SOME THINGS ARE MEANT TO BE

CHAPTER 102

“If you don’t want to do it, please leave.” She lay down and closed her eyes. “This is your last chance. Once you have decided to remain in this place, you will have to forsake all the good and innocence in you. This place will only give you endless hell, turning you into everything we want you to be.”

Julianna’s lips quivered. She finally put her hands down and moved shakily to the buttons, undoing them one at a time. Her head lowered as drops of tears fell onto her slender fingertips.

Once she was standing fully naked in front of everyone, she shut both of her eyes tightly. Every ounce of her was shaking. She knew that she had stripped herself of her dignity, purity, and her life. In this place, a woman was just a piece of merchandise.

A piece of merchandise had no need of any dignity.

They could sell their bodies. She will join their ranks in the future.

“That’s fine.” The woman in the recliner took a look and closed her eyes. “Are you a virgin?”

Julianna was shocked as she put her clothes on with her shaking hands. Even in the dimly-lit room, one could see her ashen face.

“No. I have a three-year-old daughter.” At the thought of Raya, she wiped her face off the streams of tears. She must stop crying. She must be strong. Raya was waiting for her to save her life.

“Oh, you don’t look like one who has given birth.” The woman gave her the once-over. Such a pathetically thin figure had given birth before.

“I...” Julianna bit down on her red lips, too shy to speak out. “May I have some money first?” Raya was sick, and she needed money.

The woman on the recliner closed her eyes again. She wondered if she was asleep.

After a long time, she raised her hand and waved it in the air. “Go ahead.” As soon as she finished saying that, the tone of her voice changed. In a hard and chilling tone, she said, “Don’t think you can escape because you don’t have the ability to do that.” With that, she went silent, seemingly asleep.

Julianna’s body went into shock. She smiled bitterly. “Rest assured that I never thought of running away.” She lowered her eyes to hide the look of dismay. “I won’t escape because I need a lot of money.”

Her hands clutched tightly at the front of her blouse. She felt filthy. In reality, she had been tainted. There was nothing pure about her.

She smiled bitterly and turned around to leave.

Under the dim light, the woman in the recliner coiled her body together until a man sat beside her and rested his hand on her forehead.

He began massaging out of comfort and habit.

“Why did you want her to beat a retreat?” A deep voice sounded. It was only the two of them now.

The woman opened her eyes slightly; she was not sleeping. However, her face no longer had the aggression. In its place, there was the appearance of lost.

“Didn’t you notice? She was a lot like me in the past.”

The man gripped his hands in a fist and gently opened them. He rested his hand on her forehead again. She still had not gotten over that man no matter how long and hard he tried.

No one noticed the glimmer at the corner of the woman’s eyes. Tears. She was crying, and it had been a long time since she had cried.

There were simply too many things in this world that one could not control. One would have to do things that they disliked. This path was only the beginning; there was no end. She did not regret it because her heart was dead.

Helena was one such woman and an example.

“Another pitiful woman. Obviously, she did not understand your message or your well-meant intention.”

The man said thoughtfully.

The woman remained lying, not allowing anyone to see her expression.

“You were wrong. It’s not that she didn’t understand nor had no wish to stop. She was powerless. She had someone she loved and cared for, and she was willing to do anything for them, including selling herself and letting others trample on her character and pride.

“You don’t understand. You still don’t...” Her voice disappeared between her red lips while the man frowned, silent and wordless.

The world outside was so different compared to this neon world filled with alcohol. Everyone was smiling, but who knew what an empty heart was feeling? Was she crying or lonely?

.....

In the hospital, Raya sat alone on the steps, looking out constantly with her doll in her arms.

A young nurse walked over and squatted beside her, asking softly, “Raya, what are you doing here? Will you come in with me? It’s freezing here.”

She touched Raya’s childish cheeks. Her face was ice cold. She wanted to take her inside. This child had been sitting there for a long time.

Raya put Dolly on her lap. Then, she stubbornly shook her head. “I don’t want to go in. I want to wait for Mommy.”

She was looking ahead, thinking of her mother. She won’t go back until her mother arrives. In the past, her mother had always come back when she was waiting for her. fr

“Raya, your mother will be here soon. If you don’t listen to me, she will be angry.” The nurse sighed helplessly as she coaxed. This child might be young, but she had a stubborn streak in her.

Raya looked down as she hugged her doll tighter. The nurse wanted to say more, but her small hand was already holding on to her clothes. The nurse froze for a second and looked at her with her big, round eyes. “Auntie, will Mommy really be angry?” The child’s face was pale, and the wind blowing at her made her cold. However, she still wanted to see her mother.

The nurse felt an ache in her heart as she carried the little girl and nodded. “Mommy is earning money to help treat you because you are sick. If you feel sicker, then your mother will have to work harder.”

Raya held tightly onto her doll as her small lips pouted. Then, she bit her lower lip. “Okay, Auntie. I understand. I will be good and won’t do it again. Can you please not tell Mommy? She is tired.”

The nurse did not know why she felt sad. This child was obedient, and she hardly cried during injection or medication times. At the mere mention of her mother, she would be so obedient that it made one’s heart ache for her.

She wondered what kind of mother could have brought up this child who was only three years old. How could she be so mature compared to children her age?