Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina saw those guys running towards Jeremy and they were holding something in their hands. She grew up in these situations and she knew those guys are holding little blades and the moment the opponent is open, they will stick it in one of their vitals resulting in a fatal ending.

She observed if TJ had noticed the approaching men, but he was well-hidden in the darkness. And there seemed to be almost eight to nine men approaching him and she didn't think TJ could handle that many people with weapons in their hands.

She wondered if she should alert TJ. But that might divert those guys towards them. TJ should be conscious of his surroundings as he is in danger all the time and she decided to wait and see.Â

Gerard knitted his brows seeing Jerlina looking in the direction of TJ. She didn't even look at his face. In the dim light, he could see the shine from her diamond ring.Â

He noticed it back in Emma's home. She was proudly wearing it and she seemed so comfortable with it when usually she doesn't prefer jewelry.

Was she moved by his wealth?

  He couldn't have afforded that big a ring for her. And he remembered the way TJ snickered at him before. His heart burned with jealousy as he felt belittled by TJ.

"Jer, do-"

"Shh!!" Jerlina shushed him as she was observing the approaching men. "Look there..."

"What is-"

"Shh! Quiet!" Jerlina stopped him as he spoke in his normal voice. Squinting her eyes, she watched TJ.Â

As someone who grew up in a safe neighborhood, Gerard is not aware of these types of dangers and he doesn't know how to handle such situations.Â

It was why she is not that mad at him for deciding the way he did. He is not used to violence and maybe under the influence of Emma, thought TJ will protect her and made such a deal. But she was mad at him for not talking to her about it first and actually marrying Emma. She didn't believe Emma needed rescuing from a forced marriage.

Like anyone could force Emma to do anything!

Jeremy leaning on the tree was closing his eyes trying to calm himself down. He served as a driver for his wife and lover and dropped them in a calm place for them to have a "chat".

Are they hugging? Kissing?

His mind wandered and he wanted to turn and have a look. But he forced himself not to look. He knew he won't be able to take it if he sees them being intimate.

He is incredibly sensitive to his surroundings and he is the kind who sleeps with one eye open since it is mandatory for his survival. He did hear a bunch of footsteps approaching him and their gait was careful and predatory.

He was in a sh*tty mood and he needed to exercise for his mood to get better. He counted nine people approaching him and they were focusing on him and so he was a little relieved. He wanted to warn Jerlina but he didn't want those guys to associate her with him and put her life at risk.

Leave, Jerlina! The keys are in the ignition.

He wished in his heart and walked further away from the Jeep just to be careful.

Gerard noticed those guys surrounding Jeremy and pulled Jerlina who was scrolling through her phone.

"Get in, let's leave," he whispered. "Thank goodness, the keys are in the ignition."

Jerlina was trying to call Scarlett to inform Bobby that TJ is in danger. She decided to get Bobby's and Charlie's phone numbers just in case of emergencies like these. She didn't even have TJ's phone number.

She wasn't even thinking about anything else as she just wanted to get help for TJ. She even forgot that he is the guy she holds responsible for the death of her baby at that moment as she was focusing on saving a life.

"Wait...Let me get him some help," she whispered back.

"Seriously, Jer?" Gerard gritted his teeth and plucked her phone from her hand.

"What are you doing?" Jerlina got mad.Â

He keeps on acting condescendingly with her and now he is grabbing stuff from her hand? Especially, when a life is in danger?

"He is a thug! He can handle it! Why are you worrying for him as if he is your actual husband? Get in the car. We are leaving. He promised to protect you and who cares if he dies while doing so? We cannot put your life in danger..."

Gerard grabbed her shoulder and tried to push her inside the car, but Jerlina struggled. She couldn't believe she is hearing those words out of Gerard's mouth.

Is he someone who values human lives this lowly? So according to him, TJ is a thug and he is good for protecting me, but his life is worthless? How can he speak of another human as a piece of meat to be used as a shield? Is this the guy I fell in love with? He used to treat everyone politely. And why is he manhandling me?

"Let go!" she grunted gritting her teeth. "Stop pushing me!"

By now she heard the sound of the men shouting at the distance as they surrounded TJ and it seemed like a fight had started.

"Jer, come on! Let's leave," Gerard tried to shove Jerlina into the car. He couldn't believe that she is worrying this much for that thug.Â

Jerlina pushed him as she got madder and he staggered a couple of steps back since he didn't expect it.

"Well, walk back to your wife if you're in a hurry," she said and grabbed her phone from his hand and got inside the driver's seat of the car.Â

She dialled Scarlett and put the call on speaker. Turning on the headlights, she stepped on the gas. She didn't know what pushed her. It might be the anger she felt towards Gerard for thinking so lowly of human life or it was her humanity, but she wasn't thinking deeply.

If she thought properly, she won't be charging towards a group of men brawling with no plans on how to break them up. Was she going to ram them or just scare them '“ she made no plans.Â

They were very far away and she could barely see the group at first. A couple of the guys stepped aside seeing a fast-approaching vehicle towards them.Â

She honked the horn loudly as she increased the speed and another guy ran away. TJ punched a couple of guys who were stunned by the confusion and the rest surrounded TJ to attack him.

The call connected at that time and Jerlina informed the main details with her foot still flooring the pedal.

"Charlie will be near," Scarlett said and she was sure of it. "I'll inform Bobby anyway," she ended the call.

Jerlina remembered Charlie got to them pretty soon that other day near the hospital too. It was then she saw another fast-approaching truck beside her and she slowed down seeing Charlie and a couple other guys in the truck.Â

Seeing two cars approaching them, the guys ditched TJ and ran away.Â

Jerlina stopped the car and TJ covered his face with his forearm as the headlight glared on his eyes. Jerlina didn't turn off the lights and observed him. Charlie was still following the guys and she heard gunshots, but she was not scared.

TJ's shirt had sharp cuts and she saw blood stains on them at a couple of places. The bleeding was not a lot and she was relieved it was superficial wounds.

Her heart was pounding and only after the adrenalin rush got settled, she realized what she has done. Never in her life would she have imagined that one day, she'd chase a bunch of gangsters to save a ganglord.

But he is not just a ganglord, is he? He is the one who killed my baby. What was I doing?

Jeremy rubbed the corner of his lips that was bruised. He didn't even feel the sting of the cuts as his heart was filled with an indescribable feeling. With the glaring headlight, he couldn't see who was at the driver's seat.Â

She can't be the driver, right?Â