Standing outside the room, Jeremy watched Jerlina talking to his mother with a smile. She seemed to be holding up well. He thought after Gina’s visit she’d be blue. Turns out, Daisy has cheered her up.

He saw his mom with her usual kind smile. But she can be pretty scary at times like when she forbade him to get in the room.

He could understand his mom is not willing to trust him with Jerlina. It hurt him and he felt like no one trusts him anymore.

Of course, he knew his mom is not that fond of Emma, for some reason. Emma, on the other hand, loves his mom as much as she loves her mom. He could only hope that there comes a day when his mom understands Emma.

Since his mom learnt that Emma’s husband is Jerlina’s ex, she thinks that truth somehow factored in his decision to marry Jerlina. Maybe Jerlina thinks that way too. But the truth is far from that.

He does have a personal reason for his desire to keep Jerlina close to him, and it has nothing to do with Emma.

He received information that Mr. Davis, the Manager of Jerlina’s company ‘Hopkins Glassware’ is at the reception, to visit Jerlina.

Jeremy felt his heart skip and he rushed to the reception. Seeing the man with a neatly combed head of grey hair showing his maturity, holding a fruit basket, he gulped. He knew he is close to a father-figure for Jerlina.

Mr. Davis was surprised to see Jeremy walking towards him but then he calmed down realising it is not odd for Jeremy to be in his mother’s clinic.

Jeremy talked to Mr. Davis and asked him to wait until someone comes to get him since Jerlina’s getting checked by the doctor.

After making sure Mr. Davis got a seat, Jeremy ran back to Jerlina’s room.

Dr. Kruger checked Jerlina’s lab reports. Jerlina had her blood drawn a lot these days and she wondered if that contributed to her anaemia.

“You’ve improved a lot. If you want, you can be discharged today itself. You’ll be fine if you take on the supplements and take your meals properly. Rest as much as you feel like. If you want to talk, I can give you the number of my friend who is a psychologist.” Dr. Kruger spoke as a doctor as she would advice any other patient in her condition.

But then she noticed Jerlina’s face getting worried. She could understand why talking about getting discharged spoilt her mood.

“Jerlina,” she held her hand. “Don’t worry about leaving immediately. You can stay here as long as you like. But you’ll have to put some hours of work since we are forever in need of volunteers.” Dr. Kruger said with a smile.

Jerlina worried about her place of stay, but she was more worried about where to bury her baby when Dr. Kruger talked about discharging.

She knew arranging for a spot in the cemetery would cost money – a lot of money, which she cannot afford.

The next possible solution would be to bury her baby in the backyard, but her father’s house already belonged to her step-mother and she didn’t want to leave her baby there.

She was touched by the offer Dr. Kruger gave. She was tempted to take it, but she felt like it would be better if she leaves this place.

Yes, she wanted to have revenge, but thinking through, she felt like it would be better to get away from this place. Talking to Gina did give her some new perspectives to her life.

No one truly cares for her. No one will miss her even if she’s gone.

She looked at the vase of roses and took in a deep breath. The scent of roses gave her refreshing feeling.

My own backyard… I do have one.

She inherited her mother’s family home far away in the North-East and since she worked in the city here in the North-West, she never bothered to even check that home in a very small town. She felt like, now, it won’t be hard to leave everything and everyone here. She has nothing left here, except the company.

With everything happening around me, this would be the perfect time to have a change of place, right?

After days of feeling lost and hopeless, without having a direction to move forward, she felt like she had finally found a way forward.

“I can-”

“Mom, she doesn’t have to worry for her place of stay as I told you already,” the rather cold voice of the man she despised, interjected her.

She felt bitterness rising in her throat and she gulped and turned to look at the window. She started tearing up once more.

Just like that, he mercilessly trampled on the little hope that sprung in her heart, reminding her that she won’t be off from his clutches.

Dr. Kruger glared at Jeremy and he bowed his head with guilt. But then, he still didn’t want to give up.

“Mom, Daisy, I want to talk to her,” he added and signalled them to leave. Daisy took a glance at Jerlina and since Jerlina didn’t say anything to stop them from leaving, she silently followed Dr. Kruger and left the room.

“Jerlina!” he called her and as usual she refused to look at him.

“You will be living with me until I say so.” He walked closer to her and waved the marriage certificate in front of her to grab her attention.

Only after doing so, did he realize that his act to grab her attention might be misconstrued as him flaunting that they are married. This marriage certificate became complete because she signed it under duress. In a way this certificate is worth nothing.

He wanted to slap his stupidity for reminding her, the unpleasant things that happened that time. He really couldn’t understand how he becomes utterly stupid when it comes to her.

Even now he came here running because he knew Mr. Davis will offer her a place to stay if he knows she has nowhere to go.

Stupid! Idiot!

Jerlina heard that haughty tone and her face stiffened. She avoided looking at his face and looked at that piece of paper. Her heart got ripped seeing that certificate. Once again the gash in her heart got stabbed, remembering the circumstance that made her sign that certificate.

Monster! Is he that happy he was able to enslave me with that piece of paper? And so he is flaunting?

She used to be terrified of him and now that fear had turned to a more bitter feeling.

Resentment!

Even though she resented him, she knew with the way she is now, she has a snowball’s chance in hell to win against him. With everyone, even the cops protecting him, she cannot go against him or escape him.

Does he want to die in my hand? Will he be able to sleep with me under the same roof?

Or does he want to torture me by locking me in his home?

Either way… I’ll have to find a way to escape him once more.

She hid the resentment in her eyes by bowing her head.

“Whatever!”

Jeremy watched her lying on the bed showing her back to him.

She agreed!

His lips curved to a smile, but then it immediately disappeared. She agreed because she believes she has no other choice.

With a heavy heart, he turned to leave.

“I will never be with you…. TJ”

She mumbled under her breath with conviction. She didn’t want revenge for now. She didn’t want to associate with him in any way. She just wanted to escape from him as soon as possible.

And after she escaped, one day she wanted to make him feel the same pain she is feeling now.

Blood for blood!