SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 22

This was her personality.

The tip of the pen turned, and with a few strokes, she had drawn an outline. Her swift strokes formed some male features on the white paper in an instant. A few thick lines formed a characteristic male face, thin lips, and sleek, long eyes that held magnificence. After a few more strokes from her hands, his features became 80% similar to him.

She turned a few pages forward. They were all him—all the pages had him.

The angry him, the cruel him, the cold him, and now, the peaceful him.

But none of her drawings had a smiling one or even a friendly one.

She hugged the sketchbook tightly to her chest. The sunlight seeped through the windows and sprayed onto her.

If only they could stop fighting for a few days more.

She subconsciously laid her fingertips on the back of her hand. If this continues, will her love eventually end up like her soul?

Lost in the end.

The house still smelled like him; faintly of tobacco and his aftershave. She lowered her head, her lips lifting into a smile unwittingly, holding a trace of simple satisfaction. It was heartbreaking.

Diego was a man of his word. An hour later, the clothes were really sent over.

Julianna sat by the bed, staring dejectedly at the clothes in the box. They were pretty, but they didn’t suit her. The clock on the wall read 7:35 pm, and he would be arriving soon.

She bit her lips softly, took the clothes and took off the cotton shirt she had washed countless times. She changed into an exorbitant evening gown.

She looked at herself in the mirror, wanting to hide herself away. She had never worn anything so revealing. Under the subtle hemline of the dress were two slim, long legs. If she was not careful, she could easily expose herself.

And her back, almost her entire back, was revealed, making her feel embarrassed and humiliated. Did he really want her to go wearing such a dress?

She let her hair down, and it reached her waist, covering her naked back. She turned around. The clock on the wall was at eight o’clock sharp. Familiar footsteps sounded from the door.

The man opened the door, staring at her blandly, eyes flashing briefly with something she could not catch, but she knew it wasn’t that of a pleasant surprise.

“Let’s go,” he softly said. He occasionally glanced at her legs that peeped out from her lace skirt. His mind was occupied with something else.

“Diego, I...” Julianna placed her hand on her chest. Her conservative self felt as if she was not wearing anything, making her feel extremely embarrassed.

“What’s wrong?” Diego looked down at the watch on his wrist. “We don’t have much time. If there’s anything else, hurry up.”

He did not seem like he was in a hurry, but it was a command not to be defied. His time was precious, so it was better not to let him wait too long.

“No, it’s nothing.” Julianna opened and closed her mouth, but said nothing in the end. Walking behind Diego, her eyes gleamed with a dull sorrow. She actually wanted to ask if she could not wear the dress. Because clothes like this made her feel like those hooker girls dancing at the club.

But he probably would not agree.

.....

“The dress is beautiful.” He suddenly spun around to face her while she was in the middle of her jumbled thoughts. It was not clear whether or not he meant it, but he looked at her up and down, and indeed, she looked breath taking. The evening gown was extremely revealing, or in other words, almost as if she was wearing nothing. It showed her ample breasts, her long, slim legs, and a beautiful back that made his imagination run wild.

“Really?” Julianna’s dim eyes instantly brightened again. Is that really so? Beautiful.

Diego just focused on driving and said nothing this time. A gust of wind blew, and Julianna hugged her arms tightly. Why is it that she felt so cold, though?

The car stopped. Diego walked out of the car, his large figure was extremely pressurizing and overpowering. In front of others, he was always the strong, determined, and cold-blooded CEO of the Hanson Group.

When Julianna walked out, the air outside was cold, making her turn her body slightly to the side. People passing by her would unanimously take another close look at her, eyes filled with a shred of surprise. But most of it was mainly disdain, and even subtle dominance, making her feel extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed.

“We’re going in.” Diego held his arm out, his face expressionless. Julianna lightly nodded her head and sneaked a peek at him. She did not know if he had made her dress like this on purpose.

When the two of them walked in, the chandelier shone onto them—the light fell perfectly on both of them as if they were the golden boy and jade girl. The man was dashing and handsome. His lips curved, and his defined features oozed with coolness. Even without smiling, he was already the center of attraction at the venue.

And the woman by his side, the sight of her body donned in the dress was stunning, not to mention her face. Even the boldest woman would not dare wear such revealing and figure-hugging clothing. Her figure was indeed good, but she seemed promiscuous. It revealed so much skin. Her pale face showed mild traces of helplessness, her eyelashes also slightly curled. It was meant to be sexy, but she still managed to give off an air of innocence.

Diego’s words were not a lie. She looked really beautiful with the dress on. It was beyond beauty; she could awaken the beasts in men.

“Diego, who’s this?” A woman wearing a long silk skirt walked over with a perfect smile. Her exquisite features were extremely gorgeous. The figure-hugging, back-revealing dress she wore accentuated her voluptuous breasts further.

“My wife, Julianna,” Diego casually introduced, taking a glass of wine from the side. The word ‘wife’ sounded a little aloof.

“Oh, so it’s Mrs. Hanson!” The woman extended the ‘oh’. Her smiling red lips seemed to have added something, making Julianna bite her own, unsure of how to reply.

What’s the relationship between the two of them?

“Hello, Mrs. Hanson. I’m Erika, Diego’s... friend.” She lusciously smiled, her answer seemingly implied something more. Someone who could address Diego in this manner cannot simply be just friends like she said they were.

“Hello...” Julianna turned to look at her, but Erika just shot her a smile that seemed to imply something.

“Diego, I have something to tell you. Can we talk alone?” Erika touched her wavy wine-red hair that was naturally oozing with charm, making her attention-grabbing. She was passionate and sexy. Her red lips looked as if they were coated with nectar, enticing people to kiss them.

Diego put down the wineglass in his hand. He then removed Julianna’s tight hands from his arms.

“I’m leaving for a bit. Stay here for a little while.” He lifted his eyebrows indifferently and turned around heartlessly, leaving with Erika. Julianna could only dumbly stare at their retreating figures. At that moment, she felt as though she was abandoned, and somewhere deep inside, a part of her heart clenched.

She turned back. She lifted a wineglass with trembling hands and drank it, wanting to give herself some courage. She held the wineglass tightly with both her hands, feeling as if everyone was looking at her.

She didn’t recognize anyone. Their gazes were neither friendly nor polite.

“Mrs. Hanson, it’s been a long time.” A stranger’s voice rang from beside her. Julianna raised her head to look at the man who had, unbeknownst to her, stood in front of her. It’s been a long time? But they had never met each other before.

“Who are you, if I may ask?” Her eyes were filled with slight confusion, mixed with naivety and innocence. Yes, it’s those eyes. The man’s eyes suddenly lit up, his hand also took a wineglass from the side. He swirled the wineglass in his hand, the corner of his eye darkened with an obvious ill intention.

“Have you forgotten, Mrs. Hanson? We met on your wedding day. I will never forget such a scene... I remember it as if it just happened yesterday.”

His eyes landed on her long legs that were partially hidden by her dress. His blatant ogling made Julianna feel uncomfortable.

The incident he was talking about was something she would never forget, too. It was humiliating and embarrassing. She recalled the eyes she felt on her legs the day she fell. Such an understanding made her feel as if she was naked and being mocked by everyone.

“Mrs. Hanson, this is my name card. Feel free to contact me if there’s a need.” The man stuffed a name card into her hands, his hand accidentally brushed against her breasts. Or maybe it was not an accident.

Julianna stepped back in a hurry, her grip loosening, and the name card fell to the floor. She did not pick up the name card but declined him in a low voice.

“I’m sorry, sir, but I don’t think there will be any need for me to contact you.” She turned around, not wanting to talk to the man any further.

The man put down the wineglass in his hands and crossed his hands across his chest, admiring her naked back. “Acting all high and mighty even though you’re dressed like that?” The man’s voice was thick with sarcasm. “I’ll give you however much money you want. I wonder what Diego’s wife will be like in bed. It makes me anticipate. I have slept with countless women, but sleeping with Diego’s woman will be a first.”

His voice was not loud, but a number of people had heard him. They were smiling with mockery, making Julianna feel extremely embarrassed. She wished she could dig a hole and throw herself in, and maybe fall to her death.

She gripped her hands tightly and walked out in big strides. There was no noise outside. It was extremely quiet. But when the cold air blew, she felt an unspeakable chill.

It was a chill to the bones, a chill to her core, an excruciating chill.