Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Scarlett explained. "Emma went to meet Jerry and we don't know what they talked about. But somehow the conversation extended to the balcony. There were already people gathered under the building after the commotion that square-face caused. Bobby was nearby and that old foggy tried to rile up the people against Bobby too. I don't think they were just onlookers, Jerlina. The number of people who gathered in that time… Bobby is suspecting that they were hired to start a riot or break-in into the corporate office. But then Emma was seen near the ledge and Jeremiah started to shout that Emma is going to kill herself because Jeremy is refusing help."

"Seriously? Why would Emma kill herself for Harold?"  Jerlina scoffed. "It seemed like he wanted to throw everything to see what sticks."

Jerlina took in a deep breath to compose herself. She cannot get mad for what they did. They are pigs and they do what pigs do – eat sh!t.

"How did  she fall?" Jerlina asked. She wondered if Jeremy might have pushed her in a moment of rage. Although she had a strong belief that Jeremy wouldn't have lost himself like that, she still wanted to confirm. Because if Emma died in Jeremy's hands, he won't be able to get out of that guilt. She didn't want to see him sad.

"I am not sure, Jer," Scarlett shrugged. "Bobby didn't tell me anything. But from the ground, the way Emma screamed 'Jerry' before she fell, one would assume that Jeremy was the one who pushed her…" Scarlett gulped seeing Jerlina's face getting pale.

She knew it is not good to hide everything from Jerlina but she didn't want Jerlina to get stressed up or cause some misunderstanding between the couple.

" But some say that he was nowhere near her and she fell by herself. They say that she might have tripped and called Jeremy's name for help… But knowing Emma, I would say that she purposefully jumped and shouted his name to implicate him in murder. We still don't know what happened, but Jeremy handed over the security footage and that means that he is not responsible in any way. It is a good thing Jeremy installed cameras inside his office and on his balcony. Otherwise…" Scarlett looked at Jerlina and Jerlina nodded in agreement.

Emma wouldn't have known about the cameras in his office and balcony since it was installed very recently. It is very much possible that Emma jumped on purpose. But why did she do it? Is she capable of hurting herself? Isn't she someone who would destroy the world before she gets a scratch?

"Apparently, there were a couple of men holding a blanket to catch her in case she was "pushed down". But as if it was her Karma catching up with her finally, their hand slipped and she splattered on the ground. And even then she appeared to be not very hurt. Bobby told me that she might survive… She deserves it for what she did to Daisy, Jer," Scarlett looked at Jerlina and Jerlina stood up and walked to her.

"Did you see? How she died the same way she murdered Daisy?" Scarlett leaned on Jerlina's shoulder. "I heard that she died on the way to the hospital. I hope that she suffered thousand times the pain Daisy suffered in her last moments," her voice shook and Jerlina held her hand.

"I hope so too… She snuffed the light out of my baby and I hope she rots in hell forever."

"Yeah," Scarlett held her hand. "Is it okay for us to talk this way? Should we not appear happy that she is gone? Would the cops be listening to us?" Scarlett asked as she suddenly had that doubt. "I cannot wait twenty years to prove my innocence. I have a baby to raise and a baby to give birth to…"

"Well… Maybe we should not talk about her until the investigations are over," Jerlina got a little scared too. She's heard far too many stories where the innocents were locked up for crimes they didn't commit to only exonerated later if they are lucky.

The two of them stayed in silence.

"Have I ever thanked you for saving Cia that day, Jer?" Scarlett asked after a while.

Jerlina shrugged not knowing why  Scarlett is bringing that up now. She forgot about it already. "I think you did."

"What do you mean?" Scarlett looked at the indifference in Jerlina's face and was surprised.

"Today morning I met Emma at the hospital," Scarlett opened up about her meeting with Emma. And she added Gordon's words too.

Jerlina let out a sigh. She was angry that everyone is hiding important matters from her until some time ago, but now she didn't feel the need to stress about it. Emma must have known about her pregnancy and that was why she came here first. It was a good thing she didn't engage with her.

"Don't feel bad," Jerlina knocked Scarlett's head.

She didn't like to see the guilt on Scarlett's face. Emma is dead and that's all that matters. It's over. She doesn't have to live looking over her shoulders anymore. Who cares anymore?

"I blamed you for not doing enough to save Cia when automatic weapons were going off but I… I easily threw you under the bus not minding where I am…" Scarlett let out a sigh. "I am glad that you are safe, Jer… Otherwise…I wouldn't have… I am sorry, Jer…" her throat closed.

Jerlina rubbed her back. "Don't blame yourself, Scar. You're my friend and you don't have to stress about these things. Be mindful of your health… I won't blame you, ever," she hugged her.

Yes, she wants to be careful and anything related to the baby in her belly would trigger her. But she didn't want to mind this much. Scarlett is one of her true friends and she is not going to lose her for something that might have happened.

"Thank-" Scarlett choked once more and Jerlina offered a glass of water for her. "Maybe you should tell Bobby, Scar. I don't think he'd oppose your wishes for long. How long could you hide it anyway? And don't you want him by your side when you go for check-ups and all?" she asked.

"You think so?" Scarlett wasn't very convinced but she did have wishes to have her husband by her side while she gets through this pregnancy. With a sigh, she leaned on Jerlina. Jerlina rested her head on Scarlett's head.

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"The autopsy results will reveal that she has my DNA under her nails, Bobby…She was scratching and clawing…" Jeremy gritted his teeth. "The camera footages have blindspots and Emma's fall is not clearly recorded. The audio isn't clear either. I still cannot prove without any reasonable doubt that Emma killed herself because she was scared to face the federal investigations and she wanted to frame me. But the footage will show that I was clearly in my room. Without that, I wouldn't be able to prove my innocence, Bobby," Jeremy rubbed his forehead. "She knew it! That b*tch!" he gritted his teeth. "I really want to kill her the second time, this time with my own two hands!"

"I wanted to get in that ambulance and strangle her slowly to my pleasure; to choke her to make her feel the same pain my mom felt… But I… I remembered my Kitty and Cia…" Bobby rubbed his chin. "Kitty…she's acting weird these days, Jerry…"

"Weird?" Jeremy looked at Bobby. "How?"

"She's acting…distant if you know what I mean. She's sleeping in Cia's room and doesn't let me near… And, she's going here and there without telling me… Today she went to the hospital and she's close with this nurse guy from when I-"

"Whoa!" Jeremy stopped Bobby. "Man, are you seriously doubting Scar? Seriously?" His voice got loud and Bobby shushed him looking upstairs.

"I don't want to, Jerry… But…" Bobby scratched his head.

"Did you see something?" Jeremy asked. Although he didn't think that Scarlett would cheat on Bobby, he could see that Bobby is genuinely worried and he wanted to support him.

"See?" Bobby shook his head. "If I saw, I'd have killed him… but… I have a feeling… you know?" Bobby plopped his head on the table.

"Feeling? Man, I tell you… Don't mess up your marriage for a "feeling" you have. Talk to her. Come on, man! It's Scar! What are you even thinking?" Jeremy still couldn't accept it.

"I know… I know… She's my Kitty. I am not going to give up on her…" Bobby mumbled.

"Talk to her!" Jeremy said and stood up. "Come on! Get your wife!"

Both of them got upstairs to the media room and what they saw made knots form in both of their stomachs.

What the…