Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Thinking about her miscarriage made her want to cry more, but then she tried to distract herself. Her eyes were puffy and she didn't want to enter the office now.Â

"Bobby was pretty happy that you didn't run away scared from him that day," Scarlett asked after a while and Jerlina smiled with embarrassment.

"I used to be very scared of him and everyone near TJ... But they've done a lot for me without any appreciation from me. I don't know how I will repay them all," Jerlina fiddled with her fingers. She was moved after knowing everything.

"They didn't do it for you, but for Jerry...." Scarlett said and Jerlina looked at her. "Everyone here owes one or two to Jerry; even Bobby. So they won't ever question him."

"I know... I used to be scared of that aspect too. When Bobby bragged about how they handled their enemies, I took it as he was threatening me... I feel stupid now that I know the truth." Jerlina said.

"Haha...So that's how Bobby thought he was helping Jerry! Since I thought of his valiant side as 'cool', he thought you'd be the same..." Scarlett laughed. "Too bad back then you thought that Jerry was out to get you and you don't like violent men..."

Seeing Jerlina silent, Scarlett continued. "Now that I think about it... rather than the violent side of Jerry, had you seen the soft and caring side of him... would it have made a difference?"

Jerlina shrugged. She thought that there was no chance for her to fall for TJ back then, but she was in an odd state back then. She purchased alcohol illegally and slept with a random guy to get her dad's attention.

If there was a kind guy by her side, taking care of her and showed even a teeny bit of love and affection, she was sure she'd have fallen for him.Â

They chatted for a while and Scarlett spoke about her love life. Apparently, Bobby was her childhood friend and they grew up together. It was she who introduced Bobby to Jeremy since they were classmates.

Scarlett got pregnant when she was twenty and Bobby wanted to marry her. But Scarlett was reluctant to get married so young. Since she was tall and had good looks, one of her relatives wanted her to become a model and referred her to a modeling agency and they offered her a contract. She wanted to be a model and she thought the pregnancy was a hindrance.

Scarlett found it hard to speak about how hurt Bobby was when she said she doesn't want to have the baby. Even Daisy tried to convince her otherwise, but she was adamant and even secretly fixed a date for abortion.Â

But the devastating thing happened just a day before the hospital appointment and it broke her. Scarlett spoke about how ashamed she felt to face Daisy who took care of her after that ordeal. Even Bobby said nothing and acted as usual with her and her guilt multiplied. And so she ran away from home.

She got the modeling job and since she had a very apt bone structure for modeling, she became popular within a couple of years. She became a runway model for a popular brand and flew for fashion weeks from Paris to Milan and all over the globe.Â

In those couple of years of working non-stop with little rest and getting more money than she can spend and mixing with many people from wealthy backgrounds, she still felt empty. Bobby tried to contact her, but she was guilty to meet him. Her repressed guilt started acting up often and she started finding refuge in drugs.Â

Jerlina already had some idea that not only people from poor neighborhoods get addicted but also the wealthy get addicted too. It's just the choice of drugs is different. But she couldn't believe some of the stories Scarlett told.Â

Rich people are much worse!

With her life going without direction, one day Scarlett got overdosed and was hospitalized. Scarlett spoke about how she realized she was not living the life she imagined as a supermodel but has hit rock bottom as an addict. Her agency gave her warnings, but they were not willing to let her go when she wanted to quit and get admitted to a rehabilitation center. They even booked more commercial deals for her.

She was their money tree and they wanted to milk as much as they can.

She asked for a vacation and returned to Peyton. She thought Bobby would have moved on, but he still had the same smile for her. He listened to her problems and left without a word after asking her what she needed.Â

"I don't know what Bobby did and how he got the millions for the breach of contract compensation, but he got me out. He helped me get better and he has stayed by my side ever since... What I learned about my guilt is that...the miscarriage was not my fault. It was no one's fault and when I came to terms with that, I could move on. It doesn't mean I don't get sad about it anymore. But now I can cope with the sadness."

Jerlina was in awe. Imagine being a supermodel! But she found her home in the little town she grew up with her little family, married to the man who truly loves and patiently waited for her return. She explored the world, overcame her troubles, and found out that what she wanted was always near her.Â

And will I be able to find happiness too?

"I am not saying your situation is similar to mine. And I won't lecture you on how to handle your grief. Our experiences are different but remember - it really is not your fault. Keep on telling yourself that until it gets registered in your mind," Scarlett added and Jerlina nodded wiping the corners of her eyes.

Both of them sat silently under the tree for some time. "I am sorry if I opened your wounds," Jerlina said seeing Scarlett wiping her tears.

"Oh, no. Never mind. I wanted to talk to you about this for some time. Daisy asked me if I could do that. I am glad I got this chance. Speaking out about my experience helps in my healing too," Scarlett patted Jerlina's back.

"Thank you. Your words give me hope." Jerlina said with a smile. Maybe because she shared her grief with someone, or because she was happy that she heard an amazing love story, she felt a lot lighter.

"And about the other thing..." Scarlett looked at Jerlina and Jerlina pressed her lips.

"I don't feel that way anymore. I won't forfeit my life no matter how tough everything gets,"  Jerlina said with determination.

"That's the spirit!" Scarlett smiled. "If you feel like you need to talk to someone or have fun, you can find me. You can see our house from your house '“ the grey one is ours. Our door will be always open for you." Scarlett said and Jerlina really was filled with happiness.

"One favor," Jerlina added.