Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina winced and her heartbeat quickened hearing the crashing of the vase when she least expected it. She bent to see the vase broken to shills right beside TJ's feet. She didn't fail to notice TJ blocking her feet with his and no shards ended up near her, but it spread everywhere else in the room.

Emma's mother covered her mouth with her hands and her eyes became teary.

"Jeremy!" Jeremiah shouted and Jeremy smirked.

"Well, y'all should look for durability and other things offered by synthetics... You know what they say about glass houses and all..." he looked at Harold and Jeremiah started coughing again.

Is he saying that his family doesn't have class?

Jerlina wanted to laugh but she held her laughter. She didn't think TJ would act juvenile; that he'd break stuff to show his displeasure.

Why did he get angry again? Was it for me or is he just using me to show his anger at his family?

Eh, who cares! This is the first time someone talked this openly for me and took my side. But I cannot laugh. I should maintain my decorum.

Jerlina was trying to control her laughter but what Jeremy said next made her lose her control.

"Jerlina, push that vase on your side. Let us help the identical couple reunite in glass-heaven."

He looked very serious and she ended up laughing.

"Pfft...Glass-heaven..? TJ... You're so juvenile..." she slapped his thigh playfully and couldn't stop her laughter. Covering her face with her hands she laughed and tears streamed down her cheeks.

Jeremy's serious face loosened to a pleased smile seeing her laugh. He thought she'd get spooked as always but she is laughing which is a thousand times better. He placed his arm at the backrest and leaned closer to her.

"Come on!" he asked only for her to laugh more. She shook her head, but he pushed the vase anyway. He had to lean closer to her to get that vase and she didn't mind his closeness.

Another vase broke and she laughed some more and Jeremy found it to be worth it. It is not his money anyway. His family should know that trying to make his wife sad will cost them.

Everyone watched Jerlina laughing till she cried and was stunned. Gerard felt a weird feeling in his belly and Emma was too stunned for anything.

They looked like a couple in love!

Only when the staff came to clean up did Jerlina stop.

"Shall we?" she whispered to Jeremy. She wanted to leave when her mood was better. Only after she composed herself did she realize that she laughed at the expense of another's favorite vase and she felt a little bad.

Little... only a little.

Emma's stupified face is worth it!

"When should we meet your parents? Tell us about your family," Emma's mother asked in a caring tone seeing them preparing to leave.

"My parents are no more and I am an only daughter. There is no one you can meet from my side," Jerlina spoke politely. If this was a real wedding, she'd have mentioned her uncle Pat, but it is not.

If she is pretending that nothing is wrong, she can pretend the same. Emma's mother never hurt her and she can be courteous to her, especially after she laughed seeing her favorite vase break. "Only daughter? How can you say that when there is Gina, Jer?" Gerard asked and Jerlina glared at him.

What is his problem here? Does he want me to get properly married to TJ? He knows Gina is my stepsister. Why is he speaking in my place? He is not related to me. Why can't he stay silent?

"Yes, and your stepmother. She raised you after your father passed away, right? We should meet them before the wedding. It is only proper," Emma added seeing this topic makes Jerlina uncomfortable. She just wanted to watch Jerlina squirm after seeing her laugh.

How could she laugh like this? Didn't she just lose her baby?

"Gina is my stepsister and I am not close with those women. I am not inviting them to the wedding," Jerlina uttered without hesitation.

Even I don't want to attend that wedding if I have a choice and why would I want those two there? Emma is trying to stir the pot.

"Those women? Jer, what is wrong with you? You were so close with them," Gerard couldn't even believe the woman he is seeing in front of him.

She is the sweetest and loveliest woman he knows, with no flaws. She never raises her voice even when she is wronged and she is strong and resilient. She is beautiful inside and out.

But he watched her glaring at his boss, laughing like an ill-behaved child seeing a thug breaking stuff and now she is pretending that her family she cared for doesn't exist anymore. How could someone change this much in such a short time?

And why did she marry that guy?

To get back at me for breaking up with her? Is that why she is contradicting everything I say? She acts as if she cares about that little company of hers when in the past she used to complain how she cannot wait to give it up.

She even leans on that guy and lets him touch her!

Did I do wrong by handing her to him? I thought she hated him. She should be pretending, right?

But she is not that type to have petty revenge.

How could you marry him and act chummy with him, Jer? And what is wrong with you? Did I break you by breaking up with you? You are not the same.

Why did we grow apart?

I'm sorry I was a coward. I couldn't bring myself to tell you that I made a deal with Jeremy because Emma blackmailed me. I'm sorry.

But please don't act cold to me and stop leaning on that guy!

Jerlina stood up not wanting to continue the conversation. Gerard looked at her like she is an alien and she didn't want to deal with him now.

He broke up with me without an explanation, married my enemy without a word, went honeymooning with her when I was losing our baby, and sitting with her arms around his, he dares to ask me what is wrong with me?

What does he know?

What relationship do we even share now? With what relationship is he asking me anything?

Are we ex-lovers? Or is he my brother-in-law now because he is the husband of my sister-in-law?

Yuck! It's all abhorrent and abominable!

"People grow apart all the time, Mr. Cooper," she said plainly and looked at Jeremy who stood up with her. "I'll wait near the car," she said and walked towards the door.

Jeremy shook his head at Gerard as he was displeased. He couldn't understand why that guy made Jerlina's mood sour again.

If he loves her still, shouldn't he want to see her happy? Why is he acting this way with her?