Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina once accidentally got in contact with acid when she was in school. It was just a drop and the acid wasn't very concentrated and even then it gave her a first-degree burn.

If this acid is for hurting her, it should be a concentrated acid.

How much will it hurt if Jeremy pours it on Stella? Won't her bones melt?

A shiver ran down Jerlina's spine.

Wait...

It could've been me! 

That acid... it might have landed on my face!

Viper... Viper is the guy who wants me dead and this woman for her own benefit made a deal with him! 

Without saying anything, Jerlina turned to walk inside. 

Stella's sobs intensified and she knelt on the floor knowing her fate.

"Please... Linny... please... help me... I wasn't thinking..."

Jerlina almost stopped hearing that pitiful cry, but then she walked without stopping.

It could have been me.

  Scarlett hugged baby Cia in her bosom as they walked at a larger pace towards Bobby's house. Soon after, they heard the sound of glass shattering on the floor, followed by the loud, painful scream of Stella.

It could've been me...

Jerlina wiped the corner of her eyes as she heard the unbearable wail of the woman. 

"Don't think too much, Jerina" Scarlett held Jerlina's hand. "I think the camera she had was not to record you losing your composure but to record your death... Proof of death..." she let out a sigh.

"I know..." Jerlina let out a sigh. "It's all...unbelievable. Death knocked at my door in the form of a relative."

For the first time, it all felt real. Her life is in danger.

"Do you want a drink?" Scarlett asked and Jerlina shook her head. 

"No... I'll be fine."

"Let's go. I think Jeremy would be late. We'll wait for him at Daisy's house. She'll get mad if we're late," Scarlett led Jerlina to Bobby's car and Jerlina didn't mind. She wanted to get out of there too.

The car was pretty silent except for the occasional cooing of the baby.

"Bobby... if Viper is the one who set up Stella, he'd have made Plan B in case I needed medical intervention, right? Daisy and the doctor... Their safety?"

She asked as she saw an ambulance passing them. She wondered if that ambulance is for Stella. That means Stella isn't dead, right? 

"They will be... And Chippy, don't worry about it all. Jeremy will take care of everything, alright?" Bobby spoke in a soothing tone.

Bobby was a lot impressed. He thought she'd be shaking the entire day, but she was already thinking of the next steps. 

Well, the one Jeremy chose might not be that stupid, right?

"And... Stella... Will she pass away?" Jerlina asked minding the baby.

Although she doesn't like Stella, she felt sad for her. She knew her for most of her life and... 

"Not in Jerry's hands, I promise..." Bobby shrugged. "Viper will take care of her."

"Oh?" Jerlina became silent. 

That makes sense. Viper won't let the one who failed him live.

Bobby looked at Jerlina in deep thoughts. "You do not want Jerry to protect her, do you?" he asked after a while.

"Hmm, no." Jerlina shrugged. " She made her bed."

In the end, no one asked her to believe a gang lord. She would be dead if she killed her or not.

"But I wonder what she was thinking. Being that clumsy, she's bound to get caught. Stupid!" Scarlett mumbled. 

"Yeah," Bobby went silent.

Jerlina thought about it too. If she was fast, and determinant, maybe she'd have succeeded. 

Maybe she was thinking twice about it? Maybe she didn't want to hurt me? 

"She's a b-" Scarlett stopped herself from cursing. "She is a bad woman, but this is the first time she's doing something this terrible... Maybe that's why." 

"Hmm," Jerlina hummed. 

That also could be a factor.

-----

They reached Daisy's home and they were in a cheery mood. Dr. Kruger was there already and Jerlina put on a bright smile too. They've already decided to hide the recent incident from the two lovely ladies to spare them a heart attack.

"Where's Jeremy?" Dr. Kruger asked.

"He's suddenly got a call and he'd be here soon," Jerlina cooked up an excuse without breaking a sweat.

"That boy!" Daisy let out a sigh and went back to the kitchen followed by the doctor. 

Jerlina tried to peek inside the kitchen to see if they'd need any help. It seemed like the turkey was already in the oven and the side dishes were getting prepared. 

"Just come here," Scarlett dragged her to the living room. "Leave the old ladies in the kitchen," she whispered. 

She then brought her to the house next door and apparently it was Scarlett's family home. Jerlina met Scarlett's family and returned back to Daisy's house.

They started playing a board game while Bobby sat in front of the TV watching the parade. Jeremy walked in within an hour and he looked tired. 

"Welcome," Jerlina walked to him with a can of chilled beer.

He was stunned. He expected a pouting Jerlina but he didn't expect a normal Jerlina.

"I..."

"Later..." Jerlina whispered pointing at the kitchen. Jeremy understood she didn't want to alert the ladies and nodded.

Is she pretending she is not mad at me for them too?

He wondered.

Sooner Bobby and Jeremy joined them in the board game and the little game of ludo turned into a warzone.

"You Chippy!" Bobby gritted his teeth. "This is the third time you're making me go back!" 

"Well, you suck, Bobby," Jerlina stuck out her tongue.

"You stinky!" 

This time Bobby hit her head. "Really?"

"You hit me!" Jerlina was surprised. No one hits her in the head. 

She looked at Jeremy and he was chuckling. 

What a husband he is!

"Bobby!" 

At least Scarlett pretended to care.

"Now you're blocking me," Bobby hit her back and Jerlina lost it. 

She tried to hit him back but he dodged her easily. He was big but she couldn't hit him.

Jeremy and Scarlett started to laugh at her and Jerlina was enraged.

"Daisy!!! Bobby keeps  on hitting me!" She screamed.

"Are you four?" Bobby took a sip from the beer shaking his head.

"Oh, did he?" Daisy came out with the rolling pin in her hand and Bobby was stunned. 

"Seriously, mom?" he jumped behind the couch. "Kitty, help me," he begged.

Scarlett found everything as a joke and she laughed holding her stomach.

"Aww... Just like before... Here, Daisy.. let me help..." she stood up and helped Daisy reach Bobby.

But Bobby ran up the stairs and Daisy with the rolling pin, ran behind him. Even Jerlina found the sight of a seven-foot muscular man running fearing for a five-foot woman holding a rolling pin.

"Daisy, the yam..." Dr. Kruger got out of the kitchen and Daisy stopped following Bobby.

"Don't hit Jerlina again. I'll throw you out of my house! Scarlett, keep watch," Daisy said in a stern voice and went back inside the kitchen.

Scarlett nodded like a good girl and Jeremy pretended like he didn't understand what was going around him.

Afterwards, Bobby didn't hit Jerlina.

They had the dinner and Jerlina was given her favorite part of the turkey – the leg. There might be other good parts, but she always loved the leg. 

You can eat with your hands.

With the turkey and the twenty other side dishes, Jerlina felt full and sprawled on the couch.

Then they were watching sports. One time she was asked to pass the dip. There was a score at the same time.

And for some reason, from then on, every time a player from their team got the ball, Jerlina had to pass the dip. 

And every time the player scored!

And so Bobby and Jeremy hugged her for helping their team win.

Yeah, right! The players were the ones who worked hard in the field, but I, who passed the dip is the one who made them win!

Jerlina rolled her eyes.

But she was happy beyond measures.