Out Of Time

Not all marriages were about love.

Took me and Robbie Luo for example. The reason why we got married was something that we would never bring up in casual conversations because it was just too horrifying. Just thinking about it often made me cringe.

All because the story behind it was all too shameful and really ugly that it was never worth telling anyone...

Well, that story was an ugly plot directed and acted by none other than my mother herself.

During that time, she mercilessly drugged me. Not only that, she even delivered me to some strange man's bed that I had never even met before! And that man was no other than Robbie Luo.

There it was, me being drugged. The man and I unconsciously got entangled with each other in the bed. Meanwhile, my mother came over with a group of people who seemed to want to catch us "performing". Oh, did they take unsolicited photos of us! Suddenly, we felt the cold water from the basin being poured all over us. But that was not enough for her just yet. Afterwards, she pointed at the bloodstains in the sheets and then asked the groggy Robbie Luo, "Now how are you going to make up to us? Do you want us to report this case or will you compensate us to keep our mouth shut?"

I felt that my head was splitting in two. Weak from the drugs, I just vaguely saw that Robbie Luo's back in front of me.

He was naked on top at that time, and only had a sheet to cover the lower half of his body.

But Robbie Luo wasn't in a hurry to answer my mother's question in any way, nor was he frightened by my mother's threat. Instead, he calmly bent down to pick up his trousers from the floor. He slowly drew out a cigarette from his trouser pocket, lit it, and took a long drag on it.

He then turned to my mother and said plainly, "5000. Take it or leave it."

At that time my mother was so bent on the money that she didn't even spare a second for me. After all, I was just her bargaining chip.

"Five thousand? I can't believe this! You are so rich! How dare you pay only five thousand for sleeping with my daughter?

She is still a virgin! Your offer is too low!"

However, Robbie Luo just stayed calm and said, "Then report this case to the police. I also wonder why I'm here. In fact, I don't even know why you are here."

My mother's face turned pale upon hearing his words.

During that time, she would never have thought that the well-known Robbie Luo would even dare to call the police and report the issue regardless of his image. At that moment, her jaw was agape as she was speechless. She could not do anything but turn to the men behind her for help.

Ever since I was a child, I had already known what kind of a person my mother was. And through these few dialogues, I was able to set my story free, and get to the truth of the matter.

During that time, I had no time to consider my own embarrassing situation, let alone losing my virginity. There I was, struggling as I tried to get up and resist the remaining traces of drugs in my body. Then, I turned to my mother and said, "Mom, that's enough! Let these people leave. Let's go home."

However, I didn't expect that my mother would come straight to me and slap me on the face brutally.

"Are you out of your mind? Do you know how much money a girl's virginity could be sold for? And now you let this man take yours for free?!"

Right then and there, I was able to do nothing but cover my red and aching cheek as I looked at my mother's raging face. I didn't want to cry at all. All I knew was that I felt so pathetic for having such a mother.

But on the other hand, I also didn't want to help my mother cheat and even let her use me as her cash cow. I bit my lips and had nothing to say to such a despicable mother. All I knew was what I felt at that moment-shame and disgrace.

Meanwhile, I just sat on the bed and looked at Robbie Luo, who was quietly smoking in his chair.

I walked up to him, bowed my head, and then said, "Sir, I'm deeply sorry for what happened today. You can leave now."

But as soon as I finished my words, my mother came rushing between us like a lunatic and kept punching me in the face and body as if I were a punching bag. She kept cursing, "What a shameless woman! If I had known that you were such a bitch, then I would have sold you two years ago! At least I didn't need to waste so much time on a pathetic whore!"

I didn't have the strength to resist her fists. I could only let her hit and abuse me over and over again. She said all the bad words she wanted to say and threw all her anger on me for her fruitless plot.

Robbie Luo, on the other hand, couldn't have been any more bothered as he watched such a disgusting drama.

So, he stood up and threw the money on the bed. He then put on his clothes and was already ready to leave.

As he left, my mother immediately looked at the money that he paid, which was way less than what she had estimated. However, she knew that she should keep her mouth shut and not dare mention anything about reporting the case to the police anymore.

But little did she know that the people who followed her had turned against her even before Robbie Luo left the premises.

"You still owe us one hundred thousand. You promised us that you would give us thirty thousand. Is this some kind of a joke? You don't have any money! How are you going to pay us? You old hag! If you don't pay me back this week, then I'll fucking kill you!"

Upon hearing threats being thrown at her, my mother's anger immediately vanished out of thin air.

At that point, her rage had turned into hopelessness. She begged the people to give her a couple of days more so that she could gather enough money to pay them.

However those men didn't agree. Then, my mother turned around, pointed at me, and said, "As you can see, my daughter is absolutely a good hooker. I can make you a proposal. I can give you a discount. How about 2000 a pop?"

Afraid that they would hesitate at the offer, my mother lowered the price even more. "No good? How about 1000?"

They smiled after hearing such an offer and my mother felt like a ton of weight had been lifted from her chest.

Seeing that my mother had, yet again, dealt me like a trading card, broke my heart.

I didn't cry nor shout, because I knew that my mother would never look out for me for money.

Even if it was just a dime.

I thought that it would be a night of horror for me. But Robbie Luo, who had opened the door and was ready to leave, stopped on his tracks.

He turned his head and looked at me. Then he spat out his last smoke ring, and threw the cigarette butt on the ground. He crushed it with his shoe and then spoke calmly, "I'll give you one hundred and thirty thousand. On one condition-let me marry her."

Upon hearing that her debt would be paid, my mother's eyes widened. The joy of regaining the money she lost almost made her jump with joy.

Robbie Luo, who leaned on the bed then, looked at me. After a while, he talked to me and said, "You have the option to disagree, if you want to."

At that time, my eyes were not focused at him, but those men who was unbuckling their belts around me. What Robbie Luo had said was like my life-saving straw. I could actually have a life. At that point, I knew that was my last choice.

"I agree! !" I said it without any hesitation in my voice for I was so sure that this would be my ticket to escape.

All I knew was that my life would be a thousand times better anywhere in the world than to stay with my mother. I knew that I had to get out of there.

And marrying someone was the best way for me to escape from my mother's wretched clutches.

But that moment, I hadn't known the gap between heaven and hell was such an unbridgeable gap.

I would never work it out no matter what I tried.

It was not that if I worked harder, things in my life would get better eventually.

Neither did I know that some hells were decorated with gold, trying to look as if heaven.

And this place was no other than the Luo family.

I could still remember that right the next day, Robbie asked me out.

That was the first time that I had even seen him clearly. He looked tall and muscular with the suit that he was wearing. His face was chiseled and his lips were thin. I felt a sudden breeze of wind as I looked into his cold eyes.

His complexion was not fair, but somewhat similar to wheat. It looked good on him for it emphasized his masculine charm.

He seemed to give this kind of coldness that drove people away. And that made me feel suffocated with his overwhelming presence.

We sat down in a cafe. I ordered a cup of coffee, but Robbie didn't order anything. Without warning, he went straight to the point and said, "The person you need to marry is my brother, Rogelio. But as of now, he can't accompany you to get the marriage certificate, because he is a vegetable. He has been sleeping for almost a year now."

Upon hearing his words, I was stunned to my core.

However, Robbie continued with an understatement, "But then again, it's up to you. You can choose not to agree."

I didn't forget why I nodded my head and agreed to last night's deal! Because, I couldn't afford the price if I refused.

I thought for a while about what he said. With hesitation, I nodded in the end.

But I neglected one factor at that time. I had slept with Robbie. Why did he still want to marry me to his brother?

At that time, I just thought that since this marriage was not about love, then it was better to stay with a vegetable than to live with a stranger. Which was like what was happening between me and Robbie right now. In addition to the embarrassment, I could still vividly recall the scandalous pictures that were taken just last night.

Afterwards, Robbie accompanied me to get the marriage certificate-Rogelio Luo's and mine.

Right in my wedding day, there were no blessings from my family and friends, nor a simple meal which could have symbolized our wedding.

A marriage certificate, for other women, was the evidence to prove what their lifetime of happiness was. But for me, it was just like a leaflet from someone else when I went shopping.

After getting the marriage certificate, I was taken into the Luo family on that same day.

To be honest, that was the most beautiful house I had ever been in.

It was a luxurious villa, just like the ones described in many novels.

Then, I took a deep breath and finally understood why my mother sent me to the bed of a man in the Luo family. And I also understood what my mother had kept saying before I came here. "It is your fortune to be married into the Luo family with this kind and background. And how lucky you are to have a mother like me. I expect that you would repay me thousand fold in the future!"

As I looked at everything around me, I felt that I was in a strange place, not knowing where I truly was.

At that moment, I could only stand at the center of the hall, uneasy and lonely

until Robbie walked out of a room on the second floor with a middle-aged woman, who actually looked like a rich lady. Little did I know that this woman was no other than my mother-in-law, my husband's mother-Nancy Qi.

When I saw Nancy Qi, she wore a dark red dress with some cheongsam elements, along with a white scarf. She looked down at me all the way along the fence on the second floor.

I would never forget the way she looked at me.

Being looked like that hurt my self-esteem. I had already felt so inferior my whole life and I wouldn't want to be looked at that way.

Then, Nancy Qi went downstairs as Robbie accompanied her.

During that time, she seemed like a picky customer who was so meticulous about the product that she bought that she would take her sweet time just to see if it was perfect.

Nancy Qi walked around me for three times before she stopped and said to Robbie, "It's okay to take her out if she has dressed up. But she's from an ordinary family. Even if your brother is asleep as of the moment, her background clearly doesn't deserve to go out with Rogelio."

"We don't need a woman whose background matches ours, but a woman of humble origin like her. Only those women can understand the magnificence of staying in this family and are capable of taking care of my brother," Robbie said in his usual calm voice.

There, I saw them talking to each other as if I wasn't there. They didn't even consider my feelings and existence. It was as if I was nothing but air. At that moment, I knew that they had labeled me as a lowly woman-a woman who would do anything for money.

Nancy Qi averted her gaze from Robbie to me. Raising her chin slightly, she then warned me, "Since you are now in the Luo family, you must obey our rules without hesitation. Now, it's your responsibility to take care of Rogelio. I don't care what tricks you had before. But in the Luo family, you are expected to be quieter and keep less contact with other men. If I hear any gossip, there would be consequences. Don't blame me for not warning you today."

I didn't blame Nancy. If I were her, then I would hold a grudge against a daughter-in-law like me. So during that time, I had nothing to say but, "I know, aunt."

"You should call her mother from now on." Robbie reminded me.

I tried to change the way I addressed Nancy, but she waved her hand to stop me and said, "Don't call me like that and I don't want to hear it. You don't have to change it. If you don't have anything to say, then do not show your face to me."

Afterwards, she turned around and prepared to go upstairs.

But when she turned to look at Robbie, her vicious eyes suddenly became very gentle. Then, she took his hand and stroked it gently. "Good boy. I'm relieved to see that you are still thinking about your brother."

And as always, Robbie looked indifferent as she talked to him.

"Come on, Mom. Let me help you upstairs."

Nancy Qi nodded with a big smile and went upstairs with Robbie's assistance.

Just like that, they went on with their lives and just left me where I was.

I was neglected and ignored as if I were transparent and odorless.

I didn't even know how long I had stood there like a log. It was not long after when finally, a maid came over and said, "Mr. Rogelio's room is on the third floor. Follow me and I'll take you to his room now."

I followed the maid up to the third floor and stood in front of a door.

"It's here. You can go in now."

I was not in a hurry to go in. I just had to take a deep breath so that I could ease my inner anxiety that had been eating me alive since I got here.

Although the man that I saw was a vegetable lying on the bed, I just could not believe that he was now my husband-my legal husband.

Then, I pushed the door gently with my hand. I took a peak and there it was-a huge room with very delicate and spotless furniture.

Even if there was a patient lying in the room, it didn't reek of the smell of medicine. Instead, there was even a faint smell of lavender in the room.

I scanned the room and there he was. A man was lying on a big wooden bed, and my heart could not beat any faster at that moment.

Before today, I never thought that I would marry a man whom I didn't even know about at all.

Watching me go inside the room, the maid then gently closed the door and left.

Then, I put down my luggage and walked slowly towards the man in bed.

By how he looked, Rogelio Luo seemed to be as tall as Robbie.

Even more so, I was shocked when I saw Rogelio Luo's face.

Being his brother, he looked just like Robbie.

The only difference was that Rogelio Luo looked thinner than Robbie. His skin was as pale as paper, unlike the healthy wheat color like Robbie's.

At that time, I sat on Rogelio Luo's bedside and looked at him quietly.

Then, I thought. This man, who was just a stranger to me a second ago, would be all I could depend on in the future.

Bitterly, I smiled as I looked at the eyes that would never open.

"Hello there, Rogelio. It's nice to meet you. My name is Jasmine. It spells J-A-S-M-I-N-E. I guess that you're stuck with me from now on for I am your wife. And with that, II will take care of you forever."

I could still vividly remember the first morning I had spent in the Luo family. The morning sunlight shone into the room through the curtain's gap, and the faint fragrance of lavender didn't dissipate for quite a long time.

Then, I pulled open the curtain to welcome the bright sunshine. There, I took a peak at what was outside the window and saw the different flowers that grew in the luscious garden.

I couldn't help but look back at the room where I was in. It was much larger than the one I had been living in. At that moment, I felt like I was in a dream.

Rogelio was still sleeping. Well, he had been sleeping for a very long time. I couldn't help walking up to him and looking at him carefully.

Even though Rogelio looked pale, and thinner than Robbie, his exquisite facial features still made people feel that he was particularly good-looking.

Then, a thought struck my mind-what was Rogelio like in the past? If he had been as healthy as he was before, then surely, many women would have fallen in love with him.

"Hello there, I'm Jasmine. Do you still remember me?"

Of course there was no response. I shrugged and laughed at myself for being childish.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door so I quickly tidied up my clothes and went to open the door.

What greeted me was a strange woman's face. Judging from her clothes, I guessed that she was one of the servants in the Luo family.

I nodded at her politely and said "Hello".

Apparently, she was there to give me a message. She said that Mrs. Nancy had asked me to come and see her.

So, I followed the servant into the dining room. Meanwhile, Nancy was there, sitting by the dining table and enjoying her breakfast.

However, there was only one breakfast meal on the dining table, and Nancy didn't ask me to have a seat. Obviously, there was nothing I could do but to stand there.

Nancy then wiped the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief and looked up at me. "Robbie insisted on giving Rogelio a wife. I know he wants to make his brother's life complete and find someone to take care of Rogelio in the future. I don't want to let him down, which is why when he let you marry him, I didn't object."

Nancy paused as she squinted her eyes at me for a few seconds. Then, she looked at me from head to toe, making me feel so uncomfortable yet again.

"I didn't say anything against it. But to be honest, you are not the ideal daughter-in-law for me."

In fact, I could understand what Nancy was really thinking at that time. I believed that I wouldn't be married into the Luo family if it hadn't been for the fact that Rogelio was a vegetable.

"It's true that the Luo family does not have a problem with money, but it doesn't mean that we are willing to give money to anyone like a money-spinner. If you can take good care of Rogelio, then I will give you the money you deserve."

Nancy then ticked her finger at the maid who just brought me here. Then, in an instant, the servant put a bank card on the dining-table in front of me.

I was lost at what Nancy was trying to say. As seeing the card, I didn't know what to do with it...

"No matter who asks, let it be people from the inside or the outside, you have to remember that you can only answer that you are the personal maid hired by the Luo family to take care of Rogelio. You cannot take yourself as his wife."

Then, Nancy stood up and said, "This is a wage card and every servant in this family has one. Everyone gets their wage on time on the tenth day of every month. I don't know how much Robbie has already paid you, but here, I only have this one for you. Don't expect anything else."

I hesitated for a while, and then finally took the so-called "wage card". After all, this was my only economic source after I lost my job, and also I knew that only by taking this card would Nancy feel a little bit more at ease.

Otherwise, she would probably think that I was greedy, and want more than that what she was offering me.

The corners of Nancy's mouth started to curl up upon seeing that I had taken the wage card. She then turned to the maid and said, "Maria, let her eat with you in the kitchen from now on, and then teach her how to take care of Rogelio."

As soon as Nancy went upstairs, I took a look at the bank card in my hand. There, I realized that I was no more than just a maid in this house.

Then, Maria handed me two pieces of A4 sized paper. The sheets of paper were so full of words. Little did I know that this would be my daily routine in taking care of Rogelio.

The paper would serve as my guide, more like an instruction manual on when I needed to feed Rogelio, when to give him water, when to turn his body over, etc.

"Maria, do I really need to do this?"

I asked as I shyly pointed at one of the instructions which said that I should wipe Rogelio's body once a day, and change his diapers.

I didn't mean to deny the request. It was just that if Rogelio were a woman, then I wouldn't have asked Maria this question at all.

Blinking impatiently, Maria looked at me with raised eyebrows and then said, "Who else do you think should do it? Although Mrs. Nancy doesn't want you to announce your relationship with Mr. Rogelio, don't forget that you are still Mr. Rogelio's wife. As his wife, it is your duty to take care of him."

Then, Maria looked at me with great contempt and said, "If it isn't for this reason, then why do you think we need to find a wife for the forever sleeping Mr. Rogelio? Do you really think that you could be married to him?"

Upon hearing those words, I felt that Maria had struck my heart with a dagger.

I tried to convince myself not to look at those eyes full of mockery. Clenching the wage card in my hand, I told myself that working here and earning money by my labor was not, at all, going to be shameful for me.

Although I had an official marriage certificate with Rogelio, I just regarded myself as a servant of the Luo family, just as Nancy hoped.

Even so, when I cleaned Rogelio's body, I still felt embarrassed as I struggled to do it right for a long time.

Afterwards, I just closed my eyes and turned my head. I could still vividly remember the first time my fingers touched his skin. As I recalled, my face turned red and my heart beat rapidly.

As a woman who valued the boundary between being the official young lady and being the maid, I only thought that I should try my best at that time to live up to the wage that the Luo family had been giving me.

Besides, I still owned Robbie a big deal. After all, he had rescued me from those horrible men in the first place. Only for that reason, I should work hard here to pay him in return.