Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Gerard looked at Jerlina ordering another drink. She had no change in her emotions if not she seemed a little disgusted.Â

But he is the one to blame for not explaining everything differently. Had he not let his emotions control him, she'd have believed whatever he tells her like in the past.

Why Emma left his school is directly connected to him and Emma is blackmailing him with that truth. And so he didn't want to answer Jerlina's question.Â

He decided to tell his story in a way to invoke her sympathy. Till now he didn't speak to her about it because he didn't want her to pity him but now he needed his pity. He didn't want to lose her. He knew how kind-hearted she is and wanted to distract her and turn her disbelief into pity.

"Jer, growing up, my parents never left me alone with my uncle. I had wondered why I am not allowed to be with my uncle who's a lot of fun. My parents knew who he was and still used him..." He took a sip of water and looked around.Â

Other than them there was only the waitress who was also doubling as the bartender in the pub. He thought there would be always a drunken idiot in places like these, but the lack of patrons in the afternoon did surprise him. He noticed Jerlina listening to him and continued,

"I understood them to an extent when I grew up. Connections are very important for success. But I wanted to be different from them and so I chose to become a lawyer when they wanted me to become a banker like them. But when I refused, they interfered needlessly in my career when all I wanted was to use my capabilities alone..."

  He only had good things to talk about his parents and that is one of the reasons she was attracted to him.Â

She thought since he grew up in a loving family, he can compensate for her lack of knowledge about a loving family since she never was loved as she grew up.

But now she understood why he kept her from his overbearing parents. They probably thought lowly of her since she is not "connected" and hence deemed her unworthy of their son. And he didn't like to talk about his extended families either.Â

She felt sad for him to hide his real feelings from her maybe because he knew she liked him for his love for his family.

  Just like she pretended to like her stepmother and stepsister, he hid certain details of his upbringing from her.

She also understood why he didn't want to use those connections for her. He wanted to do something on his own. But...

He still didn't do it himself and left me with TJ. Wait...why is he speaking about it now? Is he trying to distract me?

"Emma... What does she have on you for real, Jerry?" her eyes turned serious. She didn't want to get swept away by his emotional words. He seemed to be speaking from his heart, but that is not what she wanted to hear now.

Gerard froze. He saw her getting involved in his story and he saw the changes in her expression. But as if a switch got pulled, she is back to her distant demeanor.Â

How did she change this much?

The reason he fell in love with her was that she was easy and comfortable to be with. She shares the household chores, she cooks really well and she doesn't expect anything but his affection. She liked cuddling with him and that's all she needed.Â

She didn't ask him to bring her to expensive restaurants or wanted expensive gifts, but all she wanted was to spend time with him no matter where it is. He loved her for it. He thought she is the perfect woman for him and she is the perfect one for him.

But lately she...

While the two were conversing thinking they were alone sparing the waitress, they were watched by another. He was in a place where he could watch them through a hole in the wall, but they won't realize he is there. As the owner of several pubs, he gathers information this way. But oddly he couldn't hear what they were talking about.

Probably because I am drunk..?Â

Mark sighed. For him, both were speaking, but no one was listening. And that guy... he didn't know why but he didn't have a good feeling about him.

"Why is that important, Jer? I am speaking about my past and-"

"Did you listen when I talked about my past that day, Gerry?" Jerlina got up. She said she'd leave if he lies and he was lying for a while now. She doesn't have to give him the time of her day.

"Stop," he held her arm.

"Psst," Jerlina hissed as it was painful. "Let go, Gerry."

"So that's how it is..." he didn't let her go and turned her to look at him. Jerlina knitted her brows in pain and her eyes clouded seeing his disgusted expression.

The waitress decided to step in, but Mark signaled her not to interfere.Â

"You're doing all these...marrying him, living with him, sleeping with him...It's all to get back at me for leaving you, isn't that why Jer?" he thought he finally figured her out.

After all, it is said that hell hath no fury as a woman scorned.

"Heh!" Jerlina let out a snort and she felt the same pain she felt when she knew her baby is leaving her.Â

She laughed and tears started to flow from her eyes.

He thinks I am where I am because I had a choice? And he actually thinks that I am someone who'd sleep with another man just to get back at him?

What does he know?Â

She wanted to curl up and scream to help her with the pain in her heart, but she held back. This is not the pace for her to get emotional.

"Jer, I..."

Gerard's hold on her shoulders loosened seeing her cry. He could see the veins in her forehead popping out and her face had gone red because she was holding back... something...Â

"Don't touch me," she took a step back, rubbing her nose.  She opened her purse and used the tissues to wipe herself.

"Have a seat, Mr. Cooper. I have to tell you something."Â

She controlled her emotions within seconds and sat down. She decided to tell him the truth.

"You are wondering why I have changed a lot, right? I'll tell you... Do you remember? The day after you broke up with me, you received no less than twenty calls. Did you ever think why I called you that desperately?"

Gerard bowed his head. According to the deal he made with Emma he was not supposed to meet Jerlina until they get married and he didn't have the guts to listen to Jerlina's crying voice after he broke up with her.

"I was going to tell you that I was pregnant,"

Jerlina said and Gerard looked at her with shock.