Chapter Four: Do You Love Me?

A loud bang shook the door suddenly which broke the deep nightmare Kthryn was into pieces, and her consciousness came back little by little. She sat up hurriedly while beating her chest in a daze, an unconscious means to calm her pounding heart out of fear of what she saw in the dream.

Droplets of sweat formed on her forehead as she breathed heavily, deep and fearful.

As the banding continue so was her pounding heart as if she was still deep in the dream. The bone-crushing pain, helplessness, fear, humiliation, and continuous bleeding to death in the dream felt so real that she was confused for a while between dream and reality.

This particular dream has been recurrent for the past 2 days since she came back from the church. According to the dream, in a week's time, she will almost rape and harassed by the useless widow living at the end of the village. They were caught in the act by her mother-in-law.

Unfortunately, she called the whole village on her and she was humiliated, beaten, and pushed, leading to bleeding with no help. She died while crying for justice for her after falling down during the ordeal.

What made her fearful is that the whole plan was orchestrated by her mother-in-law and sister-in-law, in fact, her sister-in-law, WangYun proposed for the Widow to rape her but should she say luckily or unluckily her mother frown at it.

"since she is your brother's wife, she can only die as a wife to our family. she cannot be contaminated, even in death she can only belong to our family. Most importantly, she won't allow her to mar her son's reputation."

These vicious people didn't stop there in other to create a clean slate for her husband, they sold her daughter to Madam Fu' anyun, the brothel madam who has been coveting her daughter for a pretty face for 5 tales of silver.

Hmmm... if these dreams are true which I am dreading to think otherwise then this madam has been coveting my daughter since last month An'an followed my mother inlaw to town. In fact, this knowledge from the madam later affirmed my mother-in-law's decision to remove our mother and daughter, the hindrance to her family's happiness.

She can imagine the end of her daughter without seeing the end. what can be the end of a brothel lady sold by her own grandmother? "Kathryn. you are really pathetic. Pastor Nath, has already extended help to give you a push but you are still indecisive because of your mother inlaw change of behavior toward you."

She remembered her firm heart on her way from the church but when her mother-in-law's behaviors suddenly changed towards her and An'an, she thought maybe the engagement was just a joke and started having a changed heart towards going back to school.

What a joke, can a leopard change his ways? "Kathryn, what love are you still expecting? can a family that doesn't respect you, love you? haven't you had enough already? Must you die before you wake up? You know your dream is always true, so what is stopping you from walking out of this toxic marriage?"

Ha ha ha... she laughed crazily and looked down at her cloth and body and gently rubbed her forehead that is showing signs of aching. she really detests what she has become. Trust be told if I am a man I won't look at my present self.

Calm calm down Kath, a step at a time. I stood up and walked towards the door. she still has a question she needs to ask her husband and she really prays he will come home before she left finally, his response to her question will determine the route she will take to her destination. Yes, she already made the decision for her first destination which is going back to school for the college examination.

She opened the door. she was shocked and surprised to see her husband at the door with impatient in his eyes. "What took you so long to open the long? And why are you sleeping in the daytime? No work to do around the house?" he looked at her with his scrutinized gaze. "What are you doing here? I mean why didn't send a message back that you are coming back?" I was really surprised and happy to see him and his face looked robust and full of rigor.

"Did my brother needs your consent before coming to his house? Are you his mother? Or do you think you are his wife? You are just a slave my brother brought to take of my mother and me" Wangyun looked scornfully disdain at Kathryn as she carried Wang Yuyue's burdens inside the hut.

I really detest this useless woman, look at her like a 40 years old woman, Wang Yun thought. her thoughts could be easily seen on her face.

Kathryn look hurt and sad, as usual, her husband didn't help her out or take her side. He also left her standing and walked behind Wangyun to the backyard.

After the evening meal, while sitting alone with Wang Yuyue in the living room carrying the sleeping An'an on my lap, I felt an impulse to ask the question I had always wanted to ask him. So, I asked the most dreadful question.

"Have you ever loved me since we got together?" "Love you? Are you money? Please spare me all this drama. Can't you see I am tired?" he laughed scornfully.

"I need to know since you are getting engaged to Theresa, your teacher's daughter. I want to know if these 5 years are truly worth it. Have I really fed my love to dogs?" I looked at him firmly without dogging his disdainful gaze.

"Watch your word. Who are the dogs? I have never loved you, both pregnancy was a mistake. Besides, I don't even understand how making love on two different occasions will result in pregnancy twice."

"You were a bet between me and my friends and you are the trophy I won out of my college days. It wasn't easy to get you then but alas... Been able to get your first time worth the sacrifice of my time, money, calls, and romantic messages." he laughed out loud while I was shaking in tears at his hurtful words.

Is this the same gentle prince charming I fell in love with? Where are all his promises? Have I been living in deception all these while?

The truth really hurt indeed and I have been delusional that at least I got my obsession not knowing it was a cage that broke my wings and chained me for 5 years.

"There, there, there... don't cry, at least you get to sleep with my handsome and gorgeous body twice in exchange. Unfortunately, you are not as beautiful as you were in college. I am sure most of our colleagues will find it hard to even recognize you, these days you really stink.

Now that I remember, don't forget to compose yourself when I come back with my fiancee and never you mention being my wife ever again. What a joke, uneducated and uncouth useless lady like you want to be my wife. eh eh eh, remember, you are my trophy slave, evidence of my victorious youth." he shook his head as he walked laughing out loud inside the main house while I was still standing in tears, murmuring "He never loved me" as if confirming my reality.