Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

What should I do with you?

"You too...are handsome," she smiled. "Didn't you buy a new shirt?"

"It is a new shirt... can't you see? The one I wore yesterday is red with navy checkers and this is red with dark green and navy...Here, see..." he showed it to her.

"Yes, I see..."  Jerlina pretended. All his shirts look the same for her anyway.

They went to the table and Mikhail was reading the morning papers with a cup of tea. Seeing them, he placed the teacup on the saucer, folded the paper and placed it on the table, and stood up. 

He did all that before Jerlina took two steps as if he was a robot programmed to act gentlemanly. 

Wow!

Jeremy ordered a smoothie for her. "I'll cook you soup for later. Just bear with this for a day or two until you heal. Eat squished fruits if you get hungry, alright?" he spoke in a gentle tone and Jerlina felt that tingling in her heart once more.

Ugh... it won't be hard to fall for him, isn't it?

Ever since he openly stated that he's going to court her (whatever it means), she started to be more conscious of everything he does and now she can't see anything he does as normal.

I am going crazy! 

As they were having breakfast, Mikhail explained about her lineage and how she hails from the once-great Hamilton family.

"Is he pranking me, Joel?" she asked  Jeremy. 

He shook his head. "It's the truth!"

"Are you kidding me?" Jerlina couldn't accept it. She really thought it was a prank but she was inclined to believe the men who spoke to her with all seriousness. And she had some doubts anyway.

And this explains why her grandpa asked her always to stay away from the higher echeleons of society. He left them for a reason and he didn't want her to know about it.

But the truth couldn't be hidden and it came knocking on her door! 

What should I do, grandpa?

"So there is no one left from grandpa's family? Except me?" Jerlina asked and Jeremy was a little surprised. He thought she'd ask about money first considering her desire for money, but it seems like she desires relationships more.

I didn't fall for her for nothing.

"Unfortunately, no," Mikhail answered.

She went silent after that. Mikhail then talked about her possible inheritance that may stretch to a billion and she wasn't that interested in knowing about that.

"You say that it was my grandpa who left everything, right? That means he didn't want me to have it. So I won't desire for it no matter how much there is, or how much others might think that I am entitled to it. My grandpa didn't want it for me. So I won't need it. That's it." 

Jerlina was sure of this one thing. 

"Look... another grandpa's baby..." Jeremy sighed.

He felt it would be a shame but he understood her.

"I am! I am my grandpa's sweet baby..." Jerlina punched his arm playfully and he pretended to be hurt. 

"But Ms. Hopkins, your grandpa never gave up on the titles. He just put them in abeyance. There are a lot of bonds he left for you... and there is the Hamilton family's lifeblood – their glassware company that is now left in your hands. You cannot say that Lord Hamilton didn't leave leeway for you to inherit what you are entitled to!"

Mikhail spoke in a firm voice as he was sure of it. Although her grandpa disappeared, he didn't destroy the Hamilton family's legacy, but he protected it and paused everything. 

"Well, it may seem so, but he asked me to keep away from aristocrats. Why do you think that is? He never talked about his aristocratic lineage and left no clues..." she stopped. 

He did leave a clue... the logo of the Hamilton glassware!

"Wait... Hamilton Glassware... A company that famous... they must have owned patents, right? And if Hopkins glassware is Hamilton Glassware... who owns those patents?" Jerlina asked as that idea suddenly popped in her head. 

"I guess it would depend on who registered the patent?" Mikhail said with doubt. He is not well-versed in the legalities regarding patents.

"Joel, back then...  Darren Scott called me and offered twenty million for my company. He didn't disclose who is making the offer and..."

"Darren? From Britsby?" Mikhail raised his brows and Jeremy sank into deep thoughts.

"You're not planning to sell the company, are you Miss-"

"No!" Jerlina answered Mikhail. "Never!"

Jerlina was sure of it. She wavered a little when she got the offer, but she didn't really want to sell the company.

"Even when I was little, my grandpa was so proud of his little company and always said that one day even if my dad has another child, I will be the one inheriting his company... because... I was his sweet little Linny and I am his favorite... Grandpa always... he's the one who-"

Jerlina couldn't speak as her throat closed and Jeremy hugged her. "He loved you so much... It's okay..." he rubbed her back.

"So, Darren... when did he contact you?"

"That day you locked me in and let the dogs out. I became suspicious after he mentioned that I should see my company and my employees but I didn't show it to him and pretended to be interested..." Jerlina spoke without thinking twice that there was another person there. 

Locked her in and let the dogs out? Did I hear her right?

Mikhail cleared his throat.

Jerlina realized what she had done and grimaced. Jeremy was the only one who didn't feel any shame in all this.

"So did he contact you again?"

"He sent me a couple of emails after that call... but I didn't reply and he didn't contact me again," Jerlina answered. 

"This is something worth to be looked into... I'll see what I can get from Darren..." Mikhail said rubbing his chin.

Surely, there is something fishy going on here. Otherwise, her company shouldn't be worth that much. Someone who knows the history was trying to buy it. But why did they stop?

They talked for some more time and they returned to their home. On the way, Jerlina was contemplating.

"Don't worry, Jerlina," she felt that big, warm hand on her shoulder. "We can find out everything. No one will touch you or your company."

"Yes, thank you. I know," Jerlina nodded. She had no doubts that Jeremy will protect her.

"I was thinking something else... If there is someone else vying for the wealth, I can write it off to them... I don't want that much inherited wealth. I can earn wealth. But I won't give up my company and I will fight to death for it. I won't let it lose its reputation and if it happens, it will be over my dead-"

Jerlina stopped as the Jeep came to a screeching halt.

"As I said, don't talk about death lightly..." he kissed her forehead. "And I am glad you found something to fight for. I will be right by your side, so do what you want," he said cupping her cheeks.

"Yes," Jerlina nodded and her heart was moved.

As always, his gentleness gives me strength!

----

They reached home and there she was... Emma... And her entire face was bruised.

Her eyes were red with tears and she was wearing dirty clothes.

Oh, what drama is she going to enact today?

Jerlina wanted to roll her eyes.