SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 101

Her daughter was her only family member.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she strode into the hospital. No matter how high the price, she must save her daughter. Nothing else mattered.

In the hospital...

Raya sat with Julianna’s arms around her. As a result of her prolonged absence, Raya was worried that she would be left alone so she grabbed onto Julianna’s blouse tightly.

Julianna caressed her daughter’s head. The pain in her palm darkened her eyes. Her hand might have hurt, but her daughter would be experiencing more pain from now on.

“Mommy, I want to go home.” Raya had her doll in one hand and her other one grabbing tightly onto Julianna’s clothes. Fear was written all over her face.

She was scared of being there alone and not being able to see her mother.

“Mmm, soon. We’ll go home very soon.” Julianna held her daughter’s small frame tightly in her arms. Her assurances sounded weak compared to her hug.

Was it still possible for them to go home?

Julianna touched her own pocket and produced a candy from within.

“Raya, look. Mommy is doing magic for you.” She put the candy in her daughter’s mouth. Raya’s long eyelashes fluttered, and she bit down on her almost pale lips. Then, she took the candy. However, she did not eat it. She smelled it and put it before Julianna.

“Mommy, eat.” A nurse had come in, and her heart ached at the sound of the soft voice.

Such a pity; she was such a beautiful child.

Julianna took the candy, but she put it in Raya’s mouth again. “Mommy has eaten. This is for you. If you don’t eat it, I’m going to be angry.” She smiled. Tears began streaming down her face involuntarily. She hurriedly wiped them away, worried that her daughter would see them.

Her daughter had always been smart.

Raya thought for a while before lowering her head to eat the candy from Julianna’s hand. Sweetness spread in her mouth, prompting her to finally smile. That was all she needed—a candy, her mother, and Dolly.

With her two little hands hugging tightly onto that doll, her childish face finally smiled. As her eyes closed, she fell asleep sprawled in Julianna’s arms.

Julianna held onto her daughter carefully. A cloud of tears had caused the view before her to turn hazy.

The doctor had been asking about the hospitalization fees again. However, she did not know how she could come up with such a huge sum of money. No matter what kind of work she chose, there was no way she could come up with the money in such a short span of time.

Unless she resorted to robbing or stealing. Unless...

The look in her eyes darkened while she caressed her daughter’s head. The corners of her lips began to purse helplessly.

“Raya, Mommy is willing to do anything for you.”

“Anything.”

She put her daughter down but realized that Raya was clutching tightly at the corner of her blouse. Perhaps she was afraid that she would leave her again. So, she held on with her dear life even in her sleep.

Julianna hardened herself and pulled her daughter’s hand away gently. They had never been apart since she was born. This was the first time, and it wouldn’t be the last.

“Raya, trust Mommy. I will definitely make you better.”

“You don’t have a father or a grandmother... but you have a mother who loves you with everything. How could I let you die?”

She stood up. However, she was reluctant to leave the moment she saw Raya tossed and turned in her bed. There was no other way.

She needed money. Lots and lots of money.

What could a woman do to earn easy money?

Other than using her body, what ways were there?

She turned her head away mournfully. Her face, with her daughter’s features, felt dirty at the thought of it.

...

A young woman was leaning against a recliner under the neon lights. There was a soft and white fur shawl, a high-end handmade carpet, and blooming roses. At the moment, she raised her eyelids slightly charmingly. Whether she was raising her hand or lifting her head up, her actions were filled with an irresistible maturity and story.

“Have you thought about it?” Laziness filled the woman’s voice as her red lips parted. She looked at her fingers and finally sat straight. The shawl slipped to her waist, showing a huge chunk of her fair and tender bosom. It felt sexy—not cheap—and so graceful that she could take one’s breath away. With her lovely eyes squinting and her right hand on her cheek, she studied the young woman who was standing before her. There was no reply from her; neither did she leave.

Her face could be considered beautiful although her complexion was a bit poor. Her features were indeed quite pretty, even gorgeous. She had big eyes, a good nose, and a slender chin. Her body was slightly on the thin side, but one could see the curves. This place was lacking a woman like her, one who was untouched by the nightlife.

Soon, however, she would find herself immersed in it.

The smell and its filth.

“What is your name?” The woman stood with her long legs that were vaguely visible.

“Julianna.” A soft voice spoke, seemingly filled with faint despair.

The charming woman tossed her hair. “People who come here have their own stories. Few came willingly. The moment you have decided, you should know this. Everything that was yours will no longer belong to you. They will be mine.”

The woman’s scarlet lips parted charmingly. “This is a tough road. Once you have chosen it, there will be no going back.”

The dim red light fell onto Julianna’s long eyelashes, which quivered weakly. She looked up and lightly nodded.

She had no right to object. Besides selling her body, she did not know of any other solution.

“All right.” The woman sat down again and rested her hands on her lap. Then, she put one hand under her chin. Her actions were natural and elegant. She was so exquisite and perfect, like a sculpture which has been injected with a soul.

This time, her eyes narrowed.

“Strip.” It was the same charm filled with laziness. Her words sent fear into Julianna. Strip? Here? Why must she disrobe?

She was embarrassed. There were at least five to six people there, not including those standing in the shadows. Must she really take off her clothes here?

She would be stripped of everything, even her character, and what was left of her dignity.

She closed her eyes as the heat rose into her eyes. Her hands clutched tightly onto the front of her blouse.

“Strip. You should have nothing to fear now that you have decided to sell yourself. If you are unwilling to take off your clothes now, do you think you are going to disrobe in front of a customer?”

The woman looked up from the corner of her eyes. It was filled with sarcasm. “I don’t pay you so much money for you to be a saint. We don’t need a saint here. Saints don’t make a man smile. Once you’ve made the men smile, you can have the money. If you want dignity and character, look elsewhere. You won’t find any of those from me.”