SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 54

She moved but could not say a word. That kind of love was indeed very pathetic, and she had no guarantee that she could do it, especially being intimate with another man.

She kept shaking her head as her face paled. She was not a vicious woman. Between love and moral, it was a tough choice for her.

“Ruby, I beg you. Please leave him. You will meet someone better, more suitable for you. You are so young and beautiful; whereas for me, I don’t have any more chances.”

Julianna reached out with her left hand and held onto Ruby’s hand tightly. She knew she was moved, that she was not a bad person. She could only beg for her to leave, not destroy her marriage, and take Diego away from her. She was not in the capacity to compare herself with her.

He loved Ruby but loathed Julianna . As she looked up, Ruby could see her pain and hopelessness.

She held onto her hands very, very tightly. Julianna had not scolded her. She had not accused her of being the third party in her marriage. If she had, maybe she would have felt better and accepted it. After all, love was something one had no control of. Right now, she was pleading with her, and it put her to shame. As if someone had slapped her in broad daylight.

“I’m sorry. Can you... give me a few days to consider...?” Ruby stood up hastily, grabbed her purse, and ran out. She seemed to be unable to look at her, not even a second.

Julianna gripped her fingers tightly. They felt numbed. She stared dully as her eyes misted with tears.

She took out some loose change from her pocket and left them at the table. Then, she stood up and made her way out. Her steps felt heavy, as did her heart.

She stood at the door and allowed the mild sunlight to shine on her face. It stung her eyes. She started walking slowly, not taking the car, and made her way back home step-by-step with her feet.

...

Could she still call that place home?

She opened the door and walked in with her heavy feet. At the sight, Maria dropped the rag in her hands and exclaimed, “Madam, you are back.”

Julianna nodded lightly with her dull eyes and made her way to her room. The door closed with a bang. Maria looked at the door weirdly as she placed her hand on her forehead. “What an odd family. Did Madam and Master have a fight? It has been a few days and he hasn’t returned, and Madam behaved like a walking corpse. There was no life in her.”

She continued staring for a long time before picking up the rag and resumed the cleaning. She was only a maid. It was not her place to question what happened with her bosses.

There was a repressed silence in the whole Hanson villa. Maria opened her mouth and took a deep breath. It felt awful, and she wondered how it could feel so heavy.

She shook her head and made her way into the kitchen.

A ray of light shone in from the window but fell short at the tightly shut door. Like a ray of hope, it never made its way in.

Julianna took out her sketchbook and flipped through the pages as if she was reading everything about him: his cruelty, his ruthlessness, his heartlessness, his passion, his doting, and lastly the destruction.

She closed her eyes gently. Her fingers were still swollen, and they hurt at the slightest movement, straight to her heart.

She placed the sketchbook to her chest and hugged it, seemingly feeling closer to him. However, she knew that he had never allowed himself to open up to her.

Not even a bit.

Everything was a pretense. A fraud. Why did she feel love and pain?

Her face was pale and white like paper, without any color. Her hand went to her forehead, and she touched the wound gently with her fingers.

It hurt, just a bit. So this was how it feels.

She smiled bitterly. Julianna was an ugly duckling. Her father’s not fond of her, and her mother did not love her. Nobody even liked her bald head.

No one loved her, and she should not have survived. Was this what everyone thought? Were they being fair to her?

She had wanted to cry, badly. Then again, she realized she had gotten used to suppressing her cries. Looking ahead, the view in front of her eyes had turned blurry.

So was the portrait that hung on the wall.

If it was possible, she wanted to be Diana. However, she was Julianna . One who was unloved and loathed by her mother. Little Brother had not loved her even though she had waited decades for him. He hated her.

She placed her hands on her lap, one on top of the other. They were only her left and right hands in her world. Other than that, what else did she have?

In this world, what was perceived as real, and what was a pretense?

She leaned against the bed headboard and hugged herself tight. The temperature on her forehead was higher compared to a normal human being. She was sick, but no one knew... and no one cared.

“Ah Diego, I love you. I really do. Please... don’t leave me...” Although she was half-asleep, she would always dream of the heartless silhouette of that man. No matter how fast she chased, she could never catch up with him.

The hand which she had placed by her side began to tighten. Unknown to her, all she was going to grab onto was more pain and cruelty.

While recently, in the company, Diego has been wearing a stern expression like a machine. The contracts that they have been awarded had increased compared to a month ago. Their sales might have increased, but everyone was exhausted.

The morale was low in every department within the company. Diego was the only one to stay in his office, perusing and analyzing the documents. He was also meticulous during the meetings.

This was why some thought that Diego was not a human but a high-tech robot. Otherwise, how would one survive the workload?

“Deputy, can you please talk to the CEO? If this continues, we really can’t take it anymore. The whole company is working overtime because he is not leaving. Even the cleaning lady is complaining. All of us have a family, and those who are dating have separated. We really can’t take it even if it is just for a few more days.”

A crowd gathered around Anton while he rubbed his forehead repeatedly. One could vaguely see the red blood vessels under his lower eyelids. It seemed he has not had a good rest for the past few days.

They were tired; so was he.

He was almost as tired as a dog.

He raised his hand. “Lately, it has been quite busy in the company, and everyone has worked hard. Not to worry, it will end soon. You will all be well-rewarded. Please believe that Hanson’s Enterprise will not mistreat its own employees.”