Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy was standing on the balcony when Jerlina came out of Bobby's house. She looked down and his hands urged him to at least make a call, but he held himself back. He wondered if he'd be seen as bragging after what happened with Gerard.

Would she prefer to visit him in the hospital? I don't want her to visit him though. What should I do if she asks me?

He decided to hide from her and went inside. He went to his study and sat on the leather chair. Alexander Volkonsky called him earlier and told him to do a traditional wedding ceremony with a Priest.

'I'm sending a tiara. Ask your wife to wear it. She must wear that tiara during the ceremony and make sure not to spread that picture everywhere... on second thought, never mind. It could be misunderstood as a copy of the Fleur de Lys Tiara. But she should get married to you in that tiara. And who's walking her down the aisle?'

Alexander had many weird questions to ask and weirder suggestions to make. When he insisted that he won't listen to him unless he tells him the reason, he played the "pitiful elder wanting to see his beloved grandson getting married before he dies" card making him pissed.

Whatever! She can wear the tiara if she pleases or not! I don't care either way.

He leaned on the chair rubbing his temples.

He's a snob so why does he care if she wears a tiara or not? Is this just because she is marrying me or... Could she hail from a noble family too? Is that why Alexander is acting this way? He is very welcoming of her although he is mad this is a fake marriage. There should be a reason behind this.

So, does Alexander know who wants her dead? Is his involvement keeping her safe now?

Why are you so complicated, my Luna? As if the complications in my life aren't enough!

But I'm glad I have you near me.

He pulled out the notepad to write the vows.He took in a deep breath. He was told he can add their personal vows if they wish. He wanted to. It would be the only time he could express his heart to her.

My dearest Jerlina...

He started writing. His hand started moving on the paper as his thoughts were inked on them. He started with how she changed his life and how she brings him happiness. He wrote the overflowing thoughts about her that keep him awake at night. He wrote about the future he has planned for them.

He didn't know how much time passed as his thoughts took the form of words and were recorded on paper.

When he finsished, he realized he has written ten full pages of words just about her.

Am I the one who dropped out of high school because I didn't like to write essays?

With a smile, he stretched.

I really cannot read this to her. She'll end up getting scared.

Ugh! So we should scrap the personal vows and go with the generic vows the Priest says.

He opened the only locked drawer of his desk and placed the notepad inside.

Maybe one day I will let her read this...

As he placed the notepad in, he saw the picture of his mother in the drawer. He picked that up and placed it on the table.

Mom, I ended up marrying her...

He placed his forehead on the photograph and closed his eyes. He remembered his mother's warm embrace. A tear rolled down from the corner of his eyes.

I wish you were here, mom...

He got up suddenly as he remembered the picture he safeguarded after he learned that Jerlina's mother is the best friend his mother used to talk about.

Among the pictures he had of his mother, there was one picture that became his favorite after he remembered the story behind it and meeting the person in that picture.

His hands trembled a bit as he picked up the picture. His fingers caressed the slightly dull picture and his face bloomed to a smile.

I wish you could remember, Jerlina!

Under the Christmas tree, there were many gifts wrapped with perfect bows. The tree was glittering with beautiful fairy lights and the glittering ornaments didn't lose to the brightness of the lights.

On the couch, two women were sitting. Their faces were blushed with happiness and they had eggnogs in their hands. At one look anyone can say that they had laughed a lot before the picture was taken.

On the carpeted floor, a boy was lying on his belly with a toy car in his hand and a toddler on her knees, in a red onesie, was kissing the boy on his lips. The boy didn't look happy.

Jeremy remembered his mother rehashing this picture fondly just days before she passed. They were invited by Jerlina's mother to her home for Jerlina's first Christmas. In those couple of days they stayed there, Jerlina was oddly attracted to him and followed him everywhere.

But his mother remembered how unimpressed he was and he ignored that little chubby girl crawling behind him all the time and offering him her toys. The mothers had joked around that they have to arrange a marriage between them since they were cute.

And that particular picture was taken on Christmas Eve. That night, she was in the mood of kissing him. The adults found it cute and Jerlina's father was the one who snapped that picture.

'This was the fifth kiss she gave you...' he remembered his mother saying. 'You were so rude and pushed that little girl away, but she came to you, again and again, kissing you. I can say for sure, other than me, she was your first kiss. And you are her first kiss too... She'd be five now. Wish we could meet them once more...'

Even the nine-year-old him found that girl annoying. He didn't want to meet her again.

That yucky, smelly, kiss-stealer!

But now... how I wish she would come to me, willing to kiss me...

"Ah, if only I can go back to this day..." Jeremy kissed the photograph. He didn't remember that day, but when he found out that Jerlina is his mom's best friend's daughter after he met her in the pub, he found this picture.

He believed that fate brought her back to him. And he will protect her just like his mother asked him to.

When his mother got pregnant with him, she was abandoned by her foster family. It was Jerlina's mother and her family who took care of her until he was born. After his mother got a job in another town, she'd visit Jerlina's mom often and their friendship continued for long time.

His mother didn't tell him why their friendship got broken, but his mother loved that family and was very grateful to them. He knew it because she talked about them all the time and each time, she'd have a grateful smile on her face.

Mom... I will do whatever to protect her.