Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

The birth of Jeremy's son was announced to the town. The whole county celebrated the birth of Ivan Hamilton Fitzgerald.

Jerlina chose the name, Ivan.  Jeremy's maternal grandfather's name was Ivanovic. Also, it is the Russian variant of John which is her great-grandfather- Johnathan's name. She wanted to have Joelson as the middle name but Jeremy didn't want to.

He didn't want her to call another man 'Joel' even if it is their son. That was mighty magnanimous of him! She could only roll her eyes.

He also didn't want the last name of the Royal family he is a part of. Jeremy insisted Hamilton is a must and so the baby was named Ivan Hamilton Fitzgerald.

-----

"This is the girl…" Charlie showed Jerlina the picture of a tanned girl with brown hair tied in a high ponytail. Her eyes were brown and she had a wild smile.

"You knocked her up and yeeted?" Jerlina asked. "how did she even agree to sleep with you?" She was confused. "She looks like Angelina Jolie!"

"And I look like Brad Pitt!" Charlie smirked with no shame. "This is your reaction after I told you the news, huh, squirrel?" he sighed.

To think he told her first even before he told his sisters…

"What are you going to do? What is she doing? Is she an actress? She is very pretty!" Jerlina couldn't keep her eyes off the picture. "Wait! She was with you in… Alaska! She was there too. Charlie!" she glared at him.

He spoke as if she got pregnant by a casual hookup but it seemed like he had known her at least for seven months.

"Fine! We are dating," he agreed. "and she is an actress. Stunt double to be precise. And while I was away, I got a job as the stunt double for an actor,"  Charlie said and Jerlina was more shocked.

"Wait, what? You said you were going hiking. How did you- never mind. Who?" Jerlina asked curiously.

"Chris Hemsworth," Charlie said and Jerlina howled.

"Seriously? Charlie? Are you for real? You do look like him a little! Did you meet him?" she kept on questioning. She couldn't believe Charlie has become a star.

Jeremy entered the room and Jerlina was still questioning about Charlie's illustrious career opportunity and the celebrities he's met. Scarlett came to visit and she joined the fun too.

Charlie said that he is planning on relocating to Tinsel town since he likes working in movies. And that he wants to see his name rolling in the credit scenes of movies.

Jerlina was a lot sad but she could understand Charlie's decision. He has a baby on the way and he has opportunities.

-----

Jerlina returned home the next day. The baby was a dear and he ate and slept. The baby was very easy to handle, unlike the big baby in her home – Earl.

Earl was too excited to meet this new little being, and he wanted to be beside the baby all the time. Jerlina was worried for some time as she thought an animal would be an animal. But Earl was very careful with the baby and it was nice to watch the baby getting attached to the big beast.

Jeremy helped her a lot as she recovered. Having a doctor at home was an added benefit. Although she refused, her great-grandfather had sent her a nanny, mostly to send him pictures every five minutes.

Jerlina had nothing much to do except feed the baby and recover.

Since hers was a simple delivery, she did recover pretty quickly. She started going to her company in just a month.

To everyone's surprise, a documentary was dropped that was based on Jeremy. Turns out, the journalists who were reaching out for their comments in the past did end up making a documentary.

Jeremy Fitzgerald – The Generous Alpha King

That was the title of the documentary. For real.

Jerlina wondered if it would dig up the dirt of the past. But their PR never warned about this and so she wondered if their PR firm had a hand in this documentary. They watched the documentary that was released on a major channel.

It started up with the opinion that Jeremy is a gang lord and is known for violence and extortion. It was told in the perception of the narrator who was against Jeremy. But as the documentary proceeded, as they interviewed more people, it seemed like the narrator had changed his opinion and the journalist had covered the case of Emma and he also went into great deph explaining the hatred the Harrison family and for Jeremy.

Jerlina thought Jeremy might be offended or feel sad. But he seemed to be unaffected. It is good to move on.

Jerlina too was mentioned. A lot. She didn't think that the people of Peyton and those around Jeremy had such a high opinion of her. She was called kind and smart and other good things. They even said that she has a part in Jeremy's success.

Jerlina couldn't stop smiling. The opposite is the truth though.

He is the reason she is where she is!

Watching this documentary, she did wonder if Gerard might be dead. Jeremiah said that everyone is saying that. But Gordon…

Gordon could have lied!

Leaning on Jeremy's chest, she looked at her baby's crib. Her husband had made that longship-shaped crib with his own hands for their son. Her lips curved and her thoughts wandered off about her son.

My son is the cutest baby on the planet!

-----

Days rolled into weeks and weeks to months, Time passed as it is mandated and seasons changed. Five years passed by in the blink of an eye.

Their companies all were doing well. They got richer and richer, but they lived in the same place and nothing much of their lifestyle has changed other than the occasional parties they attend with the global elites.

On a warm spring evening, Jerlina and Scarlett were sitting on the Patio with a beer in their hands. Jeremy and Charlie were manning the grill.

Charlie has now become a star acting in a popular TV series and would visit with his family each year. This year his wife didn't come because she was pregnant with their second baby. Their daughter is four years old.

Mikhail and Rose had a daughter. Alexander was very happy and gingerly insisted for her to be named after his wife, to which Rose and Mikhail agreed readily.

"Victoria, I love you, dearly!"

That joyful sound of a stubborn old man echoed in the premises of the Volkonsky mansion often. Often that would be followed by the old man saying, "Not you, Vikkie…I would never tell you that I loved you…"

And then he would cry – no, his eyes would start sweating.

"That naughty Jo-Jo!" Jerlina giggled at her daughter trying to get on the trampoline. Their son and Bobby's kids were all jumping on the trampoline. Their naughty daughter who can't even walk properly wants to do what her big brother does. Bobby was trying to stop the one year old baby Jolina.

Jerlina had a tough delivery with her and Jeremy had to agree to that name. Her full name is Jolina Mariangel Fitzgerald. Jerlina's mother's middle name was Maria and Jeremy's mother's name was Angela. And they combined both names as their daughter's middle name.

Jerlina looked around. The rose garden was flourishing. And the baby she buried is resting peacefully. She would remember him at times and would feel bad for the boy who lost his life to the schemes of an evil woman.

But he is in a better place.

Jerlina looked at Jeremy bringing them plates of nice barbequed meat and corn. Her heart was full, but her stomach was not and she accepted it with glee.

"This is bliss!" Jerlina said.

"Yeah," Scarlett wrapped her arms around Jerlina.

"Aren't they too attached to Jerry?" Scarlett asked Jerlina. "At least I have Cia…"

The kids were always under the care of their father. They didn't look for their mother that often. Unless they get hurt or get hungry, they wouldn't mind their mother. That gave Jerlina the time to do her work. She didn't know how Jeremy is managing it all though.

But he is happy. That's all he says. And that's all she cares for.

"Eh! Jo-Jo is little. It is not odd she is attracted to her father more," Jerlina shrugged. "For Ivan, his dad is his hero. He wants to become a logger," Jerlina said.

Her son goes behind his dad all the time. Maybe that's why he looks like his dad. Or is the reverse true? He is already trying to learn carving from his father.

She watched as the kids started to climb on Jeremy. Cia and Robert clung onto one side and Ivan clung to his other arm. Jo-Jo, the hazel-eyed blonde couldn't reach his arm and started climbing over his knees and clung to his waist. Jeremy making monster-like noises tried to shake off the kids. The dogs all barked around, wagging their tails.

There was laughter, there were giggles, there was joy, and there was happiness all around. It reminded Jerlina of the distant dream she had.

The life she wanted – a husband, a couple of kids, dogs, a backyard, a swing… bliss!

"Mom!" Jerlina stood up and pulled a chair for Dr. Kruger.

Although she is not working at the clinic anymore, she would go there from time to time.

Jeremy looked at her from the distance. He probably felt her stare. His face bloomed to a brighter smile.

This man… her man… he never loses his handsome smile; the smile he shows for her.

Hooking her arms in his, they took a stroll in the garden.

"It was only yesterday someone wanted to escape me and made a garden with identical planters and roses," Jeremy said looking at the lush garden.

"Mmm…" Jerlina stopped. "But it feels like a long time for me…" she looked at him. And then she smiled sweetly. "You know, I used to think of you as a monster…"

"Monster, huh?" Jeremy's blue eyes fixed on her. There was no anger but only love.

"Yeah," she nodded.  "Monster – My monster, actually," she said and he raised his brows. She didn't need for him to say that he liked that personal intonation there.

"Your monster?" he chuckled.

"Yeah, everyone liked you. You helped everyone. I thought you hated only me…"

"So… You wanted to escape your monster?" he wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Yeah," Jerlina bit her lower lip, coyly. "Escaping my monster - that was my plan…"

"And…?" he pulled her closer. "How did you fare on your quest?"

His hungry eyes ended up on her lips. He wanted to merge into her. No matter how much he tastes her, it never is enough.

"Eh, I won," she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I did escape my monster."

She looked at his surprised eyes and continued, "Turns out, the one I thought was my monster, showed me the true monsters that were holding me back. They were all inside me. My insecurities, my retiring nature, my lack of confidence… So… With your help, I did escape my monsters…" Jerlina smiled.

She meant it.

"What a high pedestal my wife has put me on!" Jeremy raised his brows.

She could sense that he is touched.

"I do…" she said and stood on her tiptoes. "And I love you, Joel!" She leaned for a kiss.

"I love you too, Jerlina!"

Jeremy kissed her.

She had thought of him as a monster. But for him, she has always been the bright moon. And she always will be.

Her mind has changed and he is only getting more happiness from the light of his life and the lover of his soul.

He wanted to protect her and then let her go. But she had stayed with him and given him all the happiness in this world.

And so they will stay together, happily… Till death do them part.

***THE END***