Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Tell me why?" Jerlina pushed him back with a giggle. "What changed your mind?" She ran her thumb through his cheekbone and he closed his eyes and leaned on her shoulder.

Jeremy remembered the day of their wedding… That moment when he saw her walk to his front to talk to his mother… It was then he decided to pursue her.

His lips curved to a smile.

"Was it because I  brought your mom to the reception?" she asked. She had a feeling that it touched him. "Or when I… Don't tell me, Joel… Were you never planning on letting me go?" she held his cheek and made him face her.

"You walked like a queen…" Jeremy breathed out and his lips curved to a smile as his eyes ended up meeting hers. "With your back straight, heels clicking, and veil fluttering…. Your dress and jewels were shimmering in the sun and your eyes – even more so with determination… I thought then, what stops me from making this amazing woman mine?"

"Wow!" Jerlina giggled. To say she was happy would be an understatement. She was exhilarated.

"You think I am amazing?" she asked. She liked to hear it from him.

"You are amazing!" he kissed her.

Jerlina giggled. "And?" she leaned on his shoulder. "What else did you think?"

"Hmm? What else?" Jeremy rubbed her back.

He loved when she acted cute with him. She becomes more adorable once she does that.

"You had a clean break from that guy and I knew you heard my apology for that day…" he hugged her. "And I realized that although I was in love with you for years, I never tried to properly convey it to you. I know you deserve happiness. And I knew I can make you happy.  And so, I decided to take a chance. I knew you'd fall for me…"

"Oh?" Jerlina closed her eyes. "I did…I'm happy…"

-----

The next morning, Jerlina went to the clinic while Jeremy went to meet Mark's lawyer. There were many new people hired in the clinic reducing the workload of Dr. Kruger greatly.

Jerlina talked to her for some time and as usual, tried to convince her to come live with them. But she refused, again.

"Is Emma troubling you in any way?" Dr. Kruger asked.

"Yeah…" Jerlina shrugged and told her about the incident of  the images sent to Jeremy.

"Mom, is Amanda troubling you again?" Jerlina asked.

She felt that the doctor is hiding something and she asked. It could very well be her repressed sadness about the passing of her good friend after all.

"No," Dr. Kruger shook her head. "Let's talk about you, now," she changed the topic.

After talking to her for some time, Jerlina left the clinic. She then went to her company and uncle Patrick told her that some of the people in Peyton are planning on rebelling against Jeremy.

Apparently, the minuscule percentage of people who were displeased with the commotion caused by Viper in Peyton recruited people to their side and they all blamed Jeremy for trying to rule them. Some were not pleased by the harsh punishments received by the dissenters and they wanted no gang lord to rule them.

Jerlina was surprised to see her uncle getting angry again. He cursed those ungrateful people and Jerlina agreed with him. If Jeremy didn't take control with violence, Peyton would never be the way it is now. It is ungrateful of them to try and push away the guy who made Peyton develop into what it is now.

Maybe this is the way of the world!

She was surprised Jeremy never talked to her about it. If uncle Pat knows about it, Jeremy should have known about it for longer.

He must be sad!

That night Jerlina cooked dinner because Jeremy was late. He came home drunk after going out with his buddies. Helping him to change his stinky clothes, she offered him dinner.

"You were right," he said. He was still tipsy. "Mark left the pub for me… He also left a letter…" he said.

"What did he say?" she asked passing him the mashed potato.

Jeremy didn't answer and Jerlina let him be. He doesn't go out and drink often. And for him to do that today, she figured that he is troubled. Once he gets a good night sleep, he would reach a good decision.

"Come, wife," he snuggled in her embrace as they went to bed.

He wanted to be the small spoon and she caressed his hair gently.

"I think I should stop being a ganglord…" he said. "All the other gangs are eliminated and the reason I started a gang is… There is no need for The Sapphire Wolf gang anymore…" he said.

Jerlina could sense the sadness in his voice but it seemed like he is believing this way now. And he is not wrong speaking this way. She wondered if the opposition to him in the town is a factor in his decision.

"What did the others say about your decision?" she asked.

"Bobby agreed. Charlie didn't say much… Scar is not pleased," he chuckled. "What do you think?" he looked at her.

"Me?" Jerlina furrowed her brows. "It should be your decision. I wouldn't mind it either way. I just want you to be happy, that's it." She told him.

But she was happy in her heart. Although they say these routes never have an out, at least the danger to his life would be greatly reduced once he gets out. And he could concentrate more on his company and the foundation he is starting rather than going for fights.

"I thought you'd say these exact words too…" he chuckled and buried his face in her bosom.

Since he didn't speak anything more, Jerlina thought he has slept already and she continued caressing his hair.

"I was wondering about it for some time, Jeryl…" he said after some time and Jerlina hummed.

So he is not asleep…

"I wanted to discuss with others before telling you… I know you'd be happy with this decision…" he said.

"What about the volunteer works and other stuff you guys used to do as a team? Are you going to stop it?" she asked.

She is not going to say she is happy when it is a hard decision for him. Although he is in a gang, they are going good and she wondered the repercussions if he dissolves the gang.

"Hmm?" Jeremy went silent. "We haven't thought about everything yet… But all the charity organizations will come under the Fitzgerald foundation. I heard that those people want to hand it over to the government. I am not going to do that," he said in a serious tone.

"Yeah, the governemt sucks," Jerlina agreed. "And they are all your property anyway. You can use it however you want."

If she didn't see what those riot control cops were willing to do as ordered by the higher-ups, she wouldn't have believed how corrupted the government is and how much they'd cover up to satisfy a billionaire from another country.

And he is not going to change. She is not going to stop him from spending money for the people. She would want everyone to have a chance.

"I knew you'd understand me, Jeryl…" he let out a sigh. "I think this is for the best…"

"You could have talked to me about it if it was stressing you," she said. She didn't want to think that he was worried about it all this time. And she didn't even realize it.

"No, I was not stressing about it… It was in the back of my mind but I finalized it only today," he said.

"Just in a day?" Jerlina was surprised. She didn't think he'd be this sure about it. "You don't want to think about it more?" she asked. She wondered if he is hasty and she didn't want him to regret it later.

"You know…" he took in a deep breath. "Actually Mark's letter pushed me to that decision. Ever since we decided to have a baby, I was wondering if our child should bear the name of the son of a gang lord…" Jeremy said. "And now I know I don't want to go in this path."

Jerlina was surprised. Even she didn't think that way. "But you're not some gang lord who does illegal stuff. You are-"

As she was speaking, her lips were covered by his. He knew she didn't consider that part of him as lowly, unlike his other family members. She might have been scared of him for that but she never degraded him for that, ever.

"But still, when they say gang lord, anyone would imagine me as someone who does illegal stuff. And do you think our child could understand the difference? What if she sees me hitting someone and thinks that I am a beast?"

"Yeah…" Jerlina got his point. "And our son might not get the nuance and turn out to be a bully thinking no one can touch him," she added.

As parents, it would be their duty to be a good role model for their kids.

"Hmm…" Jeremy nodded.

"So you've planned to become a family man," Jerlina's heart got filled with joy. "What's the next step? Getting pudgy? That would be good too," she laughed.

"Yeah?" Jeremy  kissed her.. "I won't. Dream on!"