First Step Towards Her Escape

"So, the Davis family fed you?" Jeremy asked trying to listen more. She suddenly turned quiet and he wanted to hear more of her voice. She is not screaming at him and talking to him and he was not willing to let go of this moment.

He already knew all these things about her. And heaven only knows the joy he feels as she is opening up to him. Yes, he is an ass for getting happy for this, but he was happy. And she has him now and she doesn't have to worry about food ever again.

"Yes. And for a child who thought she'd die of hunger, that big bowl of mac and cheese, and a plate of spaghetti and meatballs they gave, was worth her life. How can you put value to one's life? So, I am very indebted to them and I don't think this much is enough," Jerlina looked up. She interlocked her fingers together and her hands went cold speaking out her past trauma.

She thought he'd mock her for her poor past, but was surprised when he was very quiet. His big hand patted her hands and she wanted to get her hands back, but he wrapped her interlocked hands with his big hand, not letting go.

Jerlina was shocked by his act and was too stunned to move. Her mind went blank as she couldn't figure him out.

"You're right... For a man dying of thirst, a gulp of water is worth his life..." he said his eyes still on the road. "I understand because it used to be like that for me too... It was little Emma who'd sneak me food back then..." he let out a deep sigh.

He then let go of her hand and concentrated on the road. Jerina looked at her hands that got warmed up by his hand. He was very warm and his hand was very big.

He grew up hungry? Why? Isn't his family rich? Ah...It doesn't matter how rich your family is... My family wasn't lacking food, but I was left hungry. In his family, was it because he was the first wife's child?

The fate of a motherless child... is pitiful!

And Emma...

Jerlina could now understand TJ's unwavering devotion to his sister. Just like she cannot hate uncle Pat even though he is happy leaving her with TJ knowing she hates him, TJ can never hate his sister too.

Getting food from someone when you are starving, invokes a very strong sense of gratitude. And she acts very lovely in front of him and there is no reason for him to not believe Emma.

Thinking about Emma, her mood worsened again. Emma is a trigger to her anxiety since every trauma she faced, connected to Emma.

Ugh! I wish I can be in a place where there is no Emma!

Jerlina thought he wants to meet his mother when he stopped at Grace Clinic. Dr. Kruger asked her to come for a checkup only in a month.

"Come on... mom asked me to bring you for a check-up," Jeremy got down and Jerlina followed him wondering why the doctor wants to meet her suddenly.

Jerlina's face brightened up seeing Daisy in the hallways. Daisy hugged her and asked about her health. When Jeremy told her that his mom asked to bring Jerlina there, Jerlina saw Daisy's eyes widening with surprise.

Jerlina could see the same reaction on Dr. Kruger's face. But then she felt gusts of cold wind on her neck and she turned to see Jeremy rubbing the back of his head with a weird smile.

Did Dr. Kruger really ask me here?

In fact, Jeremy wanted to bring her for a check-up since she threw up and was speaking to his mom in his own sign language to convey that she is sick and threw up in the morning. He wondered if she has eyes in the back of her head to realize he was waving his hands.

"Wait outside," Dr. Kruger sent Jeremy away and with her usual kind smile, asked Jerlina to sit.

She asked how she was feeling and other medical-related things. After that, she started asking what she did the past week in TJ's home. Jerlina didn't have much to say. She did nothing other than staring blankly most of the time.

And Jerlina is not the kind who opens up about her weaknesses easily. She doesn't talk about her day or her past. And that's why when she opened up to TJ she surprised herself.

But now, Jerlina didn't want to talk about anything. She could understand that TJ already told Dr.Kruger about her nausea in the morning. And she did not feel like talking about her feelings to this doctor.

She didn't understand what Jeremy's plan here is.But then, Jerlina found a chance. She might try and manipulate the doctor and she can find a way to get out of the house once in a while. She hated getting locked up in that house.

"Doctor, whether I liked it or not, I am someone who went out daily and conversed with at least ten people a day. But in the past month, I got kidnapped and was kept alone. It broke my spirit and my will to... And last week..." her eyes watered.

She wanted to pretend to be opening up, but in the end she really started speaking her mind. She didn't tell the doctor everything, but amidst sobs, she told her how lonely and trapped she feels.

"...He says I hurt his sister? How? She was the one who took everything from me...And yesterday... he didn't even let me go to my office...He threatens me with his scary dogs..."

She went on complaining for nearly ten minutes and Dr, Kruger listened patiently.

"He wants to sleep with me even though-"

She put a brake since she realized she is over-sharing with his mother. Even if she is a doctor, she is his mother too.

"I'm sorry, I am fine. I am stressed a lot lately and I wasted your time. You'll be having other patients to look after..." She smiled awkwardly and stood up to leave.

Dr. Kruger didn't stop her. "Just continue the supplements I gave you. And... I'll talk to Jeremy about-"

"No, please," Jerlina held the doctor's hand as her heart skipped a beat out of fear. "He will get mad at me for complaining to his mother. I don't know what he'll do to me," her hands started to tremble.

"Okay, okay... Calm down...Deep breaths..." Dr. Kruger spoke in a gentle tone and rubbed her back. "I won't tell him you said anything."

After calming down, Jerlina left the room. Dr. Kruger rubbed her forehead. She could see Jerlina was not being honest when she started to talk, but by the end, she could see how stressed and mentally fatigued Jerlina is. She might get into a deep depression if this continues.

And that stupid son of mine... What is he doing?

She gritted her teeth seeing the bearded man peeking in through the gap in the door. "Get in, you rascal!"

Jerlina decided to talk to Daisy for a while. She wanted to ask for some more of the 'At Last' rose bushes for her to plant. She had already asked Uncle Pat to make more of the ceramic planter she buried her baby in.

She had decided to make a garden of identical rose planters. And then she can mix her baby's grave with the others. Carefully, she can sneak her baby's grave out of that prison, as if she is gifting her plants and no one from TJ's side, will realize it. After ensuring her baby's safety, she can escape that prison too.

Getting the roses is the first step towards my grand escape: Jerlina was happy with her plan.