Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Twisted..." Jeremy muttered and let out a snort dodging her hand and she took a couple of steps back with her face filled with fear.

Of course, she'd call his love twisted. She never tried to understand him. She came to his life like the moon fairy one day and then she returned up to the sky forgetting him. He's the one who is howling at the moon ever since. She never looked back at him.

Stalking? Kidnapping? Killing? Is that how she sees it all? All I wanted was her safety.

Is he twisted? Probably, yes. And he still didn't want to let her go. He is twisted, definitely.

"Let's go," he placed his hand at the small of her back.

She gritted her teeth without saying anything and moved away.

At that time, his phone rang. It was the ringtone for his sister and his heart skipped a beat wondering if Emma might be in trouble. This is the first time she is calling after she left for her honeymoon. She won't call him unless there is trouble.

Jerlina turned saw him getting his phone from the pocket in a hurry and it slipped from his hands. She caught the phone reflexively and she saw the picture of Emma blinking on the phone screen.

She felt a pang of pain in her heart and her throat got heavy. She tried not to mind the fact that Emma married Gerry, but she couldn't. She felt a shattering pain in her heart whenever she tried to forget Gerry.

She passed him the phone and decided to get something to eat for Aunt Becky. She was hungry too as she got a scent of waffles floating from a diner at the other side of the road.

"Stop!"

She winced looking at his hand holding her arm. He was holding it in the exact same spot the other guy held her and it hurt a lot.

Why isn't he answering his phone? He wants me to listen?

"I don't want to ruin my appetite by learning how happy your sister is with the father of my child you killed," She pulled his hand from his grip. Rubbing her arm that hurt a lot, she crossed the road to get to the diner.

That was so mean of you, Jerlina!

Sitting at the counter, Talia rubbed her forehead. He looked stunned when she said it. He probably didn't stop her to listen to the conversation, but she arrived at that conclusion and said hurtful words.

She looked through the window and saw Jeremy speaking on the phone with a smile as if it didn't affect him.

He probably isn't affected and was surprised I talked back. Why would he care for my words? I mean nothing to him. But still... I shouldn't have projected my pain onto him.

She understood that Gerry married Emma of his own volition. He might have broken up with her under duress, but he fully consented to stand in front of the guests and exchange the wedding vows with Emma, while it was hard for him to consider marriage when they were together.

That image of Gerry leaving her in Jeremy's car that day still made her feel a thousand pricks in her heart. He married Emma and he wanted to honeymoon with her. And if they are happy, it is not Jeremy's fault.

Was I jealous of Emma and projected it on Jeremy?

Ugh! I'm turning into someone even I can't recognize. I said hurtful words to Gina knowingly and with TJ...I... This is bad... No matter how hard everything is for me, I cannot lose myself like this... Am I going insane?

"Here sweetie, your order," the gentle voice of the waitress made Jerlina snap out of her thoughts. "You okay?" she added.

"Thank you... just thinking..." Jerlina got the plate of waffles with a generous topping of whipped cream and chocolate syrup with a smile.

"Boy trouble?" she asked with a smile and topped off her coffee.

I would be happy if it is as simple as that – Jerlina thought.

"You could say that," Jerlina smiled. "I said something mean to him."

"Apologize and flirt a little... Kiss him... No man would stay mad after that. Trust me!" the waitress said with her hand on her hip and Jerlina nodded with a smile.

Haha... as if!

Jerlina started eating the waffles and they were surprisingly very delicious. With the coffee on the side, she devoured the waffles.

Jeremy on the other hand couldn't even concentrate on his call with Emma.

"...Gerard is not taking me to the winery, Jerry. But it is fine... He got pretty tired after last night... We... we had a late night. But I am up and they say dinner there in the vineyard is very romantic. I am trying to convince him, but..."

Her voice got a little shy and then she started to complain as usual making Jeremy smile.

She is always like this. She likes to dump her troubles on him and would flutter around like a bird with no worries afterward. Seeing her like that, he'd feel bad and make sure her wishes come true.

If it was any other time, he'd be talking to Gerard, to make sure his sister gets what she wants, but he didn't even want to speak to Gerard.

'Father of my child you killed'

Jerlina's voice was echoing in his heart making him stunned.

"Is he treating you well, Emma?" he asked. He worried for Emma. The situation she got married was not very good. It was more of a deal between them and Gerard was the one who gained a lot in that union.

Me too... I knowingly threw my sister into a loveless marriage, because I wanted to protect Jerlina. My sister is the loser in this situation.

"He is! Don't worry for me, Jerry. By the way, how is Jer? Has she recovered?" her voice was filled with care.

You worry this much for her, but she is...

"She got discharged from the hospital."

"That's great! I was so worried for her all the time. Now I can be relieved. And Jerry, I have an idea. Why don't you hook up Charlie and Jer? They'd make a good couple. Back when she was in the cabin, they got along very well. Jerlina needs someone to comfort her and-"

Jeremy fisted his hands hearing what Emma said. He was filled with guilt for keeping it from her that he married Jerlina.

And Charlie? Charlie with Jerlina?

"Did you visit Jerlina in the cabin that day, Emma?" Jeremy asked interjecting her which was followed by her silence. And then her voice came as a whisper.

"...Yes, I'm sorry I hid it from you, Jerry... I felt bad for her and...she was distressed. I didn't know she was pregnant then, but she told me and then became hysteric. She wasn't listening to me and I almost got stabbed... I understand she-"

"She tried to stab you?" Jeremy was shocked. Gritting his teeth, he looked at the diner.

"Please don't take it to heart, Jerry. I cannot imagine how much she was stressed. She must have thought the whole world was against her and that she had no one to help-"

"You're too soft-hearted, Emma. Not everyone can be like you. By the way, when are you returning?"Jeremy asked and his lips curved to a smile. There is no one he knows who has a pure heart like his sister.

After talking to her for some more time, he ended the call. He crossed the road and got into the diner.