TWO

Chapter 2

Human life is not always smooth sailing, and the same goes for Rose's life. As the first child of Jasmine Miles and Arnold Pennington, Rose Pennington was forced to endure a difficult life at the age of twenty-five.

Arnold Pennington passed away due to chronic meningitis at the age of forty-two. The doctor said his condition was already severe and problematic. Unfortunately, Rose couldn't do anything to keep him alive. The savings she had after working at Aunt Liliane's small restaurant, her mother's friend, for a few months, couldn't help much either. The wise man closed his eyes in Rose's embrace.

But her suffering didn't stop there. In the following years, her mother was also diagnosed with the same illness. Her condition wasn't as severe as Arnold's initially, but gradually, everything became worse.

Jasmine could only lie in her place. Occasionally, she would go out just to check on her condition, which showed no signs of improvement.

Before enduring this tormenting illness, Jasmine had a relationship with a man she met at Aunt Liliane's restaurant. His name was Elliot, and Rose got to know him as well.

Elliot, a promising man with a well-built body, held many promises for Jasmine, her mother.

In truth, Rose didn't quite understand the closeness between Jasmine and Elliot. Suddenly, they decided to get married and live together, even before Rose really got to know this stranger. She didn't talk much to her mother's new husband either because Rose was busy working at Aunt Liliane's restaurant.

Then suddenly, all her nightmares became a reality. Aunt Liliane's fast-food restaurant slowly became empty, and her mother fell ill. Elliot started coming home less frequently. Even when he did come home, he would arrive drunk and worsen everything.

"How are you doing today, Mom?"

Jasmine smiled softly as Rose sat on the edge of her bed. "Better. And how about you? Did you come home early today? Nothing happened, did it?"

Honesty was a value highly cherished by Rose. However, it seemed that no longer applied to her. She shrugged her shoulders quickly, then gently massaged Jasmine's covered feet under the white blanket. "Everything's fine. Aunt Liliane just wanted to close her restaurant early," she lied. "And I thought she wanted to give me more time to take care of you."

Jasmine got up from her bed and leaned against the rearranged pillow by Rose. Now she could position herself leaning against the wall with her pillow as support. Her melancholic blue eyes gazed at her only daughter, and a faint forced smile appeared on her pale lips. "You should just rest, Rose."

"I've rested enough, Mom."

"Since I got sick, it seems like you rarely spend time with your friends, right?"

Rose chuckled softly, a hint of bitterness barely audible. "I don't need friends, you know. Well... they just come and go. Being with you like this feels more enjoyable, Mom."

There was no better response that Jasmine could show than giving a small smile to her daughter, who had grown into a beautiful young woman. Her thin hands caressed the top of Rose's head. And their eyes met for a while before Jasmine spoke again, "Elliot came to see me this morning."

That instantly furrowed Rose's brow. "What?"

"He came."

"So, what did he say? Did he give you money? Did he at least apologize for disappearing for so long?" Rose pressed eagerly.

But her mother only replied briefly, "He just left this."

Rose's blue eyes immediately turned toward the direction Jasmine pointed with her hand. On a piece of paper lying on the nightstand.

"He said it's for you," he said.

Rose turned with a confused expression. "For me?"

Quickly, Rose's hand reached for the paper on the table, opened it, and read the writing inside. "For Rose."

Jasmine, sitting in her place, could only remain silent and wait for her daughter to finish her words.

"If you need money for your mother, I can provide it. Come to my place tonight." Rose looked at Jasmine, then flipped the paper she was holding. "He gave me the address."

"Is that a good thing?"

"That jerk sent me the address, Mom. Can't you see how irresponsible he is?"

Jasmine sighed and pursed her lips. "You still have to speak politely to someone older, Rose."

Even though Jasmine could no longer express it clearly, she still defended Elliot. Rose pouted and closed the paper again before crossing her arms over her chest. "You should have asked for my opinion before marrying that jerk, Mom."

"Rose..."

"Fine, fine, 'Elliot.' Are you happy now?"

Jasmine smiled and replied, "He was nice at first, wasn't he? He even bought you things even though you're not his child."

"I was twenty years old at the time and could buy my own things. He was just showing off, there's nothing to be proud of him, Mom. Really."

"It seems we should end this conversation before we start arguing, don't you think?"

Rose murmured for a moment, then took medicine and a glass of water from the table, which she handed to the frail woman in front of her. "You should take your medicine before discussing Elliot and make your condition worse."

"You sound like you hate him so much," Jasmine concluded as she accepted the medicine and water from Rose.

"I really, really hate him. You just keep pretending not to know, Mom."

After finishing, Rose helped Jasmine put the glass back on the table and adjusted her pillow position. Rose also made sure to pull the blanket up to her mother's abdomen to keep her warm.

"Are you going to meet him?" Jasmine suddenly asked.

"Are you talking about meeting that jerk?"

"Rose..." Jasmine admonished again.

She responded calmly to the woman in her plain black t-shirt. She lazily rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest. "First, let me curse him, Mom. And second, yes, I will meet him. I will take a lot of money from him so that I can take you to a better place. Understand?"

"Are you sure?"

"Why are you suddenly doubting, Mom?"

"Because I thought you hated him?"

Rose shrugged quickly. "I only hate him, but not his money."

The woman turned around and waved after making Jasmine comfortable on her bed.

Every morning, Rose always tidied up the bed, making it clean and fragrant so that her mother would feel comfortable even though she spent the whole day in bed. Rose never imagined that at such a young age, she would have to struggle for her mother. And her mother had to fight against meningitis.

Armed with a little information from the general practitioner where Jasmine was examined and additional articles on the internet, Rose knew to some extent that meningitis was one of the inflammations that occur in the meninges, the protective layer that covers the brain and spinal cord of humans. It was somewhat complex and confusing because Jasmine initially showed flu-like symptoms.

People of all ages are susceptible to meningitis, including babies. But out of so many age groups, why Jasmine? Why her mother? Why did the disease infect the only family she had?

Rose sighed before putting on the black leather jacket that she kept behind the door, then she went out and hailed a taxi.

Her plan was to go meet Elliot, ask for the money he promised, slap him, and leave. But the plan that had been meticulously designed only stayed as a plan, never becoming a reality. Because Rose's expectations were immediately contradicted by the existing reality.

The woman was dropped off by a taxi in front of a nightclub. A sign with illuminated lights reading Heaven's Club welcomed Rose's sight. She didn't expect that the place Elliot referred to was a nightclub. She looked around, seeing several adult men and women entering and exiting through a door guarded by a muscular bouncer. Most of them were dressed flashy and revealing, unlike Rose, who wore a leather jacket and torn denim pants.

Someone accidentally bumped into her from behind and snapped her out of her reverie. She immediately approached the bouncer to ask.

"Excuse me."

"What are you doing here, Young Woman?"

Rose looked nervous due to the lewd gaze of the muscular man in front of her. She felt uncomfortable afterward. But her curiosity about Elliot compelled her to continue, "I'm looking for Elliot."

The man with a plain black short-sleeved shirt furrowed his brow. "Elliot? Elliot Maximus?"

"Do you know him?"

Then the man burst into laughter. After laughing, he shrugged and said, "He's Jean's favorite."

"Well... um, who is Jean then? Is she an important person?"

"He is very important."

Rose raised both her eyebrows. "Oh, really?" she pretended to be interested. "So, where can I meet Elliot tonight?"

There was a pause, and the tall, burly guard muttered for a moment before leaning his face forward. "You won't be able to meet him anywhere."

Rose furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"

The man returned to his original position before firmly grabbing Rose's hand.

The woman panicked and screamed, "Hey, what's going on?! Let me go!"

However, the guard completely ignored Rose's cries. Instead, he pulled the woman, who was much smaller than him, into the club. The loud music and colorful lights began to disturb Rose, who had never set foot in such a place before.

"Let me go! What is this?"

Unfortunately, Rose's voice was like the wind passing by the ears of the man whose name she still didn't know. His large and powerful body rendered Rose unable to do anything. She couldn't even resist the grip of the massive guard who continued to take her deeper inside. Finally, they arrived in front of a brown wooden door with a hanging sign that read 'no entry.'

Rose wondered in her heart why she, who didn't know this man at all, was forced to enter a noisy and unfamiliar club. Even if the woman asked the man next to her, she knew she wouldn't get any answers.

Then the man knocked on the door twice before grasping the doorknob and pushing the door in front of him. He didn't enter alone; his strong hand also pulled Rose along with him.

The door closed, and Rose no longer heard the noisy sounds behind her.

But the sudden scent of chamomile flowers and peppermint leaves permeating her sense of smell intrigued Rose. She followed the guard's gaze and saw a short woman with a well-endowed figure walking toward them.

The woman brushed back her long blonde hair, but Rose knew she was wearing a wig or fake hair. She approached and stopped right in front of Rose's face. Her brown eyes stared at Rose from head to toe without expression, then glanced at the guard beside her and gestured with one hand, causing the man to immediately step back a few steps.

And the woman with her striking appearance turned her gaze back to Rose. "So... you are Rose Pennington?"

The question made Rose furrow her brow curiously. "How do you know?"

The woman laughed, just like the earlier guard. However, her laughter was loud and piercing, almost making Rose faint with a shiver.

She regained focus after stopping her own laughter and folded her arms. One eyebrow raised and her gaze became sharp. "Do you know what Elliot has done to you, young woman?"

"I'm not sure."

"He sold you to me."

Rose was shocked and panicked. She raised both her hands in the air and quickly interrupted. "Whoa, wait! Hold on! There must be a misunderstanding. I didn't come here to... sell myself or anything like that."

The woman named Jean mumbled briefly before continuing, "So... how did you manage to come here? Wasn't it because Elliot asked you?"

"Well, yeah... I mean, Elliot did ask me to come here, but it was because he promised me a sum of money for tak-" Rose's words hung in the air as she finally realized the intention behind the crumpled piece of paper. "I guess he just tricked me."

Once again, Jean laughed. However, this time, she didn't immediately bombard Rose with questions. Instead, she shook her head and sneered. "I don't like your attire. Now, go to that room and choose one of the outfits I've prepared there."

"What?" Rose clasped her hands together and kneeled. "Madam, please, I have been deceived, and I humbly ask for your mercy to let me go. I don't want to sell myself like this."

"Aww, sweetie, you're so touching. But unfortunately, I've already given my money to your stepfather. And..." Jean tossed a handful of money onto the floor, right in front of Rose for her to see. "That's for you."

The woman's heart stirred. Throughout her years of working at Aunt Liliane's restaurant, Rose had never seen such a stack of money. She desired it, or rather, she needed it. Suddenly, her mother's face flashed through her mind. The money could save her mother. She could take her mother to the best hospital for treatment. However, her conscience hesitated to compromise.

Rose had never known love in her entire life. She couldn't engage in relationships with anyone due to taking care of her sick father. Even when she reached a suitable age, she had to accompany her mother. Rose was inexperienced in that area. Truly, she had no idea what she should do. Even if she sold her virginity, she wasn't sure those opportunistic men would keep ordering her services.

Her blue eyes looked up at Jean, who still had her arms crossed over her chest. She swallowed hard before finally asking, "W-would I get this much for my body?"

"Absolutely, and you can get even more if you serve the clients well," said Jean.

Rose picked up the wad of money in front of her and slowly stood up. Her eyes couldn't turn away from the alluring bills. "Can I take my mother to the hospital with this money?"

"Oh, certainly. But... you can't leave tonight."

"Why?"

"Because you have your first tenant."

*