Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jeremy's hands started to shake and his heart started to beat in his throat. Maybe because his blood started to pump faster, he felt a sharp pain in his abdomen.

Emma... How could she do that?

Holding his stomach, he got up. He wanted to hide and sulk but he knew Emma would definitely send the picture to Jerlina to get back at him for cutting off his relationship with her.

And all he could imagine was his pitiful little wife, curling up in a corner somewhere and crying. He just wanted to get to her and hug her.

He knew she probably won't even look at his face anymore. He's useless as a box of rock. He left her to suffer alone that day she almost became prey to the scythe of the grim reaper.

She had to pull herself together and it was Wyatt who helped her that day. And on top of that, she even helped him that day.

What good am I?

I'm useless! I couldn't be there when she was needing me the most... I was too sure that I can protect her and promised her that she will be safe with me, but I was too careless letting one of my men point his weapon at her, I got hurt making her suffer, and I couldn't even protect her baby's grave!

I am a colossal failure! A joke!

Apologize... I need to apologize to her for being stupid... I have to comfort her... But first I have to find her...

Maybe I should have stayed away from her... She won't be suffering if not for me and those around me.

Did I want to protect her? I am her biggest danger!

Sister? My sister did that abominable thing! And I couldn't even do anything...

Useless...

Why am I still calling myself a man? Why am I even still alive?

He felt the blood rush to his head and he staggered as he walked to the door. He dialed Charlie to ask him to fix the planter. To clean up the soil without leaving a single grain and shift it to another pot. Charlie didn't answer him and he dialed Jimmy. He was mad at Scarlett for leaving that planter unprotected.

I trusted them... I trusted all of them... In the end...

It is Jerlina who is suffering...

I should have kept Emma away from the town. I could have done that. But I didn't.

In the end, it is all my fault!

One of the nurses came running to him seeing him leave the room. He waved his hand as she tried to hold him.

"Where's my wife?" he asked.

"Sir, you need to rest..." she tried to lead him back to the room.

"My wife," with his forehead wet with perspiration, he still insisted.

I might not deserve her, but I still love her; I still want her. I won't give her up!

"Mr. Fitzgerald, I'll send someone to fetch your wife. Can-"

"No! I want to see her, now!" Jeremy didn't let the nurse touch him and he started walking and she had to lead him to the kitchen.

As he was going there, he called Jimmy to tell him what to do. He got incessant calls from Emma and without second thoughts he blocked her number and deleted it. Scarlett called him too but he was in no mood to talk to anyone else.

He just wanted to see his wife.

-----

Jerlina saw her phone ringing but seeing the call was from Emma, she didn't bother to answer it. There were also messages but she didn't even open them.

She's not interested in anything that Emma has to say.

She tried a new recipe the nutritionist said and she was checking to see if it came out alright. She did want to distract herself, after all. Tomorrow is the day she should be meeting Jonathan Erling. Although she pretended that everything is fine around Jeremy, she still wasn't very confident about it.

Yeah, Jeremy is going to be with her, and that only added to her worries for some reason.

While she was cooking, she accidentally spilled the salt and for some reason, her heart wasn't feeling alright. But she didn't want to feel down and so she distracted herself by learning something new.

She stared at her phone that was still blinking with incoming texts.

No... I don't have to look at that!

Jerlina took in a deep breath and turned to look at the finished dish. Seeing it, her face bloomed with a smile wondering if her husband who acts like a fuzzy toddler would like it. She only had limited options to make healthy food for him, after all.

"I think this is better..."

She was actually proud of her dish. Humming a song, she removed the apron and washed her hands. As she was about to leave the kitchen, she saw Jeremy entering the room and he didn't look fine at all.

"Joel!" she ran to him and she looked at the nurse who followed him.

The nurse shook her head as she didn't know what made him this way.

"What is it?" Jerlina hed him by his shoulders. "Joel?"

Jerlina hid her laughter. She thought, after those times he tried to cause a ruckus for no reason, he's up with another one of his antics, again.

What is he trying to hide from me now?

"Did Emma call you?" he asked. His breathing was labored and when he leaned on her, she could feel his heart was beating at a faster pace, she could feel it in her hands.

Jerlina's smile vanished and her heart skipped a beat.

"I'm sorry," he squeezed her in his arms. "I am so sorry..."

"What is it, Joel?" her voice shook.

She realized it must be something serious with Emma calling and him acting weird.

Did Jonathan do something to my family? Uncle Pat, perhaps? Did he hurt them?

Or Bobby..? Earl..?

Her mind went to a thousand possibilities that involved every one of her loved ones.

"Joel!"

She tried to get out of his hold and get her phone but he was holding her firmly. She couldn't breathe properly and she didn't know if it was because of her fear or because of his hold.

"Jeremy Joel Fitzgerald!" She shouted in a firm voice. "Let me go right this instant and tell me what is wrong!"

Her eyebrows were furrowed and her lips were pressed and she looked very crossed. Jeremy's hold loosened and she slipped out from his embrace.

"What is it?" she asked and he looked at her.

Jeremy saw those amber eyes and he felt so guilty, he literally wanted to die.

"I am useless, Jeryl...I'm so..." he covered his face with his big hand and bowed his head.

"Let's break up..."

A drop of his tear fell on Jerlina's hand that was about to hold him..

"Come again?" Jerlina furrowed her brows. Her hands froze.

"You deserve someone better than-"

*Slap*

A loud slap echoed in that ultra-modern kitchen.

Before he even finished speaking, Jerlina had given him a tight slap.