Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"What?" Jerlina rolled her eyes at Scarlett, who climbed on top of her, inching towards her lips.

"What do you think?" Scarlett licked her lips. "Let's-"

"Come on, Scar!" Jerlina placed her hand on Scarlett's face and pushed away.

"Why not? Let's try our affinity," Scarlett licked her palm and Jerlina sighed.

What a weird woman!

"Are you really going to cheat on your husband and violate your friend?" Jerlina pressed her lips and Scarlett plopped on the bed with a deep sigh.

"You're no fun, Jer...Can't you play along a bit?"

"Yeah, right. This is a very funny game. Not!" she glared at Scarlett.

"You've never tried it with women before?" Scarlett asked and Jerlina wanted to run away.

What's with this woman!

"No, have you?" Jerlina asked back. She expected to hear some of Scar's embellished adventures, but Scarlett went silent.

"Jer, what is the worst thing you've done in your life..? Other than that copying incident with Emma... And I don't just mean when you hurt others. You can include when you hurt yourself too..." Scarlett asked.

"You can refuse to answer too," she added and turned to face Jerlina.

Jerlina took in a deep breath and turned to the side. "Almost killing myself counts as one?" she raised her brows and Scarlett held her hand. "When I was seventeen, I slept with an adult after getting drunk using a fake ID... When I was in university, I once walked past a mugging incident and I didn't even dial 911 to ask for help. The next day I learned that the guy died due to knife wounds. His picture I saw in the news...That still haunts me at times...If only I had called the cops..." Jerlina looked away. "I guess that's about it."

"You're a very good girl, Jerlina." Scarlett hugged her. "Me... I can't even say the stuff I've done under the influence of drugs..."

"But you got out of it. So don't think about it anymore," Jerlina patted her.

"Yeah," Scarlett wiped the corner of her eyes. "I know. But... My miscarriage, those drugs and my hard labor with Cia... They say I can't carry a child anymore..."

"I'm... I'm sorry..." Jerlina felt Scarlett's pain by her shaking voice. And she didn't know what to say to her.

"Yeah, we've... we've accepted that Cia is our only child. Bobby is great..." she smiled wryly. "Regarding that, I... we – Bobby and I, have a favor to ask of you," Scarlett held Jerlina's hand and Jerlina was stunned.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Will you be Cia's godmother?" Scarlett raised her eyebrows as she was anxious. Jerlina's heart skipped a beat hearing that.

That's a huge responsibility! Am I even suitable for that?

"Jerry is her godfather and there are others who can look after her, but still, I want someone her mother's age to watch over her. Someone with a good moral compass and...someone like you, who's strong and who'd look after others better than you look after yourself. And no, I am not asking you to stay with Jerry and raise Cia as her mother in case I..we..."

"Scar! Scar!" Jerlina saw Scarlett speaking without breathing and stopped her. "I understand what you're saying... I do... I am honored to know that I hold such an esteemed position in your heart even after I spoke to you about my shortcomings. You and Bobby are good parents and you'll live a healthy and long life to watch Cia grow into an amazing woman. So-"

"I am not saying I will die. It's just an arrangement in case I... Why are you crying?" Scarlett wiped Jerlina's tears.

"We... we only know each other for some weeks and you're already treating me like family. I am honored..." Jerlina truly was touched.

"So, is that a yes?" Scarlett asked. She knew there are a few people who can be trusted for their word. Jerry is one and she knew Jerlina is one too.

She knows Jerlina for ages but is being close with her for mere days, but it doesn't take long to figure out someone is a good person or not. And if this is how Jerlina is when she is at her low, Scarlett could imagine, she won't change much even if she reaches a higher place. Her basic qualities are enviable and if her daughter can learn at least some from her, she will be a decent human being.

Jerlina nodded. She knew raising a kid is not a simple issue, but her parents are well and she probably won't have to take on that hard role. She wished she would never take on that role. As someone who lost her mother very early, she knew no one can replace your birth mother in terms of offering care. But if the need arises, she can step up. "But the threats on my life..."

"It's fine. Jerry promised and you're safe. So...Yes! You agreed!!" Scarlett shrieked and hugged  Jerlina.

"Are you guys okay?" Bobby knocked on the door.

"Bobby! She agreed!" Scarlett jumped down from the bed and jumped on him.

"She did?" Bobby looked at Jerlina sitting on the bed and nodded with a wide grin.

Jerlina saw the happiness in Bobby's eyes and felt a fuzzy feeling in her heart. Both Bobby and Scarlett looked extremely happy just because she agreed to be their daughter's godmother.

Am I that special?

Till now, no one around her thought of her as this valuable. Her "family" treated her as a nuisance and always expected money from her. She wondered if she is useless without her money whenever she visited her "family".

But these people... they showed her kindness and acceptance and in turn expect only kindness.

Is this what 'home' means?

-----

Jerlina woke up early in the morning and without going for a walk, she went to meet Jeremy. She was happy and she wanted to share. She didn't know why she wanted to share it with Jeremy first.

Probably because he is the one who always got happy with her in the recent past.

He was in the shed and she ran straight there. He was carving something and she didn't even wait.

"Guess where I am going today..?" she asked and he looked up with a smile. Placing the stub in between his fingers he took in a deep puff.

"What are you staring for? Start guessing!" she walked closer with a skip in her step.

Jeremy was stunned to see her so chirpy in the morning. He expected her to have dark circles around her eyes and a terrible mood, but she is talking a lot. So she must be happy.

She is not even thinking about that guy now..? That's good for me, isn't it?

"Shopping?" he asked. Emma always gets happy to go shopping.

"No, I'm going to the spa. Guess, with who?"

"...Scar..?" he raised his brows.

"You're right!" she squatted beside him with a wide grin.

"There is more?" he asked. It seems like going to the spa is not the entire reason for her chirpiness.

"Scar said she is treating me this spa visit!" her smile widened and Jeremy chuckled.

Guess saving money is more important to her...

"Guess why?"

"Why?" he placed his tool down and looked at her. So there is more to it.

"Scar asked me to be Cia's godmother and I agreed. She was so happy for it and she is treating me!" Jerlina said rubbing her palms and her face went red with happiness.

"That is great news," Jeremy patted her head.

So this is what she is happy about... Because she was asked to be Cia's godmother.

What a woman!

God, I love her!

"Daisy and Dr. Kruger are joining too. I can't wait... This is my first spa visit. I wonder how it will be..."

She went on and as she spoke her cheeks reached her eyes as she couldn't stop grinning and her eyes became small. Her lips that were opening and closing were so alluring, he wanted to suck on them.

She came running to me to share her joy? I want to kiss her!

Ah... the torture... when will it end?