SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 36

“I’m going to the washroom.” She smiled apologetically as she released his hand and walked out. She turned around and looked at the man. His presence was irreplaceable among the crowd.

That was her husband, whom she felt immensely proud of. To have a man like him was happiness. It would not be tragic without him, just that they were not fated or meant to be together. The auction remained ongoing on the stage. Her white attire swirled lightly around her legs as she turned. In an instant, the room was filled with an aromatic fragrance. Like the splendor of the flowers in full bloom, she attracted the eyes of many people in the room.

Not everyone was meant to possess such beauty. Inside the washroom, she rested her hand on her stomach. She wondered if the trauma from the last time had caused the dull aching pain. She did not want Diego to know so she continued to put up with it.

She leaned on the counter in the washroom and waited for the pain to go away. That man had given her this pain, but she still didn’t hate him. Even if it was another person, she might have behaved the same.

She was not the Virgin Mary because she was too adorable.

The door opened then, and a shadow loomed over her face.

She looked up, slightly stunned. There was a vague smile of sarcasm. She had not seen her mother for a long time.

Evelyn sized Julianna up from head to toe. She looked really beautiful, like a younger version of herself. However, the more beautiful she looked and the better her life was, it only made Evelyn feel the pain.

“Are you satisfied now?” She sneered. “Don’t forget that you have snatched everything you have from Diana. Diego will always love Diana. Do you think that he is serious about you?” The more she said, the more vicious and ruthless her words sounded. They stared at each other, their features were similar. They were no longer mother and daughter... but enemies.

Julianna turned on the tap nonchalantly and put her hands underneath the running water. The frigid water brushed against her palm. She had once again felt her heart aching as it ripped apart.

“Mom, do you have to hate me like this?” she asked softly, not turning around.

“I told you not to call me ‘mother’.” Evelyn felt an instant pinch in her heart, so painful that she threw her hand out.

With a thump, Julianna was shoved; and she banged into the water cistern in front of her. Her face turned pale, and the initial pain in her stomach became more intense.

Evelyn seemed shocked by what she had done. She stared at her hand and remained silent.

“I don’t want a mother like you, either.” Julianna straightened her body as she covered her stomach. She turned around and looked directly into the lady’s eyes. “But...” She smiled sarcastically, “you are still my mother. I have not forgotten that. You used to hug me when I was little and say ‘Juju is Mommy’s baby. Mommy loves Juju the most’. You never eat anything good or wear anything nice. You always saved the best for me.

“Mom.” Julianna clutched her hands tightly. The makeup did not mask her pale face. The person who was causing her ache and pain was none other than her own mother, the one who had given her life and loved her.

“Mom, am I really your daughter? Tell me. Am I? You always accused me of robbing everything from Diana. Have you ever thought about it? In reality, it was Diana who had robbed me of everything. My childhood, my teens, and my present.”

She gave a bitter laugh. Ha, my mother. This is being a mother. Mum, are you only willing to see my suffering but not see my happiness?

“Mom, how do I feel every day after I married Diego? Mom, do you know what kind of pain and aching I was in?

“No. You didn’t know. You never knew and never bothered to find out. Mom, everyone is made of flesh and blood. Everyone knew pain and aching. You always assume that I’m strong, which is why I don’t have the right to feel. Right?” Julianna shook her head. Her eyes showed a kind of weakness which no one had seen before.

Evelyn was caught off-guard, even embarrassed by her confrontation. There were things that had nagged at her, but she never wanted to face them.

“Julianna , you don’t deserve to be happy. Don’t forget that you owe Diana her life.” Evelyn picked up her bag and walked hurriedly out of the washroom. She had closed the door so hard that it closed with a loud bang.

Julianna merely put her hands on her stomach and pressed hard. Must she die in order to compensate for the life she had owed Diana?

She looked at her reflection. The elaborate makeup on her face was all messed up. She lowered her head, turned on the tap, and let the frigid water drip on her fingertips.

She lowered her head. Tears fell drop by drop from her chin, and then they started flowing. She washed the excess makeup off her face and lifted her head to see her extremely pale complexion.

She knew she could never be a princess.

No amount of makeup could hide her badly-scarred heart as she wiped her tears off.

...

Diego had his hands on his lap. The auction had already sold five or six items, and there were a few more left. He lifted his wrist. The minute hand on his watch had moved a few more rounds. She had been gone for half an hour. Has something happened to that woman? Should he get someone to check on her?

“Cousin, are you getting worried?” Anton asked with pointed honesty as he observed the uneasiness that Diego was displaying. He had ended the eye contest with someone.

Diego’s expression was as aloof as before, but his actions had betrayed him. He kept glancing at his watch, not that he was counting the minutes. He was worried about some woman.

Diego simply glanced ungratefully at Anton, and the latter cowered tightly. He was not blaming Diego, but why was he receiving icy looks?

“Ah, coming. She’s coming, Cousin. Look.” He pointed in the direction behind Diego. She was finally back. However, a man had the urge to snatch her.

“I’m sorry. You’ve waited for a long time.” Julianna sat in her old seat. She had just reapplied a light layer of makeup on her pale face. Finally, she had some color back.

“You cried.” Diego narrowed his eyes as he lifted her chin gently with his fingers. Those were bloodshot eyes, as red as a rabbit’s. He already knew that she had indeed cried.

“No, I didn’t. It was the sand that went into my eyes, and they felt uncomfortable.” Julianna shook her head with a faint smile. Then, she rubbed her eyes gently with her fingers to make it look like sand had really gone in.