Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Chapter 69 - Gaslighting

Jerlina tried to do some work at Jeremy's desk. Just an hour ago, he called her and told her to do whatever she wants as he won't be in the office in the morning. Apparently, he is meeting his dear sister. And this was the first time he called her phone and she stored his number.

Since she was given no tasks to do, she used the time to revamp her company's website. She knew web designing and she changed the website to be more attractive to women. She had some plans for the collector's items and she decided to visit her company as soon as possible.

Jeremy's computer had the latest specifications and it was easy to work with and Jerlina, with no guilt, did her personal work in her office time.

She stretched herself after concentrating for a while and her eyes ended up on the bag containing the lunch. She took a peek and it contained a generously big sandwich.

When was the last time someone packed a lunch for me?

Her dad used to pack lunch for her when she was starting elementary school. After Gina came, he had no time to prepare lunch for her. This is the first time after almost two decades she is bringing packed lunch.

Mmm...

Her heart got tingly remembering the gentle way TJ spoke to her. But then she remembered how angry he got when she mentioned Emma.

Yeah... he is Emma's brother first and foremost!

As she decided to get on with her work, her phone rang and it was TJ. She answered the call and there was silence at the other end.

"Hello..?"

She heard sniffles from the other end and she checked the Caller ID once more. It was TJ's number and...

"Emma?" she asked with the enthusiasm of a sloth.

"...I'm sorry, Jer... I really didn't mean it... I..."

"Did you kill your brother? I am recording the call," she got up from her seat and started recording the call.

She asked, but she was not that worried since she knew Emma won't be directly involved in case she wanted TJ dead.

"No! Why would I..."

Jerlina's lips curved to a smirk hearing Jeremy's voice, "Jerlina, Emma wants to talk to you-"

"Oh, so you two are together and I'm on speaker? Should have been open about it, Emma," Jerlina stood near the window. She wanted to laugh hearing sobbing noises.

What an actor!

"Jerlina, can you have an open mind and listen to what Emma has to say?" Jeremy rubbed his forehead.

Women!

His heart broke seeing his sister sobbing like a child and he knew he cannot be rude to Jerlina since her image from the morning was imprinted in his heart. He wouldn't want Jerlina to suffer alone.

"Okay, I'll bite. TJ, tell her to start her performance," Jerlina was not in the mood to be polite with Emma. She had no reason to act like a good person in front of TJ unlike Emma and so she was relaxed.

"Jer-"

"It's fine, Jerry. She has a right to be angry at me. I understand her..."

Emma started her performance already and Jerlina felt dizzy by the speed her eyes rolled.

"Jer... that day, I didn't mean to hurt you. I came to meet you because I was..."

Jerlina heard muffled sobbing and TJ was comforting his dear sister in a soothing voice.

"Can you get it over with?" Jerlina lost patience after two minutes. "You came to meet me to brag that you snagged my boyfriend. You told me that I have no-"

"No! I never meant to brag, Jer..." Emma started to wail before Jerlina could speak further.

"I am sorry... I was feeling guilty to marry your boyfriend even though it was fake and I wished that it would be better for me to die in your hands than marrying him. But I didn't know I scared you by bringing a knife...Jer, I am sorry I was so depressed...I unintentionally hurt you... I am a sinner, forgive me..."

Jerlina silently tried to gather what might be happening as Emma went on speaking "her truth". Last night she told TJ that she never hurt Emma and today, in his presence, Emma is performing some kind of apology.

So TJ tried to get to the bottom of it and asked his dear sister who only knows to lie? How smart is he?

Emma is talking about the knife she left with me... But she is spinning a different story.

She wanted to die? Heh! She made the first move and victimized herself in front of her brother. She is vile... and clever!

Emma is gaslighting. TJ already believes her and my words won't even be heard although it is the truth.

Once again she tells me that I have no one... this time, without words.

"Oh, f*ck you, Emma. Every time your lips move, you lie. I am not going to take it."

Jerlina trembled out of anger. The way Emma twists the truth to save herself made her blood boil.

"Jerlina!"

She heard TJ's shout and snorted. What else can he do other than shouting at me? He already took my everything.

"She's talking about her depression and you're dismissing her-"

"She was depressed? She?" Jerlina gritted her teeth. "It was I who..."

She paused. She is not going to talk about her dark thoughts and leave a space for Emma to be happy.

But I want to make Emma suffer.

Throughout high school, Emma tried to not let her know TJ likes her. And now she is married to him. Emma failed!

"It's fine, Jerry... Don't be angry at her for not believing me..."

"Joel..." Jerlina spoke in a soft voice interjecting Emma. "Joel," she repeated and there was a pin-drop silence at the other end and Jerlina wondered if they put it on mute.

"What?"

TJ's voice mellow and gentle came from the other end.

"Emma is lying and I will swear on anything. I don't care if you don't believe me, but it is the truth. And Emma... Am I still on speaker?" Jerlina asked.

"Yes, Emma is here," Jeremy answered.

"Emma, I should thank you for taking Gerry off of my life. Thanks to you, I got married to a much richer man with a much bigger d*ck. You can't even steal him from me since he is your brother. So thank you. And FYI, karma is b*tch and she will get you," she said and ended the call knowing TJ's shout will follow.

She threw her phone on the table and sat on the chair rubbing her temples. Her mood was spoiled entirely and her head hurt.

-----

Jeremy wanted to dial her back but then he decided not to because he was mad. Yes, he was fuming when Jerlina dismissed Emma's depression, but when she swore that Emma is lying, he got angrier and when she said Emma can't steal him, he was offended.

How can she as a woman dismiss another woman's tears? Where is the solidarity?

"Jerry...you, believe me, right?" Emma held Jeremy's arm and he hugged her and rubbed her back.

"I will believe you always," he regretted not following his mother's advice and decided to leave this issue as such. The two important women in his life are not getting along and they have bad blood between them.

But there should be more to learn from Jerlina's side. She is insisting that Emma is lying.

Emma chewed her tongue, leaning on Jeremy's chest. Everything went well. She made Jeremy believe that she was depressed and said she'll apologize to that b*tch in private. But this idiot insisted on a phone call. Now, that b*tch ruined everything.

He won't let it go! Just like he got to the bottom of the plagiarism incident, he will mess this up too! What if he finds out about the other things? Ugh!

Joel!

He lets her call him Joel! His face when she said it...

How did she bewitch this stupid lumberjack? Did she really sleep with him as she said? But she just had a miscarriage.

I cannot let this continue. What will happen to me if this fool gets attached to her? What will happen to me? Who will I have?