Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Emma and Jeremy walked in the front and Jerlina followed them. Gerard stopped to join Jerlina, but seeing Emma's glare he walked beside her. She hooked her arm with Gerard's and although he was stiff, he didn't refuse her.

Guess he is getting along with his wife really well!

Jerlina silently sighed seeing Emma chatting carelessly with Jeremy and Gerard. Some people have the luck to get surrounded by people for one reason or another. While some are destined to walk alone.

I am the latter. Why can't I get used to it?

Gerard wanted to get out of Emma's hold. He knew Emma is doing this on purpose to show off to Jerlina. But then he couldn't get over the fact that his Jerlina let another man touch her in front of him. He wanted to show her how it feels to be on the receiving end of jealousy and so he endured Emma's claws on him.

Jeremy, on the other hand, couldn't listen to a single word Emma spoke as his mind was entirely occupied with Jerlina. He heard the sound of her heels against the marble floor as she walked with a stronger pace. But all he remembered was her trembling fingers trying to open his car.

She used to put up a strong front- because she needed to. But lately, he saw all of her emotions and thought she has changed.

But she doesn't have to pretend anymore. She is not without support.

"Emma..." he got himself out of Emma's hold and held out his hand at Jerlina. He didn't want to leave her alone especially when he had forced her to come here.

By now they've reached the door and Jerlina paused for a moment seeing Jeremy holding out his hand. She took a side step and Jeremy ended up placing his hand behind her as if he was holding her back, but he was not touching her.

Oh, is he putting on this act for his family?

Jerlina shrugged and both of them walked in behind Emma and Gerard with her shoulder rubbing Jeremy's jacket sleeve.

Jerlina felt warm, oddly.

"Ah! It's Jerry! What a pleasant surprise! You're right on time for dinner. Today is pot roast- your favorite. Who is this pretty lady..?  Did you bring a guest? Is she a friend?"

Jerlina wanted to roll her eyes at the over(fake) enthusiasm Emma's mother was showing in welcoming her. she could now understand who Emma takes after.

"Why did you bring that secretary with you? Woman, did you think this is a soup kitchen?" the rough voice of Jeremiah Harrison echoed in the room making everyone silent.

What's with the tone he uses when he says 'secretary'? And I don't need his food!

He was so condescending, and his words hurt her. She naturally looked at Gerard, but he was pressing his lips tightly.

Yeah, this is usual for me. If I keep my mouth shut, the topic will turn to something else. I don't have to speak my mind and bring trouble for myself just for my hurt pride. There will be no one to rescue me then.

He is a nasty being. Even my ex-boss hated him for the way he treats others. And karma is a b*tch! He will reap what he sows.

She calmed herself down.

She saw Harold Harrison- Emma's brother, and his wife Jeniffer, walking towards them casually chatting with themselves pretending they didn't hear the loud shout of their father.

Jennifer Faulkner is Gerard's boss and according to Gerard, she took Emma's side and threatened him to break up with her. Jerlina turned to look at Jeremy pretending to not see Jennifer smiling at her.

Jerlina could see through her peripheral vision Emma was staring intently at her. It seemed like even she didn't know why Jeremy brought her here. She didn't care about Emma's feelings. But she felt a lot uneasy because of what's to come.

Emma nudged Gerard who was staring at Jerlina and seeing him unresponsive, she pressed her lips. She couldn't even be happy by her father's humiliating words since she noticed Jeremy standing too close to Jerlina and Jerlina wasn't minding that closeness.

She knew something was wrong between them and she wanted to know immediately if what she prevented from happening in the past will happen in the future. She started chewing her tongue out of anxiety.

"We're not here to eat, 'dad'... We don't lack food," Jeremy said with a snort. He could take it when his "father" is being snarky with him, but Jerlina is out of his limits. He might have known her as Millman's secretary, and he thinks lowly of her?

Heh! Did he dare to humiliate her in front of me?

The way he said 'dad' was reeking of sarcasm and Jerlina bowed her head not wanting to get involved in whatever that is happening between them.

She is not a confrontational person and she doesn't like these kinds of tense situations. In these situations, her first instinct would be to stay silent or sneak out. But she was stunned when Jeremy pulled her closer to him, wrapping his hand around her waist.

"What are you doing, dear?" Emma's mom nudged Jeremiah. "Can't you be nicer to our guest? Son," she looked at Jeremy with a smile. "Bring her to the dining room... Come on everyone... Let's have dinner.  Jenny, ask Kendra to add two more plates..." she spoke in a soft voice leading everyone to the dining table.

Jerina saw Jeremy scoffing. "I'm not your son,b*tch," he mumbled and she pretended she didn't hear him.

If he didn't tell her that he used to stay hungry in the past, she'd have believed that woman's acting skills and thought that Jeremy is adored here like Emma used to say.

Jeremy hated this woman with every fibre of his being. This woman sent his mother to her grave and when he came to find his father, she tried her best to keep him away.

She never used his name and called him 'Bast@rd'. She'd kick him in his stomach when he asked for food and would throw him out in the cold in the name of punishments.

In those times, it was little Emma who was his biggest comfort. She was just six then, but she was very smart and brave. She'd bring him food, medicines, and blankets and would sing songs for him.

And that heartless man who is his biological father... He ended up homeless and hungry because of him and ended up getting kidnapped.

But when he became someone prominent among the bluebloods as a Fitzgerald and learning that he is backed by Volkonsky, that woman wanted this connection for her son. That shameless man joined her and started to call him his son.

But no one accepted Jeremiah in the circle since they knew how he treated his biological son and it hurt that old dog's pride. That despicable couple wanted him to change his name from Fitzgerald to Harrison so that everyone knows that he accepted him as his father.

He didn't want that name, but he couldn't watch poor Emma suffer because of him. They didn't hurt her physically, but mentally. Emma won't complain but she talked about indigestion because her mother was "excited" to adopt him to their family and was talking nonstop about it.

He finally gave up and changed his name to Harrison a couple of years back just for Emma. That should be the least he could do for the sister who cares for him truly.

He turned to look at Emma. She looked troubled. That poor soul must be feeling sorry for the way her father is treating her friend. That guy beside her was glaring at him.

Well, why did you give her up then, you hypocrite? And why isn't your blood boiling for the way Jeremiah Harrison treated her? Shouldn't you be glaring at him? You won't... You need him, don't you?

Jeremy smirked. "We already had dinner... honey?" he turned and looked at Jerlina with a pleasant smile. "Do you-"

The crowd walking towards the table, turned to look at them by Jeremy's unusual choice of word – Honey?

"No, I'm full," Jerlina grimaced. She didn't like to be put in the spot.

Can't I leave?