Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Seeing his best friend looking like someone snuffed the light out of him, Bobby's heart melted.

She's gone'¦

Those words might be simple. He knows that Jerlina is not leaving Jeremy but Jeremy might be thinking that way. But he understood the weight behind those simple words.

She left me'¦

He remembered saying those exact words to Jerry the day Scarlett left him some years back. Thinking about that day, his heart still hurt. He could truly sympathize with Jeremy. For a moment, he forgot his anger.

"Well'¦" Bobby was about to tell Jeremy the truth but was rudely interjected by his loud wife.

"What did you expect? That she'd break her word and stay with you no matter what?"

Bobby turned to look at Scarlett and she curled her lips at him and turned to look at Jeremy.

"You told her you didn't want her in your house and expected she'd be here? How stupid are you?" Scarlett scoffed. "By now she'd be halfway around the world. I heard she called her rich great grandfather and he sent a jet to pick her up. Did you think that she has no one? She has very powerful relatives. Just like that, she can disappear and she left the town. Ask Charlie and the boys. They saw Jerlina leaving the town'¦" Scarlett went on.

She did that on purpose. She knew Bobby was enraged and when he gets hot-headed there is no stopping him. And so she used the little moment where he was stumbling and took control. Now that she is shouting, Bobby's first response would be to calm her down and he'd forget about killing Jeremy and whatnot.

And secondly, Jerlina asked her not to tell Jeremy where she's at. Bobby cannot make it easy for Jeremy. And after what Jeremy did, he should take some steps to calm down Jerlina.

She loves Jeremy and Jerlina the same but as a woman, she'd side with Jerlina in this issue. They cannot separate and they won't, but Jeremy needs to know that he might lose Jerlina forever if he keeps on supporting Emma.

"Calm down, Kitty," Bobby wrapped his arms around Scarlett's shoulder and kissed her cheek. "Let's go. It's cold outside."

"Don't touch me," Scarlett pushed his arm away. "Are you going to push me down again?" she pouted and walked away.

He gets mad at times but this was the first time he showed it to her this way. Although she understood that he didn't mean it and he probably won't do it again, she cannot condone this behavior. Who knows what a simple shove might turn into in the future?

She needs to let him know that she got offended by it. Not to mention, she is with a baby and she needs to be careful.

Well,  it is rather hypocritical of her to hold him accountable for his actions while she is hiding her pregnancy, but she is doing it for the sake of their baby. If she tells him about her pregnancy, he'd book an appointment to terminate the pregnancy.

She cannot allow that to happen.

Bobby only then realized what he did previously. His wife is his precious person and he knew in his heart that he cannot lose her. He tried living without her for years and he wouldn't want to live that wretched life again.

His wife might seem loud and strong, but she is very frail and not very strong physically. And like a beast, he shoved her and hurt her. He remembered how she winced and yet he didn't stop to help her up and just walked out.

Who would do that to the mother of their child? I'm evil!

Am I a wife-beater?

"I'm sorry, Kitty. I didn't mean to'¦" he walked behind her begging and pleading.

"It hurt me, you know, Bobby? I didn't expect it from you," Scarlett pouted.

"I know. I have no excuses, I am sorry'¦" Bobby continued to apologize.

Scarlett walked to their house and she nodded at Charlie. Charlie was amazed by Scarlett's talent. Within five minutes, she completely placated an enraged seven-foot grizzly of a man to a whining puppy. Five men couldn't hold Bobby back but Scarlett could just use her'¦ wisdom and calm him down.

She could be sent as a crisis management expert to deescalate tensions in armed conflicts even.

Wow! Scarlett's amazing in one way. Jerlina is amazing in another way!

And where are the good women at? Why can't I find someone with a brain?

Am I having high standards after seeing Scarlett and Jerlina?

Man, I am never going to find a woman, am I?

Jeremy bowed his head as he felt like he was slapped by Scarlett's words. She was not wrong and it seems like Jerlina has left town.

And Bobby'¦ why did he want to kill me..?

Yeah, why? He wouldn't have pointed a shotgun at me for the sake of Jerlina. It seemed personal.

There should be more to it.

He remembered Bobby doubting that Emma might have something to do with Daisy's death.

Could it be'¦

And mom'¦ She was too mad. She even refused to treat Emma. There should be more to it.

Charlie walked to Jeremy and he held his hands. Looking deeply into Charlie's eyes with his blue eyes layered with tears, Jeremy sniffed.

"Tell me what happened this morning, Charlie'¦"

Charlie bowed and looked at his hand covered by Jeremy's hands. Jeremy's hands were trembling and cold and rough. From his touch, he could feel that Jeremy needs comfort and'¦

And? What and? Geez! What is he doing holding another man's hand?

"Let go of my hand. I'll tell you," Charlie pulled out his hand and Jeremy stood up. Charlie then explained everything that happened in the morning at the clinic.

Jeremy staggered back holding his chest and Charlie patted his shoulder.

"Emma told Jerlina that you gave the pills to her and that you wanted the baby dead. I don't think that Jerlina believed that. But she turned violent only after that. And then you ignored her and picked up Emma and'¦" he shrugged.

Jeremy stared at him for some time and then rubbed his forehead for a minute. He then staggered back inside the house. Charlie asked if he needed anything but Jeremy said nothing and walked inside.

Jeremy was overwhelmed with emotions and he felt a little nauseated. It probably is because he didn't eat anything for an entire day.

Not only did Emma kill Jerlina's baby but she also killed Daisy and tried to kill mom? If Jerlina and Charlie didn't barge into the room, mom would be dead too?

And in all this, my Jeryl didn't doubt me, and yet I'¦ Without explaining anything I broke her heart! She left me!

His heart went heavy and without realizing it, Jeremy walked to Jerlina's room. It is their room now. It used to be his room before he gave it to her. And now for the first time in a while, he'll have to sleep alone.

Sleep? I'll have to find her first.

He got his phone and was about to call Gordon but he stopped himself. Scarlett's words came to his mind. Scarlett was repeating "out of town" awful lot of times. Bobby was silent and Charlie had a weird look when he asked about it.

Jeryl didn't leave the town, did she? She didn't!

Jeremy wanted to search for her. If she is still in the town, there would be only a few places where she'd be at. She wouldn't stay in a motel. She probably is at Patrick Davis' house or Nick's house.

Should I check Bobby's house first though? Nah, she wouldn't stay this close. First I'll check Patrick's house, then Nick's house, and then maybe I should check the hotels in the city.

I should beg her and bring her back!

He balanced himself in the door as he staggered. He heard a whistling noise and turned to look in that direction. The bathroom door was open.

He remembered opening every room in the house to search for her. He walked to the bathroom to close the door and it was then he noticed her toothbrush there.

An image of her brushing her teeth pooped in his memories. She won't talk when she is brushing and she would not like it if he spoke with his mouthful of toothpaste. She'd start to retch at times if he brushes in front of her,

Ah'¦ my weird wife'¦she's not here'¦

He felt a pang of pain in his heart and he rubbed his chest. Everything looked dark and gloomy and he felt like he stepped outside of his own life; like he's not in control of anything.

It was then he noticed a piece of paper getting caught between the cabinet doors and he wondered what it is.

He opened the bathroom cabinet and it was some sort of manual. He kept it in and he saw a bunch of weird stuff in there. He doesn't use this bathroom and he doesn't care for the products she uses but these sticks'¦

What are they? Test strips? To test what?

His heart skipped a beat and he picked them up to check. One of the sticks had something written on it and'¦

Pregnant?

Pregnant as in pregnant? With a baby?

Is this Jeryl's?

"Pregnant? Is my wife pregnant?"