Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Emma wiped her eyes the moment Jeremy left in his car. He acted as usual with her and she just cried without speaking anything more since she didn't know how much Jeremy knows.

As a veteran of lying, she knew speaking a lot is never good. She barely got away with saying that she almost got stabbed by Jerlina. If Jeremy was not such an emotional idiot, she couldn't have gotten away.Â

If Jerlina went along with her, or just ended the call just how she usually does, this issue would have been resolved. Emma couldn't understand how Jerlina had changed so much. Now Jeremy won't leave it as it is.

You dared to talk back at me, Jerlina? Karma will get me? Heh! Karma is the bane of your existence; not mine! You will suffer for taking my place! I should be the one adored by everyone; not you!Â

"Move," the dry voice of Gerard snapped her out of her thoughts and she looked at him with a smile. Wearing a grey tailored suit, he looked dapper.

How can I let him go?

"Are you leaving for work? You didn't forget your file you left on-"

"Just stop this!" Gerard looked at her trying to act like a proper wife as his face filled with contempt. "I won't fall for your love-bombing. Stop trying," he pushed her aside and opened his car door.

Emma placed her hand at the roof of the car and leaned to kiss him on the cheek. She stopped, seeing his enraged face.Â

Jerlina's words about Jeremy echoed in her mind. And if there is someone who can stop her from getting close to Jeremy, it is Gerard.

"Just now I had a nice little chat with Jerlina," she saw his pupils dilating just when she said her name.Â

She has read somewhere that when you look at someone you love, your pupils dilate. His pupils would always be constricted when he looks at her. But whenever she mentions Jerlina... they'd get dilated crazily.

What a b*tch!

"She thanked me for taking you off of her because now she has a multi-millionaire husband who is supposedly hung - if you know what I mean," she smirked. "I wonder how she knows how big he is down there."

Gerard pressed his lips as his heart sank. But seeing the little smirk on Emma's face, he knew she is lying.

There is no way his Jer has already moved on! She will never speak such crude words. As usual, Emma is lying.Â

"And?" he pushed her away and tried to close the door.

"Gerard! Why are you acting barbaric with me? Am I that worthless in your eyes?" she asked with her eyes clouded.Â

"Yes, now move," he waved his hand.

"Heh! You're so sure she'll accept you back. Does she know that we knew each other even before she met you? Should I-"

"Tell her, I don't care," he pushed her and closed the door.

Emma stomped her feet seeing the car leaving with the dust rising. Gerard knew Emma is really peeved and she will try to create problems and he got frustrated. These past few weeks have been hell on earth for him. After knowing his girlfriend married another man, his mood only got worse.

Did Emma really make that up? Jer seemed different... Did she sleep with that guy? Ugh! Why did I even...

  He dialed Jerlina from his phone to set up a dinner date for their talk. But with just a beep, the call connected to the voicemail. He tried again and again and after a while he realized...

She blocked me!

"F*ck!!" he slapped the steering wheel.  He couldn't believe it.Â

He understood that Jerlina is mad and he didn't want Emma to use this rift between them against him. He can never give her up.

Gritting his teeth, he called Emma. Emma was getting up on the stairs when Gerard called and her lips curved to a smirk. At least one thing is going as she wants.

"Yes," she answered the phone in a husky voice.

"Don't talk to Jerlina anymore," Gerard's knuckles went white with the force he was holding the steering wheel. "I'll do one thing you want."

"One thing?" She smirked and glared at the housekeeper cleaning near the stairs.Â

Is she spying on me?

"Yes."

Emma didn't mind the frustration in his voice. "Let's consummate," she said in a hushed voice minding the housekeeper, but she didn't fail to notice the housekeeper's fingers trembling a bit.

Is she really a spy of my dad?

She quickly climbed up the stairs. "Just kidding. Let's have dinner together every night no matter how busy you are," she turned to look at the housekeeper and she was continuing with her work.

Gerard wanted to smash his phone hearing Emma's first request, but then composed himself when she said dinner. Until he has a chance to speak with Jerlina, he can bear having dinner with that despicable woman.

-----

Jerlina after stewing in her anger for a while thinking about Emma decided to let it go. She is planning to escape anyway. Emma can have Gerard, TJ, and anyone she pleases.

I need no one!Â

She heard noise from outside her room and she saw everyone leaving with their lunch bags to the breakroom and the outside garden. Everyone brought lunch and she was surprised and wondered if it is a rule.

She did not feel hungry and she was not in the mood to eat the lunch TJ packed for her. She decided to stay in the room when she heard a knock at the door.

"Coming? I'll show you my spot," Scarlett was at the door, with the baby at her waist.

"I..."Â

Jerlina was about to refuse, but then she remembered Emma's snickers that she had no one. She realized that it could be partly her fault. She pandered to those who don't really care for her and didn't care about others.Â

In her previous job, her colleagues were mostly nice. Some will make plans to go on vacations, to bars and spas together. They even had lots of girls night out, but she never accepted the invitations. After a while, her coworkers stopped asking her.

Rather than spending the night drinking and suffering through the hangover the next day, she preferred to stay home. Gerard doesn't go out often too and both of them spent the weekends in each other's company.Â

Either they went on dates, checking out new restaurants or they just stayed home to "Netflix and chill". She loved those times with Gerry. Their home was theirs alone. It was their own castle and they were never bored in each other's company.

AHEM!

Jerlina gathered her thoughts. Thinking about those moments now, made her eyes wet.Â

About my colleagues and neighbors, if I had no one to miss me, how much of it is my own doing?

"Just a moment. I'll switch off the computer first," Jerlina said and Scarlett nodded.

That's right! I'll become friends with each and every one of them and they'll cry missing me after I leave. I, Jerlina Hopkins, will make this happen!

With a new resolve, Jerlina went to lunch with Scarlett. It seemed more like a picnic park with everyone bringing their picnic blankets and sitting in the shades. There was chatting and laughing and Jerlina found them enjoyable.

Baby Cia was busy trying to crawl away. She was a fuzzy eater and Scarlett was very patient trying to get her to eat her vegetables.

"Phew!" Scarlett sighed after the baby had her fill. "Will you please hold her until I-"

"Sure," Jerlina got the baby. She didn't expect the little thing to be this light. In the bright light, the baby's eyes shined like a sapphire pond. Her little pink lips glistened with her drool, the squishy belly, the pink chubby cheeks...everything about her was so cute.Â

"She's adorable," Jerlina smiled as Scarlett cleaned her Tupperware boxes.Â

"Yeah, until she gets cranky," Scarlett chuckled.

The baby started playing with Jerlina's hair.

"Everyone loves you here... And your ex-coworker Helen..? Did you talk to her?" Scarlett asked and Jerlina was shocked.

"...You mean Hanna?"

How does Scarlett know her?

"Ah, yes... Hanna. She called you a lot when you didn't go to work."

WHAT!