Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

But nothing happened as Gordon feared, instead the Grandsire pleaded with Jerlina to bring him to bed. He insisted that he has more to show to her and Jerlina couldn't refuse him.

Jerlina looked at Jeremy and he nodded at her. As much as he wanted to get jealous at Jonathan for trying to steal his wife from him, Jeremy only saw Jonathan as a baby being persuasive in getting what he wants.

And she is my wife! She will return to me!

Jerlina walked with Jonathan. By now, she had gotten a little warmed up with Jonathan. Everything Jonathan did to her grandpa was still in the back of her head. Jonathan hasn't apologized for anything yet but she didn't want the past to come between them right this instant.

All she saw was how delighted Jonathan was to see her and how much he wanted to spend time with her. Although he didn't say it, she could feel that he is thinking of telling her everything he wants to tell her today itself.

She is someone who can't take an eye for an eye most times even though she is hurt. So how could she act distant with an old man who only acts nice with her?

Jerlina was taken to his room and she was astonished. It looked like the interior of the mountain where the dragon Smaug resided and slept upon the horde of treasures he accumulated for centuries.

Everywhere in the room looked glittery and shimmered with gold.

"You can take whatever pleases your eyes," Jonathan said seeing her looking around with an awestruck face. "It's all things that my Anni would have liked…"

The old man's voice trailed low. Jerlina could sense the pain in his voice. Say what about him, but she could see that he really loved Aniko Corvin.

"I don't need anything, great-grandpa," Jerlina knelt beside him and said holding his hand. "I am just glad I got to meet you. I want nothing more," she spoke from her heart.

"Ah…" Jonathan's shaking hand ended up on her cheek. "You mean it?" he asked.

"Yes. I want nothing from you," Jerlina repeated. It was the truth anyway.

"I wish…" his hands shook some more and his cheeks trembled as he seemed to by controlling his emotions. Jerlina placed her hand over his rough, wrinkly hand and he placed his other hand on her head.

"I wish you were like the others…" his voice trembled. "Like others who want something from me… That way I can keep you with me always…" he then let out a short chuckle. "Or until I die, anyway…"

There he brings up death again!

Jerlina felt awkward once more. He is old and it is undeniable that he will die. But when he is aware of it and talks about it openly, she didn't know what to say to him.

"Great-grandpa, don't talk about your death so easily. It's making me uncomfortable. And I am sure a lot of people love you for you and not for your wealth," she said.

She knew she is not entirely honest when she said that he is loved. But a little white lie never kills anyone, right?

"Uncomfortable?" he chuckled. "I held on for too long. And I am glad I did. Otherwise I wouldn't have met you…" he started to shake once more. "But now I can go away peacefully…"

"Great-grandpa!" Jerlina raised her voice as he brought up death again.

"I still have a lot to apologize for, don't I?" he asked and Jerlina said nothing back.

He has blood on his hands and no amount of apologizing will change anything. And it is not even she who needs the apology. It was her grandpa. And even he is dead.

Even if Jonathan apologizes, what good will it do?

Gordon could see the atmosphere turning a bit tense and interrupted.

"Sire, Lady Jerlina will be here in the morning and she'd love to continue the chat in the morning," he looked at Jerlina and Jerlina agreed with him.

"Good night. Sleep tight, great-grandpa," she kissed his cheek. "See you in the morning."

"Good night, dear," he patted her cheek gently. "Just ask for whatever you need. And your husband too. Go for a walk or… there is a movie room and ask for whatever movie you want… And even if you get hungry in the middle of the night, ask for whatever you need. There'll be chefs in the kitchen always. And…"

Jonathan went on for five minutes and Jerlina listened to him with a smile. He let her go only after she agreed to everything.

The moment Jerlina left the room, the smile on Jonathan's face gradually reduced and his face turned serious.

"Gordon, find out about everything that happened with that child after she got on Matilda's radar. Every day counts and even her visits to dentists counts," Jonathan's eyes turned contemplative.

He didn't fail to notice her saying that Matilda hurt her deeply. He could see that it is not just her fearing for her life. She must have lost something more for her to lose her bearing like that.

"Yes, Sire. For now, I know that she had to breakup with her boyfriend back then and he married her now husband's half-sister," Gordon explained what he knew.

"Hmm…What do we know about her ex?" he asked.

"He's the nephew of Harold Feldstein and he was involved in a hit-and-run. He's a lawyer and he likes to boast about his connections.

"Isn't Feldstein the one who had to force women to be with him?" Jonathan interjected. "I hated him."

"Yes, Sire. He's that one," Gordon nodded. "If you hated him, it is good now that the young lady is not with his nephew."

"Hmm," Jonathan nodded. "Investigate further to see if he did anything to hurt her. And her husband… Is he trustworthy?" Jonathan asked.

It doesn't matter who her ex-boyfriend was. But he better didn't hurt her even once. And although it seemed like she is in love with her husband, it does not hurt to investigate him deeply.

"I heard that he waited for her for ten years. As soon as she broke up with her boyfriend, he registered their marriage and did everything in his power to protect her. I don't think she agreed for the marriage but I think they are truly in love now," Gordon said.

"Hmm… you said half-sister?" Jonathan continued. "Investigate his  entire family thoroughly. No stone should be left unturned. My great-granddaughter shouldn't be treated badly anywhere from now on. And I want the list of whoever treated her badly till now. It doesn't matter if he is the boy who pulled her pigtails because he liked her or her boss who treated her badly. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. Should be listed."

"Yes, Sire. And… Her husband is the last of the Razumovsky family. His mother was the Princess who was smuggled out when the coup happened," Gordon reminded him. He had a feeling that his boss hated that royal family.

But what will he do now that Young Lady married someone from that family?