"Yes, Aunt, it's okay. I am getting married," said Bara, making his aunt fall silent in disappointment for a moment.

They went to the church, and the bride was already there.

Burhan Wiratama walked forward, took Bara's hand, and led him to stand before the Pastor-right beside the bride, whose face was still covered by her veil. The Pastor immediately began the blessing ceremony.

The ceremony proceeded smoothly, and once it was over, they all went straight to Bara's father's hotel, The NaiLuo Hotel, built so luxuriously by Mr. Delano Mikhail as a gift for the fifth anniversary of his marriage to his beloved wife, Nai Xin Luo.

Bara's wedding reception was held at four in the afternoon. The large crowd made Bara visibly tense, but he tried to calm his pounding heart. He forced himself to act naturally as he slowly accepted the fact that he was now the husband of a beautiful woman named Morissa, who sat beside him.

After the extravagant reception ended, Burhan Wiratama-drunk and ranting-became uncontrollable. Aunt Nay finally decided they should stay at the hotel, and their room was not far from Bara's bridal suite.

Bara helped escort his uncle to his room on the third floor, and the two were seen going upstairs together.

After dropping off his uncle and aunt, Bara and Morissa went to their room. The moment the door closed, Morissa immediately stripped off her clothes in front of Bara and began touching him, even though he was still fully dressed in his black tuxedo.

Her aggressiveness shocked Bara.

How could a respectable woman act like this?! he wondered in disbelief.

"Sorry, Morissa. I want to go downstairs for a moment. I think I left my phone on the table," Bara said, grasping for an excuse.

"What?! Oh... whatever."

Bara hurried out of the room and went downstairs to get some fresh air in the front garden.

Meanwhile, an increasingly impatient Morissa sent a message to Burhan Wiratama:

"Come here, I'm left alone."

– MORISSA

Burhan, who had just awakened from thirst, immediately saw the message.

Glancing at his wife, Nayzilla, who was sleeping soundly, Burhan quietly slipped out of his room and walked toward the bridal suite of Bara and the woman he had paid.

When he opened the door and peeked inside, he confirmed that Bara was not there, even though it was already one in the morning.

He entered, closed the door slowly, and walked straight toward Morissa, who was lying on the bed, waiting for the middle-aged man who had paid her handsomely.

Without hesitation, Burhan stripped off his clothes and had intercourse with the woman who was now legally his nephew's wife.

Meanwhile, Bara-sleepiness finally creeping in-returned upstairs. He assumed his wife had already fallen asleep and thought he would be safe from her dangerous seduction, which contrasted sharply with her calm appearance.

As he approached his room, he faintly heard moans and gasps. He thought they came from another room.

But when Bara opened the door, the sounds grew unmistakably clear.

His eyes widened. His heart froze.

There, in plain sight, his wife Morissa was on top of Uncle Burhan-riding him relentlessly.

Bara's blood boiled instantly. Not out of anger toward Morissa-no. But because of the unbearable pain caused by his uncle's betrayal of Aunt Nay.

Questions exploded in Bara's mind.

Why would his uncle betray his aunt?

Why would Uncle Burhan have an affair with a married woman-one who was said to be the daughter of his best friend?

What exactly had Uncle Burhan been planning for his life?

If Bara confronted him now, how would Aunt Nay feel?

What if she went insane and killed herself?

What if the company collapsed due to the scandal-when his uncle was the one managing it all this time?

Dozens of questions surfaced in his mind, forcing Bara to hold himself back with all his strength so he wouldn't make a sound.

Bara rushed out of the place and took a taxi home. Throughout the ride, his thoughts were in chaos. As he replayed everything in his mind, Bara suddenly understood that his uncle had intended to trap him and ruin his life.

Or... was there another motive behind all of this?

I don't care if Uncle Burhan ruins my life! I don't care if he treats me like a tool or a puppet! I don't care if he wants to take all of my parents' inheritance-he can have it! But why... why did he have the heart to destroy Aunt Nay's life so cruelly?! Bara screamed inside his mind. His jaw tightened, and his fists clenched.

When he arrived home, the guards at the gate were startled to see their young master looking so unlike his usual self, but none dared to question him.

Bara went upstairs to his room. He packed his clothes and the belongings left by his parents that he had kept neatly all this time. Then he went downstairs, carrying two suitcases in his strong arms.

The usually obedient and gentle Bara had transformed entirely. Determination burned in his eyes, his jaw tightened, his posture straightened, and his body looked stronger. Yes-Bara had finally regained the courage buried deep within him since the day he watched his parents die before his eyes.

He left in the taxi that had waited for him. He had decided to leave home and seek the truth about his life. What had really been happening all this time?

Bara got out of the taxi and walked toward his parents' grave-a place that resembled a palace. It was his aunt who had ordered her people to build such a magnificent resting place, intending it to one day become a refuge for anyone lost or stranded at night. She had done it to honor her adoptive brother's kindness, for he had always been generous and loved helping others.

When Bara arrived, the clock had struck four in the morning. Unable to contain his anger and frustration any longer, he screamed out everything that had suffocated his heart.

"AHHH!!!"

"AAAHHH!!!"

After releasing his anguish, Bara walked inside and approached his parents' graves.

"Dad... Mom... I miss you-Bara really, really misses you," he whispered weakly, touching the tombstones of his parents standing side by side.

Bara sat quietly between their graves for a long time. When his eyelids began to droop and sleep crept in, he faintly heard the sound of someone crying.

He opened his eyes. He almost fell back asleep, but the sound came again.

Bara blinked several times and gently tapped his head, trying to pull himself out of what he thought was a hallucination.

...

"Oekkk...! Oekkk...! Oekkk...!"

The sharp cry echoed again in the stillness of the early morning.

"What was that? Is that... a human crying?" Bara muttered in shock as he abruptly stood up, his heart pounding. He strained his ears, trying to confirm the sound.

"Oekkk...! Oekkk...! Oekkk...!"

The cry grew louder-desperate, panicked, almost pleading.

Without wasting a second, Bara rushed outside and looked around the cemetery fence. His breath caught in his throat.

There-lying on a piece of thin cloth stained with fresh blood-was a newborn baby.

For a moment, Bara froze. His eyes widened when he saw the umbilical cord still attached to the baby's tiny stomach, the cord stretched and curled on the dirty ground. The baby's reddish skin and trembling limbs revealed that she had been born only moments ago.

Snapping out of his shock, Bara fumbled for his phone with trembling hands and ordered an online taxi. Then he sprinted to retrieve his two suitcases. He opened one, grabbed a towel, and carefully wrapped the crying baby who was shaking from the cold.

Still overwhelmed, Bara pulled the tiny infant into his chest. Miraculously, the baby's cries began to soften, as though she felt safer in the warmth of his embrace.

A car approached.

"Did you order a taxi?" the driver asked, stepping out.

"Yes, sir. Please help with my suitcase-and take me to the nearest clinic," Bara said, trying to steady his voice.

"Alright," the driver replied, loading the suitcase before driving off.

A shiver ran through the driver's body. Picking up a passenger at a cemetery before dawn was not something he experienced every day.

"Is that your baby?" he finally asked, glancing through the mirror.

Bara did not answer, still cradling the infant whose cries were fading into soft whimpers. He stroked her gently, trying to keep her warm.

"Is the baby sick?" the driver asked again, more concerned this time.

"Yes. Please hurry and find the nearest clinic," Bara said anxiously.

"Okay, sir. We'll be there soon."

All throughout the ride, Bara prayed silently-begging God to save this fragile little life he had stumbled upon.

Minutes later, the taxi stopped in front of Maternal Love Clinic. Bara didn't even bother taking his suitcase. He practically ran inside with the baby in his arms.

"Nurse! Nurse!" Bara called out desperately. The clinic was nearly empty-too early for most of the staff to arrive.

A security guard rushed over upon hearing his voice.

"What's wrong, sir?" the guard asked.

"Please call the doctor! This baby was just born and her umbilical cord is still attached!" Bara pleaded desperately.

"Alright, sir. Come with me!" The guard, now visibly panicked, led him to a room and pushed the door open.

"Doc, emergency patient!" he announced.

"A baby?!" the doctor exclaimed, immediately taken aback by the sight of the infant in Bara's arms.

"Yes, her umbilical cord is still attached," the guard explained.

"Bring her in, quickly!" the doctor said, hurrying toward the ICU room next door.

Following the doctor's instructions, Bara gently laid the weakening baby on the bed. Her tiny chest rose and fell unevenly.

"Doctor... please... save her," Bara begged, his voice breaking. He had never pleaded this hard for anything in his life.

"We'll do everything we can. Please wait outside," the doctor said as she pulled on her gloves.

Bara stepped out of the ICU, his hands trembling. He sank into a chair, clasped his hands tightly, and prayed again and again.

"Who could be heartless enough to throw away such an innocent child? What kind of devil would do that?!" Bara growled through clenched teeth, furious and shaken. His own problems were forgotten-overwhelmed by concern for the helpless baby fighting for life inside.

A moment later, the taxi driver appeared, carrying his suitcase.

"Sir, your suitcase," he said.

"Oh-yes, I'm sorry. Thank you," Bara said, taking out money for the fare. He handed the driver several bills.

"This is too much, sir," the driver said, startled.

"It's alright. Really. Thank you for helping," Bara said.

"Thank you so much, sir! I hope the baby recovers soon," the driver said gratefully before leaving with a brightened face.

Bara remained seated, hands clasped tightly, praying endlessly.

---

Two hours passed.

Finally, the emergency room door opened. The doctor emerged with two nurses. One nurse held a now-clean baby wrapped neatly in a soft pink cloth and immediately carried her into a clean room.

"Doctor... how is she?" Bara asked urgently as he jumped to his feet. His eyes stayed fixed on the tiny baby being taken away.

"She's been treated. Fortunately, you brought her in on time. If the placenta remains attached for too long after birth, it can rot and cause infection," the doctor explained thoroughly. "She's still not fully stable. Being left exposed for too long caused breathing problems. She needs to stay in an incubator for proper recovery."

"Please... do everything you can," Bara said helplessly. He knew nothing about babies, and all of this terrified him.

"Where is the baby's mother? She needs breast milk to support her recovery," said the doctor-her name badge showing Dr. Lissa.

"A-actually... I found her," Bara admitted honestly. "Before five this morning, I heard her crying. She was left on the open ground."

"What?" Dr. Lissa gasped.

"But... I want to take care of her," Bara continued earnestly. "I want to be the parent to this baby. Can you help me?"

"What do you mean, sir?" the doctor asked, shocked.

"Please... issue a letter stating that I found this child and that I will adopt her. I want to take care of all her paperwork properly," Bara said with deep sincerity.

The doctor studied him for a moment, then nodded.

"Alright. I'll help. But her official status will be recorded as a 'Found Child.'"

"I understand. My name is Bara," he said, offering his hand.

The doctor shook it firmly.

"Can I... see the baby?" Bara asked softly.

...

"Sure. Come with me," said Doctor Lissa as she walked into the room.

Bara followed behind her until they entered a small nursery room.

There, Bara saw the tiny baby he had found-his little princess-lying inside an incubator.

"Doctor, may I stay here with her?" Bara asked, eyes fixed on the fragile baby.

"I'm sorry, Sir. This is an infant care room. But don't worry, the nurses will watch her closely. If you're busy, you may return later," Doctor Lissa replied warmly.

"Well then... I entrust my daughter to you, Doctor. I'll settle the administrative paperwork first. Oh, and... I'm naming her BELLYCA DELANO."

Doctor Lissa blinked, surprised. She didn't expect he had already chosen a name.

"What a beautiful name," she said softly, smiling as she nodded.

"Thank you. Alright, I'll go now. I'll come back this afternoon," Bara said before turning to leave.

He walked to the cashier to complete the administration, then retrieved his suitcase and exited the clinic.

The first thing Bara looked for was a small, simple rental house. Once he secured a unit, he unpacked his clothes and belongings, organizing them neatly in his room.

When everything was set, he ordered an online taxi. The moment the ride arrived, Bara locked his door and left.

Drrzzz... drrzzz... drrzzz...!

His phone vibrated during the ride.

It was Aunt Nay calling. Bara hesitated, unsure of what to say.

I can't possibly tell her that I ran away from home. What reason would I give?! he thought anxiously-but the phone kept vibrating.

"Hello, Aunt..." Bara finally answered.

"Bara? Your uncle said you've moved to your wife's house. Is that true? Why didn't you tell me?!" Aunt Nay's worried voice came through.

"Huh? Ah-y-yes, Aunt. Sorry... I was in a hurry," Bara said, having no other choice. He simply went along with his uncle's lie, though he didn't know why the man said that.

"Oh, I see... Well, visit me sometime, Bara," she replied, though suspicion crept into her tone. She could hear the shakiness in his voice-Bara's usual tell when he was hiding something.

"Alright, Aunt. Please take care of yourself," Bara said, trying to hold back the weight in his chest. He found it incredibly difficult to hide the truth, but he did it for her sake.

"Yes, you too, Son. I'll end the call now," Aunt Nay said softly.

"Yes, Aunt. Goodbye," Bara replied before hanging up.

He let out a shaky breath and tried to calm himself.

"We've arrived, Sir," the taxi driver informed him.

"Oh-yes. Here's the fare, thank you," Bara said before stepping out.

He had arrived at a baby supply store. Bara bought everything he thought he needed. Thankfully, social media guides he had read helped him understand what newborns required.

But unbeknownst to him, the women in the store couldn't stop staring. A handsome young man buying baby items-it made their hearts flutter.

Bara, however, didn't care. He was focused solely on his daughter's needs.

Afterward, Bara went to a supermarket. He bought formula, bread, and other essentials for himself and his baby. There, too, he became the center of attention. With his tall and perfect build, paired with a face comparable to a world-class actor, every woman who saw him was stunned.

But Bara remained indifferent. He neither noticed nor cared.

Returning to his rental house, he arranged all his purchases. For a brief moment, he felt fine. Buying things for his daughter eased some of the heaviness in his heart.

Then he paused.

"Where should my little princess sleep?" Bara muttered, scratching his head in confusion.

"Beside me?!" he said again, stacking pillows on his bed.

"No! I can't! What if I accidentally push her? No, no. I should've bought a baby crib. How could I forget?" Bara groaned, tapping his forehead.

"Well... everything else is ready. Only the crib is missing," he said after checking the items. Then he glanced at his watch.

"Oh, it's already one in the afternoon. I'm starving," Bara murmured.

He grabbed his phone and ordered food online. While waiting, he pulled out his laptop from his suitcase.

He sat silently for a moment, thinking about his savings, which had begun to dwindle. It was the savings account his parents had made for him when he was five. That money was all he had now.

He never asked for money from his uncle or aunt. They already paid his school fees, and he always believed his uncle's constant claims that the company was struggling financially. Of course, it was all a lie-but Bara was too young to notice back then.

"I need to find a job..." Bara muttered, thinking about his future-and his little daughter's.

"But if I work, who will take care of Bellyca?" he wondered anxiously.

"Should I leave her at an orphanage?" he whispered, lost in thought.

But immediately, he shook his head violently.

"No, no, no! What am I thinking?! Bellyca is my daughter."

Bara tapped his own forehead, scolding himself.

He sat there for a long time, frozen, deep in thought-until his phone vibrated.

"Hello?"

"Your order has arrived at your door," said the food delivery driver.

"Oh, okay."

Bara went outside to pick up his meal.

After finishing his first meal of the day-having eaten nothing since morning-Bara looked back at his laptop. Then, suddenly, his lips curved into a faint smile.

"Alright. This will be my job now," he thought with renewed enthusiasm and began working on the concepts forming in his mind.

He was so absorbed that he didn't notice time passing. When he finally checked his watch, it was already seven in the evening.

Bara blinked in surprise.

He needed to get ready-

He had to visit his little daughter at the clinic.

...