SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 88

The man rested his hands on the table as he raised his brows. It had been three years since they first met, and the situation remained the same.

It was exactly like three years ago except for the extremely pretty little girl in her arms.

“You remember me?” Julianna smiled faintly. Three years ago, she had come to sell her blood for the first time. She had never forgotten this unexpected doctor.

“You remember. How could I forget?” The man smiled as he rested his arm on the chair behind him.

Surprisingly, they had been on each other’s minds even though this was their second encounter. Three years might have passed, but when they met again, they had recognized each other immediately.

He was not very handsome, and yet his face was full of character; kind yet distant. Especially his light brown pupils, there was an aloofness that was unknown to others.

Julianna stretched her arm out as she turned Raya’s face to her chest. She did not wish for her to see this.

“I told you this would hurt.” The man pursed his lips, measuring this woman with his eyes. She looked more haggard than three years ago because of the same actions.

He did not like people who sold their blood, especially a woman.

If there was really another solution, why would one resort to selling their blood?

“I know, but this is necessary.” Julianna lowered her head and met her daughter’s big, round eyes and pressed her head closer to her chest with the other hand.

“Mommy, it is very uncomfortable for me like this.” She pouted her petal-like lips and protested.

“Hang on for a little while, baby. It will be over soon.” She caressed her daughter’s hair and looked at the doctor who was wearing a serious expression.

“She was the child from three years ago.” The man stood up, retrieved a syringe from the side, and sat again. A look of indifference flashed in his eyes. It was a quality unlike a doctor’s.

“Yes.” Julianna nodded. “She is my daughter.” She rested her face at the top of her daughter’s head, her eyes oozing with love. She was her precious baby.

“Where is the child’s father?” he asked as he pulled Julianna ’s arm. The scar of the needle prick from three years ago was vaguely visible on her slender arm. It had not faded at all.

Julianna shuddered and shook her head. “We are separated.” She smiled and replied lightly, not making it into a matter. Yet, the man could see the pain in her eyes when he looked up.

The needle went in, and it did not hurt much, just slightly numbing. Julianna put her other hand on her daughter’s head, not wanting her to witness this bloody scene which could cause her to accept the complicated adult life.

The needle was removed once the blood bag was filled. The doctor, like three years ago, pressed her arms . He did not think that she would have a spare hand for herself.

Her other hand was taking care of the little girl in her arms.

“Your daughter has your looks.” The man smiled as his light brown eyes brightened, which made him more approachable.

His smile at the moment was the most genuine smile Julianna had seen.

It was not distant or pretense.

“That’s what everyone says.” Julianna smiled from the bottom of her heart. She knew Raya was the exact mold of her, especially when she was younger. They were identical.

Raya turned around and blinked her eyes. She could not understand why the uncle was holding onto her mother’s hand.

“Kid, Uncle is treating your mother. It will be over soon. Be quiet, be quiet.” The man saw the caution and suspicion in the little girl’s eyes, and he explained with a smile.

Raya blinked her eyes once and returned to her mother’s arms.

She had always listened to instructions and been obedient.

The man met her eyes. For the first time, he saw a story and maturity in a child beyond a three-year-old. This child seemed intelligent.

He loosened his hand, and Julianna used both of hers to hold her daughter. It was too taxing for one hand to do it, especially when her left hand did not function like her right one.

The man’s eyes turned on Julianna ’s right arm. “Didn’t you seek treatment for your arm?” The look in his eyes was vicious, as though he had not missed her every move.

Julianna was stunned for a moment, and then she shook her head gently. It wasn’t that she had not wanted to. She had no opportunity or money to do so because she had a young daughter to care for.

“It’s a pity. It may be too late to cure it now.”

The man’s eyes darkened. He seemed to really think it was a pity that a young woman like her would not have a fully functional body.

“It’s alright. I am used to it. I can live well with one hand, too.” Julianna carried her daughter and stood up. “At least, I can still carry my daughter. Isn’t it enough?”

Raya did not understand the depth of these words. She hugged her mother’s neck tightly as she blinked her eyes. There was a grievance in her face.

“I do not wish to see you here for the third time,” the man suddenly said as Julianna left.

While she did not reply, her smile was bitter as she turned around. Her eyes were misty. “Neither do I.” She carried her daughter properly and walked out. If it was possible, she would never have resorted to this method.

If she could, she wouldn’t be here. Would she?

If possible...

She had no other way.

The mother and daughter disappeared from the man’s sight. He leaned against the table, and his light brown eyes were in a daze.

“Dr. Toomas, thank you again.” Another man in a doctor’s robe strode in not long after Julianna left. He reached out and patted the man’s back.

“Mmm, it’s okay. I have nothing to do at home. Anyway, I am on the hospital’s payroll as a physician. It may have been in name, but I still have to clock in my hours.” The man named Tooma said simply as he frowned.

“What’s up? Something on your mind?” The man smiled and took over the job from him.

“Oh, another one to sell blood?” He said without emotion. There weren’t many who would come to sell their blood, but at times, there would be a handful.

“Nowadays, men would do anything for money.” The man sighed. Like Toomas, he did not wish for such a thing to happen. It might have been part of their job description, but it was still cruel to think of it.

“For some, this is the only way,” Toomas said this sentence in a matter-of-fact manner. Then, he removed his robe and tossed it aside. “I can leave now since you are back.”

The man put his hands into his pockets. Without the strict-looking doctor’s robe, he looked suave and handsome.

“Oh, yes, I really must thank you. You have just returned and have to take over my shift. I will remember this.” The man smiled as he said this, “Time really flies. Three years ago, you helped me with my shifts, and now, you’re still helping. Sometimes, things can happen in the most surprising way.”

Toomas raised his eyebrows. “Perhaps the world has no lack of surprises. There might even be surprises within surprises.” With those meaningful words, he turned and gave a wave before walking out.

Many turned back for a second look as he walked past. His features were not very handsome, but he made others feel comfortable, especially when he smiled. It was elegant, like royalty—which was unforgettable.

Once again, they stood outside the display window. Raya stared at the doll, unblinking. She could not understand why her mother had brought her back here.

“Raya, Mommy is going to buy you that doll. Okay?” Julianna put her daughter down and squatted down beside her as she caressed her frowny little eyebrows.

She bit her finger and then looked at Julianna. Finally, she nodded her head. Soon, she shook her head as if she had recalled something.

“Mommy, I have grown up. I don’t need to play with a doll.” She hugged Julianna’s neck and gave the doll another look as her eyes misted with a look of yearning.

“Raya is still a child. That’s why you can tell Mommy if you want anything.” As she kissed her daughter’s tender face, Julianna felt her heart aching. This child was too obedient.

“Come on.” She held her daughter’s hand as she pushed the door open and walked in.

All the display cabinets inside were made of glass, and there was an extravagant feel which was not presented in front of the shop. Besides dolls, the shop was selling a lot of other jewelry. Even all the staff were beautiful.

Not to mention the customers who patronized the place. All of them were well-dressed and wearing jewelry.

On the other hand, Julianna was the only one with simple and plain clothing. Her clothes were old, and one could tell that they had been washed many times.

No one had approached her since she entered because they had not thought that she could afford to buy anything.

“Can I have a look at that?”

She pointed at the beautiful doll which was placed on the highest shelf. Raya hugged her thigh and tried to hide behind her.

The salesperson measured Julianna with her eyes turned upwards. “You can’t look if you’re not buying.” A clear sign of despair. That was an expensive doll. Could she afford it?

Julianna lowered her head and took out the money from her pocket. It was the money she had gotten when she sold her blood and, combined with her savings, it was enough to purchase the doll.

She could make it happen as long as Raya liked it.