SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 4

However, after a long while, all she felt was hot air on her face. She peeled her eyes open and saw an unmistaken sneer on the man’s lips.

“Julianna , I won’t do anything to you because you disgust me,” rasped Diego. He lifted her face but he never moved his lips down—he didn’t dare touch her lips.

Julianna felt wavered, her steps staggered a little. She went limp and almost fell to the ground, but she couldn’t—she really couldn’t.

Her eyes started to get blurred with tears, but she could still see the cold, rigid facial expression on her mother’s face, the merciless mockery on her step-father’s face, and even the harsh and unkind smile on Diego’s face.

All of them were laughing at her. She, however, started weeping.

...

Julianna looked around, slowly taking in her surroundings. She hugged herself even tighter when she saw a wedding portrait still hanging on the bridal room wall, and it was a portrait of Diego and Diana. So, he could be gentle when he wanted to smile and to love. But that love would never be hers to have.

Could things possibly be any crueler than this? She bit the back of her hand. Was he reminding her that she had no place in his heart? That she was his foe and also his plaything?

Diego forcefully opened the door with a push, and then sauntered in. He was still wearing the same suit that he had worn at the wedding. He crossed his elbows and then looked at Julianna , who was sitting by the bedside, in a condescending manner.

There was not an ounce of expression on his face except for the cruel and unfeeling sneer.

“What’s the matter? Are you satisfied now after marrying me?” He stood there and placed his hands in his pockets.

Julianna raised her head but was clutching the front of her clothes firmly in her hands. At that moment, her bright eyes seemed to have lost some of their sparkle.

“What? Nothing to say? You were willing to kill your sister over these things,” mocked Diego. “It’s such a joke that a woman like you expects to receive happiness even after what you’ve done, for that, you’ll be a sinner for the rest of your life.” His cruel words pounded on Julianna relentlessly, as if they were cold beads.

“N-no... I didn’t...”

Diego cut her off in haste. She was still defending herself, even now! Did she really think that he wanted to marry her?

“Take off your clothes.”

Julianna shuddered as she put her hands down and started to undo the buttons on her clothes one by one.

Small spheres of goose bumps appeared on her soft white skin instantly. She was unsure if it was due to the cold or from her fear. She lowered her head and sat there helplessly.

“You seriously thought that I would be interested in you? I feel disgusted when I see you.” Diego folded his arms on his chest and stood there. He had to admit that this woman had a pretty good figure. She might have been slightly skinny but overall, well balanced.

A pity that she simply had a wicked heart.

“No...” Julianna shook her head. She had not wanted this. Not one bit.

However, Diego had run out of patience. He walked up to her, “You tried every possible way to get me to marry you. Isn’t this what you wanted?” Diego approached her. His icy, intense eyes casted a shadow on her. It was filled with endless hatred—blood-thirsty hatred.

“It is not like that. Diego, please do not treat me in such a cruel manner.” Julianna looked up with her tear-streaked face. There was not a shred of dignity left as she stood in front of him.

Diego gave a laugh filled with sarcasm. “Now who is the really cruel one?”

Another sarcastic laugh. “You paid a very high price for your naivety.” One would be completely fooled by her performance.

He took her body and plundered her heart, both at the same time.

She clutched the blanket tightly from under her body. Her lips were a ghastly sight, for she had bitten so hard on them till they bled.

Diego laughed with sarcasm once more. The real pain had only just begun. Could the pain that she was experiencing be compared to his or Diana’s? Diana was the one he had chosen to marry since his childhood. Yet, she had murdered her. She had murdered his love—Diana.

Julianna reached out with her hands as if she was about to grab something. But, that kind of pain had pierced her heart, body, and soul.

It hurt so much: she was in complete agony.

Diego pretended not to hear her. He kept laughing. His laughter was filled with contempt. It sounded like the devil. “This is the price for being my wife. I want you to remember how I owned this body of yours. I want you to never forget: to always remember this pain.

“You are not worthy of my love. That is why I don’t have to treat you like a human being. You are not worthy of it.”

Julianna bit hard on the back of her hand. She shook her head ever so often, her facial complexion white as snow. She simply looked at the man with her dull eyes. The man’s heartless gaze bore into her, directly at her soul.

“I want you to live as if you’re dead.” His words continued to ring in her ears. She merely lifted her eyes and stared at the wedding portrait that was still hanging on the wall.

Diana, was this what you wanted?

She clutched her hands tight and looked miserably at the man who was still torturing her.

What scattered on the newlyweds’ huge bed was the man’s ruthlessness and her pure and innocent soul.

She had not enjoyed her first s****l encounter. Instead, it was filled with pain. Gut-wrenching pain.

It wasn’t until Diego withdrew himself, without care and finished wearing his pants, did he look at the already unconscious woman. He had decided that he would not show any compassion towards this kind of woman.

He walked out of the room and slammed the door shut. Then he closed his eyes. He could not bring himself to look at the body, the one he had violated so thoroughly.

Julianna merely folded herself together. The blood stains on the bed were proof that someone had just violated and abused her body.

“Little brother...” She opened her eyes and she looked at the man in the photo with a dull and empty gaze.

“Why didn’t you recognize me? Why... didn’t you believe me? I did not harm Diana. Why didn’t any of you believe me? Didn’t trust me?”

She reached out with her hands with the thought of grabbing something. In the end, she simply put the back of her hand against her lips and bit hard.