Dr. Kruger leaned on the wall bowing her head as she heard the little sniffles coming from inside the room after Gina stormed off. She heard some of what those two talked about.

‘Strong woman’

She doesn’t like that phrase either. She knew people who others think as strong are the ones carrying greatest scars in their heart, weeping silently, when no one is looking.

She closed her eyes and her nightmare came to her recollection once more. That day, she thought she did the right thing for herself and for the sake of others she’d be helping in the future. But it backfired spectacularly and not a day goes by without her regretting that decision.

But no one knows that. Everyone thinks she is a strong and kind woman who is very happy because she is successful.

Sigh!

At least I got Jeremy!

Ah… Jeremy… I can see why you want to protect her.

She talked to him and everything he said seemed so surreal. She couldn’t believe it all, but she didn’t doubt Jeremy’s honesty either.

What a pity! What did she do to get in the eyes of a ganglord?

She opened her eyes taking in a deep breath and Daisy was standing in front of her with a bunch of the miniature roses and was stunned. Daisy is someone with green thumb and the garden in the West side of the clinic is entirely her work. She doesn’t like anyone touching even a leaf or petal of her flowers and for her to pluck this many flowers, it made her stunned.

“No one brings her flowers… that poor thing… She needs to know there are people who care for her,” Daisy said with a bright smile that comes to her naturally, and Dr. Kruger nodded with a smile.

Of course, she does. Everyone needs to know they are cared for.

Jerlina wiped her tears sensing someone entering the room and along with that person came a strong scent of roses. Wondering who would bring her flowers, she composed herself and turned to see Daisy arranging the flowers in the vase.

Her lips unconsciously curved to a smile. No matter how guarded she wants to be against this woman, she found herself liking her more each passing day.

“Oh, you are awake!” Daisy smiled widely and Jerlina felt the pain in her heart, getting blown away seeing that smile filled with love.

“Ahh!” Daisy screamed and waved her hand. “A bee!! How did you get here? Did you get in through the window, Beethoven? Come on… Get out. There are more flowers outside with more honey…”

Jerlina couldn’t help but chuckle lightly seeing how caring Daisy’s voice was even when she conversed with the bee. She even named it ‘Beethoven’ already.

“There you go, bye…” Daisy closed the window after waving her hand and looked at Jerlina holding back her laughter. “Look at you! If you want to laugh, laugh. Why are you holding back?”

Jerlina took in a deep breath and she felt a sharp pain in her lower abdomen reminding her where she is and why she is here. Her smile disappeared as she let out her breath and her eyes became empty once more.

How could I laugh when I couldn’t even protect my baby? I lost the last person I wanted to protect. I have no one left to laugh for…

Daisy saw Jerlina’s smile vanishing in an instant and she understood her.

Maybe it is too early for her to laugh again. But just like me, there will come a time for her to laugh again without feeling guilty. There will come a time when she can be happy.

Dr. Kruger heard the chirpy voice of Daisy inside the room. Jerlina who was crying moments ago was chuckling. Dr. Kruger’s smile widened. Only Daisy would be able to do this.

“Mom, how is she?”

Jeremy’s voice scattered her thoughts. He was trying to take a peek inside the room with the corner of his eye in the guise of talking to his mother.

“I’m going to check on her now.” Dr. Kruger stood straight with her professional smile that makes her look kind.

“Were you crying, mom?” Jeremy just then noticed his mother’s eyes. He held her hand and stopped her from going in the room. His heart skipped a beat seeing tears by the corners of his mother’s eyes.

“Oh dear! Was I?” Dr. Kruger wiped the tear from the corner of her eyes. “Of course you noticed, my boy,” she patted his cheek. “Oww! When will you shave? You look so unkempt,” she slapped him slightly with a chuckle.

“Mom, I know you won’t tell me what makes you cry, but whenever you need a hug, call me. I’ll be there in an instant to hug you. Don’t cry alone, okay?” he hugged her. He knew his mom hides her pain from him, but still he wanted to be there for her when she needs him just like she were there for him when he had no one.

He used to be filled with bitterness and in the verge of becoming lost, but she made him the man he is now.

Dr. Kruger felt her eyes watering once more and she patted his back. “I know. I will.” She got out of his embrace. She saw the blue eyes filled with care.

“And mom, beards are still in trend now. Emma asked me to grow a beard. I do look stunning in my full beard, aren’t I? And I’m going to grow a handlebar ‘stash!”

He smiled rubbing his thick beard that was groomed really well suiting his angular face.

“In my days, I wouldn’t have dated a man with a beard,” Dr. Kruger sighed and Jeremy chuckled.

“Don’t come in. You’ll spoil her mood.” She said as her face turned serious.

Her heart felt a stabbing pain seeing his face getting pale as his smile reduced. But she needed to say it.

She is his mother but at the same time, she is Jerlina’s doctor.

Yes, doctor.

She is not going to accept the marriage no matter how he feels about it. He himself said it is to make others believe that she is his family. That’s what it is – a fake marriage to keep her safe until he finds other ways to protect her or until the threat is eliminated.

He says he’ll bring her to live with him to deceive the enemies. Jerlina seems to have no place to go either. Jeremy is partly responsible for that. And being marked by a gang, she won’t have any safe place to stay either.

Jerlina is having her heart filled with hate for Jeremy. Whether the hate is deserved or not is not important. What matters is that the hate in her heart will not help in her recovery. It is better for her to stay away from him until she clears her mind.

In the end, Jerlina needs to be with Jeremy for her safety but it won’t be good for her recovery if she is with him.

But Jerlina has to make a choice.

What will she choose? Her life? Or her mental health?

And Jeremy…He is her son and she’d trust him with her life, but she won’t entirely trust him with another person when that person is a perceived enemy of his sister Emma.

And there is no doubt that no one could protect Jerlina like Jeremy. But still…He might try to protect her for now, but she would not stupidly believe he won’t change his mind when Emma asks for Jerlina’s demise.

Everything is complicated. Poor Jerlina has to make a tough choice.

“How are you feeling today?” with her soft smile she entered the room not looking back at the man sighing with exasperation.

If she looks, she’d cry.