Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Harold took charge after Jeremy's boorish behavior and started to inquire about Jerlina's company. "I've never heard of it," he said and Jerlina was not offended.

Her company is not a big name and not many know of it. It was then she saw Emma smirking at Jennifer.

Wait... so her family might know who I am already? Is Harold throwing shade at me? And they think I will bow my head in shame because my company is small? Why would I?

"Oh," she said with a forced smile to end the conversation between them. She does not like disingenuous people.

"Yeah, most don't know of it. It's just a small company in Peyton with less than five thousand turnover per month," Gerard said and Jerlina couldn't understand why he speaks for her.

"Oh, that small? I thought it would be bigger. 'She's the CEO of Hopkins Glassware'," Jennifer chuckled with a mocking sneer imitating Jeremy.

Jerlina didn't like getting mocked in front of Emma and maintained her stern eye contact with Jennifer. Maybe because Jennifer had more conscience than Jeremiah, she stopped her mocking.

These kinds of mockings rarely affect her and it would only fuel her desire to rise up. Her company is small, but she is extremely proud of her products. And her company is not going to stay small for long now that she got a big contract and endorsement, is it?

I'll see you in a year, Jennifer! You will try hard for your firm to legally represent my big company... And I will deny you!

"A CEO is a CEO no matter how big the company is, Jenny," Harold spoke in a soft voice patting Jennifer in the back. He noticed the malicious expression on Jeremy's face and he feared for his wife's life. He knew Jeremy carries all the time and he can't be touched even if he kills.

"Come on, Jenny. Jerlina is proud of her company and that's all that matters," Emma added. Her sister-in-law gets stupid often.

Shut up! Why would you mock her in front of Jerry? Do you want Jerlina to succeed?

She knew if everyone mocks Jerlina, Jerry will try and help her. She didn't want Jerlina to get help. And Jerlina likes criticisms better than compliments and uses them as a ladder to climb high.

Jerlina is like a cockroach!

Jeremy turned to look at Jerlina. Her eyes had a fire in them and he calmed down. He itched to tell them that her company has Volkonsky as a client. But he knew it is not his place to reveal that.

And revenge is a dish best served cold. That's what she said the first time she met him. She will humiliate them by living well in front of them. My cute little Luna, you haven't changed a bit!

He was happy Emma supported Jerlina but was not surprised since he knows Emma is a good person. Slowly, situations like this will lead to the friends getting along once again- he believed. Jerlina is not an unreasonable person and she can see the true Emma soon.

"Glass industry is facing a decline after the introduction of synthetic glasses, right? One of my friends was saying how soon glasses will become extinct like dinosaurs. And running a small cottage industry must be very tiring. Nowadays everyone prefers to buy big brands and even those brands suffer losses since everyone prefers durability and everything else offered by synthetics," Harold spoke with faux sympathy.

"We are doing fine. We have our fans," Jerlina replied with a prideful smile. She didn't want to get put down by these people in front of Emma. It seems like they want to humiliate her and she didn't want to stay silent and accept it.

"But Jer, Harold is not wrong. You should have other options available for your income. You cannot solely depend on that small company..."

Gerard started advising. He is the one who knows her the best. Her thoughts align with his. He couldn't bear how Jeremy is acting with her.

Calling her CEO? Is this how he plans to make her fall into his trap? I'll bring her sense back. She doesn't have to be a CEO. She can just be mine if she waits for me a little.

Jerlina bowed her head. True, she used to think that way and that's why she used to work full-time.

But her views changed after she let go of all the baggage she carried. She has no mortgages or loans to pay and she has to support no one except her employees.

And she didn't like the condescending way Gerard is speaking to her. She didn't remember him using this tone with her ever. It would not have been fine even if she was alone, and in front of Emma, his advice seemed like humiliation.

A lump formed in her throat as she clenched the skirt of her dress. She didn't want him to admonish her for her decisions. He left her when she needed him and she doesn't need his care now.

Jeremy saw Gerard's pessimistic words are making Jerlina's mood go sour. He did not like that at all.

Near him, was a beautiful glass vase his father's wife is so proud of. He looked at Gerard speaking to Jerlina as if she were a child.

"People with class will always buy glass," he said loudly and his deep resonating voice suppressed Gerard's gentle voice and he stopped preaching.

"And Harry..." Jeremy continued. "You should be worrying about your own business. I hear the stock market is ve-ry unpredictable..."

Jerlina turned to see TJ slowly pushing the vase beside him towards the edge of the table with his index finger. Jerlina held her breath seeing that beautiful little vase inching towards the edge of the table making a dragging noise. The entire room went silent and Emma's mother almost got up from her seat.

He will not break that beautiful thing, will he?

Jerlina gulped and she heard a sigh of relief as Jeremy paused, with the vase just at the edge.

"Well..."  Emma's mother with a smile looked at Jerlina.

*Clang*