who she is..."

He's asking his people to respect me! Does that mean Charlie won't humiliate me anymore? 

Jerlina's heart skipped a beat hearing that. He always seemed to be caring for her. It is on ething if someone listens to your woes and comforts you and it is a step up when someone tries to solve your woes for your sake. 

Jeremy is a good man! Is he doing all these out of love?Like before, he is trying to protect me in secret. What can I do for him in return?

I certainly cannot fall for him.

Sigh!

She tried to hear more, but she couldn't as the wind changed direction.

"...Tara's back... Ashley... gang up... trouble...not like that..."

They kept on talking and Jerlina couldn't understand clearly. 

"And just for that don't think Emma is superficial. She is still young and her own person. She is a very loving person at heart, although she's not everyone's cup of tea. Either they love her or they hate her. There is no middle-ground..."

Jeremy started talking about Emma and she rolled her eyes. 

  But...

He previously asked them to treat me as his wife? That explains why Charlie got angry seeing me with Gerard.

Eh... it's all twisted and complicated. Who can be blamed here? 

But... the wedding ceremony is in a week, and Jeremy is asking his people to stop considering me as his wife?

Well, that works for me. It is better this way.

I won't stay here for long anyway!

She closed her eyes as her mind was clear with no disturbance. She was surprised by the lack of resentment towards him. But she felt it was better since being resentful was not a good feeling. 

When you hold on to a negative feeling, it takes a toll on you, whether you are in the right or not. She didn't want to hurt herself by being resentful. She just wanted to save herself and leave out of Jeremy's skin. 

He deserves a happy life.

----

Charlie saw Jeremy's back and let out a deep breath. 

'I know your woman is by Tara's side and she won't like Jerlina no matter what. But make a decision yourself. If, by some awful chance, Foxy gets kidnapped by someone and was forced to marry, will you back off? Will Foxy move on with that guy and stop loving you just because of that piece of paper? Why should Jerlina be any different?'

Jeremy asked him and he had no answers. If that happens, he'd try his best to get Foxy back and he'd probably behave as Gerard behaved with Jerlina.

But didn't Gerard leave Jerlina with Jeremy?

And still, Jeremy's point stands. Jerlina is not the one to blame here and he did hurt her by showing his disapproval.

And if Tara is returning, of course, Foxy is going to cause trouble. It's going to be rough. Women can be brutal when they gang up supporting one and another.

  But no one can go against Scarlett. So it will be fine, right? Jeremy told me this to control my woman, didn't he? How should I handle that? There will be blood!

Charlie started to dread poking his nose in his woman's friendship. 

------ 

Jerlina heard Jeremy approaching the car and decided to pretend to be asleep. She thought he'd wake her up, but he carried her.

What's with him carrying me always? Aren't I heavy?

He was very careful as he lifted her and walked at a strong pace into the house. Her head was resting on his shoulder and through her arm, she could feel his steady heartbeat. This is not the first time he was carrying her, but this was the first time she noticed that he is hard everywhere.

His arms, chest, abdomen... everything was hard.  His beard grazed her face often and that prickly feeling, making her ticklish. She feared if he'd drop her in the stairs.

"I can walk," she pulled his collar deciding to stop pretending to be asleep.

"How long were you awake?" he asked as he neared the stairs.

"I woke up just after you lifted me up," she didn't tell him the entire truth. She didn't want to let him know that she heard his conversation with Charlie.

"Then why did you keep quiet till now?" he bowed and looked at her. His warm breath fell on her face and she grinned. 

"I was curious about how far you can carry me. And now- no, no...Don't get up on the stairs. Let me down," she shouted but with a chuckle, he ran up the stairs.

"Stop!" she wrapped her arms around his neck and clung to him like a baby Koala. He stopped immediately in the middle of the staircase. All this while his heart wasn't racing.

"Why? I can carry you to the attic without breaking a sweat. Want to-"

"Let me down..." she pleaded, looking down. She didn't want to encourage his teasing. She was scared that she'd fall if she jumped.

"Jump!" he shrugged and in his face was a playful smile.

"Please... lower me a bit and I'll..." she pouted and her heart pounded.

"I thought you'd get angry at me for jumping the gun there with that salesgirl," he wanted to ask. He thought that he'd get one word of admonishment, but he was totally ignored by her.

"What would getting angry at you do? It won't help that girl! And in case she needed a new job, I can't ruin her chances by antagonizing you. I know you can get her a perfect job in case..." 

She stopped talking seeing his eyes getting serious. 

Jeremy couldn't handle the feelings bubbling in his heart. The true feelings of her pure heart, those cute little lips that were pouting, those pretty eyes that were wide with fear...

He wanted her for himself.

He bowed down for a kiss.

Jerlina saw his face magnifying in front of her. His warm breath and his strong pine scent enveloped her. Along with her heart, she could feel his heart pounding too.

He is going to kiss me!