Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"I can walk by myself, you know?" Jeremy told Jerlina who was walking with him to the toilet.

He started to worry for her. She's been eating properly but he wasn't sure if she is resting properly. Every time he wakes up in the middle of the night, he'd see her beside him, awake.

In the mornings she has a lot to take care of regarding the company and she takes care of him too. During the nights, she'd sit in the armchair and won't lie down on on the bed.

What if she gets sick?

He talked to her, but she keeps on saying that she understood all of that and is minding her health properly.

Now he was in a dilemma to let her be, trusting her decisions or to force her to lie down and take a rest.

"I know," Jerlina nodded. "I'll just stay outside if you feel awkward. And remember, the doctor asked you to notice the color of your –"

Before she finished, his lips crashed on hers.

"I've been through this before, you know... Just relax, I can take care of myself," Jeremy said and Jerlina's eyes ended up on his abdomen.

"With all the hair there, I didn't notice the stab wound there..." she pointed at his abdomen.

"I'll tell you later how I got it, alright? It's an interesting story!"

Jerlina looked at his proud smirk and wondered what there is to be proud of.

"Okay, then I'll go prepare your lunch. The doctor told me that you can gradually start eating semi-solid foods," Jerlina decided to consult the nutritionist and prepare his lunch herself.

"Don't make anything gooey," Jeremy grinned painfully.

"Didn't you go through this before? What did they give you before?" Jerlina asked and Jeremy let out a sigh.

"Maybe stop getting hurt," Jerlina said and her eyes watered. "You shouldn't have had this wound-" she couldn't speak further as her throat closed.

She could see how much pain he is in after they started to reduce the painkillers. And he went through this pain for her.

"I won't get hurt again," Jeremy held her cheek. "I'll be more careful in the future," he pulled her closer. "But I don't regret getting hurt this time..." he kissed her forehead. "It would have been your heart, love... He aimed for your heart... I wouldn't have survived if anything happened to you... At least it is me now..."

"But, I am the one watching you in pain," Jerlina looked in his eyes and he smiled.

"You're so beautiful... Have I ever told you that? Your eyes..." he held her shoulders and took a good look at her face and asked.

"Yeah, I know!" Jerlina wiped her eyes and her face started to burn.

This guy is crazy! I am crazy to feel this way! How can he make everything seem so easy?

"My eyes hold the sun in them... You've already said it... On our first date," she couldn't help but smile right now. "And I will hold you in my heart forever."

"Aww..." Jeremy smirked pacing his hand on his chest. Jerlina knew he is going to say something cheesier than what she said and he didn't disappoint.

"There is no other place I'd rather be a prisoner willingly," he smiled and Jerlina giggled as her face turned red.

"Go in and do your business!" She pushed him in.

After helping him back on the bed, Jerlina left for the kitchen.

Jeremy watched her leaving and as soon as the door closed, he picked up his phone from under the bed and dialed Charlie.

"So, what happened with Brian's family?"

When he talked to Charlie first, he told him that Jerlina decided to let Brian's family go although Brian tried to kill her. Brian was already fired from his job in the saw mill, but his wife was still working in the Fitzgerald Lumber Corp, office.

No one who tries to kill my wife can have an easy life!

"His wife is fired and... Their twins are just turning one. The whole town turned against them and they left the town," Charlie said and Jeremy hummed.

Was it cruel?  Yes, it is. But there should be order in the town. And Brian... he aimed right at her heart. It seemed more of a planned thing rather than something done out of rage. Someone who tries to kill someone out of rage won't be that focused.

"The Squirrel is not pleased with that... She tried to overturn the decision to fire Brian's wife, but I had to speak firmly with her stating that it is the gang's rules. I think she is still mad at me for that..." Charlie's voice was a little sad.

"And Foxy broke up with me... The guys who provoked her that day... they were Viper's men... Someone told the Viper about Foxy's past and they confused her. Whether they predicted I'd be there... But why did they bring her to the police station? And if that was their plan, why did they separate me from her?" Charlie questioned.

"And Bobby...he said he didn't trip from a root. We investigated and found a rope just where Bobby slipped... He was made to fall, TJ... Bobby was made to fall. They wanted you out of Peyton when the Squirrel was taken to the Police Station..." Charlie added.

Jeremy's heart clenched.

"Scar... Viper got Scar first, right?" Jeremy asked and Charlie hummed.

"They wanted Bobby and me out of the town. And they'd have known Scar would go to Bobby. They probably thought Jerlina would go with Scar and that's why they probably got you out of the way too. And taking her to the police station must have been the contingency plan. No matter what, using that many cops would have been an issue.  So they tried to lure her out without causing a scene. Those people out of Peyton laying in wait for her... they were there to get her when she was leaving with Scar... But she didn't leave with Scar and so they have to use the cops to get her to Viper... Those scums..."

Jeremy fisted his hands and started to think hard.

Those who had the power to use the cops for their use are from the Erling family and it seems like they could be taken care of only by Jonathan Erling.

But Viper's men...

"Tell our guys to start hunting Viper's men, Charlie...If you see someone with a snake tattoo anywhere near Peyton, end him. Close the clinic for Viper's people. Increase the security along our turf. Ask our people to stay inside until everything is safe out there. And tell the lawyers of the company to prepare to form a foundation in the Fitzgerald name. The government is getting too much of my taxes and they are spending too much on anti-riot cops to attack my people, using my money. "

This was not an easy decision for Jeremy. He is starting a war at all ends. But he needs to show those who have forgotten that he is a gang lord that he is still a gang lord.