SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 83

He would bring out all the beauty in her. She could guarantee that she’d be the most gorgeous woman at tonight’s party.

“Beautiful.” Diego smiled as he praised the radiant Ruby. Suddenly, there was awkwardness between them. She should be smiling shyly, not behaving like that—in an overconfident and ecstatic manner. He did not like things as they were, and he became absentminded.

“Let’s go. It’s almost time.”

Ruby proactively put her arm around Diego’s, and the two walked out into the pouring rain.

Ruby stretched her hand out and raindrops fell onto her fingers. She hastily retracted her hand, looked at the exquisite silver high heels, and tried to figure a way to proceed.

“Diego, my shoes will get wet.” She tugged at Diego’s shirt, unwilling to let even a drop of rain touch her. It would spoil her perfect image.

“I understand.” Diego turned back, reached out with his hands, and carried Ruby effortlessly like a groom carrying his new bride. Her legs were off the ground. Ruby hugged Diego’s neck tightly and smiled in extreme happiness.

“Diego, I love you,” She said, closing her eyes in complete bliss. However, she missed the look of loss and complexity in Diego’s eyes.

“I love you, too,” he replied easily, reciting the word ‘love’ like a script. Yet, there was nothing like love in his eyes. Was his love in his heart, or had it left already?

The car sped through the curtain of rain as it continued to rain. All that was left was the splattering sound.

Once that car disappeared, and a drenched woman finally came out of the corner of the wall. She was unsure if it was because of the rain, but her long eyelashes were wet. She was powerless to open her eyes.

She looked down and quickly removed her hand that was covering her daughter’s mouth. Raya stared at her with eyes that looked like hers. Then, she blinked and broke into a clever smile.

With one tiny hand on her blouse, Raya leaned back into her arms.

“Raya, did you see him? That is your father, but he does not know of your existence.” She hoisted her daughter higher and kissed her little face. “Sorry. Mommy had hurt you earlier. Mommy was afraid that if our father knew that we were alive, he wouldn’t leave us alone. Especially you, Raya.”

She was a mother who wanted to protect her child. She had experienced firsthand the extent of Diego’s ruthlessness. She dared not let him know of Raya’s presence; neither was she willing to put her daughter’s life in danger.

Ruby’s child would be extremely loved by him; her child, she believed, would be loathed by him.

All because he hated her. That made him hate his child as well. This was Diego. She had witnessed his heartless behavior, hadn’t she?

It’s just that she now knew he was capable of loving a woman, more than he had loved Diana. She felt slight jealousy fill up and then disperse, and maybe... she would cry.

Yet, she did not manage to. Life and stress, followed by her daughter’s birth, had not given her the luxury to love another with all of her.

Wasn’t this better? They both had the ones they loved. They would have nothing to do with each other anymore.

“Raya, did you know that? It was also raining when you were born. That’s why I call you Rainy Raya sometimes .” The rain was still pouring, Julianna hugged her daughter tightly and opened the umbrella. Then, she walked into the rain. Drops of rain hit her back, and it became soaked. As the wind blew, it felt frigid. Raya was sprawled in her arms with her little face tucked firmly into her mother’s chest, which wasn’t very wide. It might be thin, but it was the safest place. She gave a yawn... and smiled.

She was unaware that her mother was using her whole life to protect her.

Time passed by when we were not paying attention. Soon, we found out that time was gone just like that. Some people grow old, some grow up while some die.

.....

Bang... bang...

A moderate knock on the door. A middle-aged woman answered. She was perplexed as she did not see anyone at her door. She looked down, and an affectionate smile appeared on her face as she squatted and looked into the eyes of a toddler who was about as tall as her thigh.

“Raya, are you here to help your mother with the collection?”

The child before her nodded emphatically. Her face resembled an apple and it was beautiful. Her long hair fell smoothly on her shoulders, so soft that it was unbelievable. Her rosy cheeks were tender, matched with a pair of big, round eyes and a shy smile on her pouty lips.

“Just as I imagined years ago, our Raya is getting prettier like your mother.” Her slightly callous hand caressed the child’s soft face. Even though she felt uncomfortable, the child still smiled shyly.

“Okay, wait a minute. Granny will bring the clothes out for you.” She got up and went back in while the child remained standing in the same place. She stared curiously with her wide eyes but did not follow suit.

Soon, that middle-aged woman reappeared with several pieces of clothing in her arms. It might not be much as she could carry the load with one hand. However, for a small child like the one before her, it was a lot.

“Here, Raya. Hold them well.” She placed the clothing into the child’s arms, and the little one held them tight with her elbows.

“Oh, yes.” The middle-aged woman seemed to recall something, and she took a candy out of her hand.

“Raya, this is from Granny. You can eat it.” She had bought it for her own granddaughter. Coincidentally, there was one left, and she gave it to this little cutie.

The child shook her head obediently. “Mommy said not to accept things from others.” Her sweet voice had the immaturity of a child. Yet, as she was saying the words, her eyes never left the candy.

Actually, she really wanted to have it, but she must remember her mother’s instructions.

“Hahaha, it’s alright. This is my gift to you. If you don’t want it, then I will be angry.” The middle-aged woman smiled, but there was no anger on her face. Instead, she felt sorry.

Such a good and sensitive child. Julianna had taught her child well even though it was just a three-year-old. Her granddaughter was two years older than Raya, and yet when she liked something which belonged to others, she would throw a tantrum. She would not stop unless she got her way.