Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Emma... I don't know if she'd actively sabotage your company," Jerlina actually didn't think Emma would go against Jeremy hard at first.

Emma still needs Jeremy to pay for her after all. She is used to living a certain way and enjoys certain perks because Jeremy is where he is. So, Emma won't touch him where she gets hurt.

Emma will hurt Jeremy where it only hurts him – she'll hurt his heart.

Unfortunately for Jerlina and fortunately for Emma, the one Emma hates and the one Jeremy loves is the same person – Jerlina!

And so, Emma will try and hurt Jerlina.

But will Jeremy believe her when she says it to him?

Jerlina sighed.

I should defend myself against Emma. And I have the help of others.

"But Jeremiah Harrison would," Jerlina wetted her lips. She still remembered the way Jeremiah glared at them when he left the wedding.

"Whether you like to admit it or not, he has influence here... And I think he's someone with a crab mentality. He'd-"

"Crab mentality?" Jeremy questioned.

"Yes, crabs in a barrel mentality. The "If I can't have it, neither can you" mentality. Usually, crabs are kept in an open barrel and even if one crab tries to escape, the others will pull it down so that they all face the same fate...Like how my stepmother tried to pull me down saying no one can escape Peyton or something like that..."

Jerlina saw Jeremy nodding with a smile.

"Jeremiah tried his best all his life by every means to be where he is. And you - the one he refused to acknowledge as his, attained the heights he could only dream of, very early in your life. You're thirty and almost a billionaire. Of course, you suffered a lot silently and worked a lot to get to where you are, but he wouldn't see it that way."

"You don't think that everything got handed over to me just because of Volkonsky?" Jeremy asked.

That's what his "family" thinks. Even Emma is believing the same.

"What?" Jerlina knitted her brows. "No way!" She shook her head. "I think you got close to Peter Fitzgerald because of Volkonsky's influence, but Mr. Fitzgerald wouldn't have handed over his everything to you just because of Alexander Volkonsky. He must have tested you and must have seen something in you that made him trust you and be comfortable enough to leave everything with you. It should be obvious...Everyone knows how much Mr. Fitzgerald loved this place and he wouldn't have left it with someone unworthy to- What?" Jerlina held his hand seeing his eyes reddening.

"Nothing," Jeremy pressed his forehead over her hand. "I didn't even graduate high school. And you think that-"

"Education is not always directly proportional to intelligence! You've handled this big company without even a secretary for years. You do mental calculations faster than me, you have a better memory than me and I was considered one of the geniuses when I was in school. How can I say I am better because I have more certificates than-"

"I wouldn't mind getting killed by you, my Luna..."  he hugged her.

All his life, he has been with a lot of people. Friends, foes, acquaintances... But only she can make him feel worthy and more confident just with her words.

His "father" never fails to remark about his educational qualification in a derogatory tone. And Emma entirely avoids that topic and he knew what that meant. Even having the status he has, he always had a little inferiority complex whenever someone mentions their educational qualification.

But hearing Jerlina's genuine words, his heart filled with delight.

As always, she raises him up.

"What are you saying?" Jerlina didn't know why he got emotional suddenly. Even when she was scared of him, she knew that he is an intelligent person although he is a brute.

What if he doesn't have a degree? He gives employment to thousands of people!

Isn't he amazing?

But what's with him?

"I mean it..." Jeremy kissed her cheek and looked her in the eye. "I will die with a smile looking at your face as you pull the trigger."

She really can kill him and he'd die with a smile.

"You silly...Why would I kill you?" Jerlina wiped his tear rolling down on his cheek.

"I know you wouldn't. But I wouldn't mind it if I die in your hands, lying on your lap, looking at your face."

"Shut up... this is not- Let's not talk about death," Jerlina stopped him.

She didn't know why, but thinking of him dying, her heart hurt. Losing her son is already too much of a loss for her to handle. She is still too sensitive to that topic.

"Yes," Jeremy could see her panicking and decided to change the topic.  "You were talking about Jeremiah," he sat straight and Jerlina took in a deep breath.

"Yes, Jeremiah..." Jerlina took in a deep breath. "He'd have been jealous of you for a while. Yet he tried to ride on your coattails suppressing his "pride". But you weren't very welcoming of him. He endured humiliation from you and he'd be mad and he'd try to bring you to his level."

"The wedding might trigger him to act?" Jeremy scratched the back of his head. "I was reliably  informed that some journalist is trying to get more information on me to publish an article titled "Behind the Titan" or something... what do you think?" He asked her.

"Did he reach for a comment? When is the article getting published?" Jerlina asked. The timing is a little fishy.

"No... but should we refuse to comment?" he asked.

That's what they usually do. And he never cared for what they write about him most. Usually, they write only good stuff about him because he "donates" to the news organizations.

"But then they'd just write whatever they want and add some line saying that you refused to comment. There'd be no way for anyone to say if it is the truth or not and many will believe newspapers even when there is no proof," Jerlina held his hand.

"You see, Joel... These days, journalists are not just the ones who work for a news organization. Anyone with a good camera and internet can upload videos or post stories. If they have a good amount of followers, social media can amplify any story within hours to reach the entire world. People love to gossip and they can start hate campaigns even against conglomerates and cause loss. And I'm not dissing you, but you know there is a lot that can be said about you-"

"My gang and all?" Jeremy interjected.

He was told by many to hire a PR firm but no one explained it all so well like her. Now he could understand why hiring a PR firm is important.

"Yes. And PR firms are equipped to handle such situations and they can spread positive messages –"

"Find out which firm will be suitable for our company and for yours too," he nodded.

"Yes," Jerlina stood up to make the necessary phone calls.

"Jerlina..." He held her hand.