"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.

...

Bara immediately stood up and headed into the bathroom. After washing her face and steadying her breath, she quickly prepared herself to go to the clinic. Today, she would visit the little angel who had unknowingly given her the strength to face the harsh reality of her life. Bara hoped that this moment-this simple act of seeing the baby-would become the beginning of a new spirit within her. A spirit that would help her stand on her own feet, fight for her life, and uncover the truth buried for the past ten years.

Her life had felt increasingly strange after witnessing the suspicious behavior of Uncle Burhan-actions that hinted at deeper rottenness hidden behind his calm demeanor. And now, after hearing yet another lie from her uncle's mouth, Bara knew there was something he desperately wanted to conceal.

Meanwhile, in the Delano residence, Nayzilla had been restlessly searching for her niece. Upon returning from the hotel, she immediately sensed something was wrong. All of Bara's clothes and belongings were gone from the room. That alone was enough to make her heart tremble with worry. But her fear deepened when her husband casually said that Bara had gone home to live with his wife.

"There's no way Bara wouldn't say goodbye to me if he truly meant to move in with his wife. Something must have happened," Nayzilla murmured, her chest tightening with unease.

With trembling fingers, she scrolled through her contacts and dialed Bara's number. Yet, after their brief conversation, her uneasiness only grew stronger. Bara sounded off-hiding something, choosing her words too carefully.

When she finally came downstairs, she saw Burhan preparing to leave again. She immediately stepped closer.

"Has Bara really moved to live with his wife?" she asked, this time staring directly into his eyes.

"Yes," Burhan replied curtly.

"Why didn't Bara tell me anything?" she pressed again, trying to settle her growing doubts.

"I don't know. Look, I have to go to the office now-there's an important meeting," Burhan quickly reasoned before hurrying out.

As soon as he left, Nayzilla exhaled deeply and made another call.

"Hello, madam," greeted the person on the other end.

"Mr. Li Zhang Wei. I need your help," she said quietly. She had contacted their private attorney.

"Of course, Mrs. Nayzilla. What can I do for you?" the lawyer asked.

"I want you to find a detective," she whispered, lowering her voice even more.

"A... detective?" Mr. Li sounded startled.

"Yes. Something has happened to the Young Master," she said firmly. "You know what you need to do, Mr. Li."

"...Understood, madam. I'll send you a number shortly," he replied, suddenly tense. Something must indeed be seriously wrong with the only heir of the largest construction company.

"Thank you, Mr. Li. I'll be waiting," Nayzilla said before ending the call.

A few moments later, her phone vibrated. She immediately opened the message and dialed the number given to her.

"Good morning, Mrs. Nayzilla," said a calm voice.

"Morning. Is your name Li Bao Yu?" she asked, slightly frowning.

"Yes, madam. I am Mr. Zhang Wei's nephew."

"Oh, no wonder your names sound similar. Then I believe you already know what I need from you?" she asked directly. Mr. Li had likely briefed him.

"Yes, madam. I'm ready," the young man replied without hesitation.

"Good. Your first task is to find the address of Young Master Baracio Delano's wife, and confirm whether Young Master Bara is there or not. Do not leave any trace. Can you handle that?"

"Absolutely, madam."

"Very well. I'll be waiting for good news, Li Bao Yu."

"I will do my best," he replied, then the call ended.

"Please let my suspicions be wrong... I truly hope Bara is just at his wife's house," Nayzilla whispered, sinking into deep worry.

---

By the time Bara arrived at the clinic, she immediately walked inside and headed straight for the special room where the tiny baby rested.

"Good evening, sir," the nurse on duty greeted politely as Bara stepped in.

"Good evening. How is my daughter?" Bara asked softly, closing the door behind her.

The nurse blinked in surprise. Hearing the young man refer to the abandoned infant as his daughter moved her deeply, especially knowing how the baby had been cruelly thrown away by her biological parents.

"Why, Nurse? Is there something wrong with my daughter?" Bara asked anxiously when he noticed the nurse had fallen silent.

"Oh-no, no. There's no problem. The little princess is much better now. In a few days, she might even be able to go home," the nurse assured.

"Oh, thank goodness." Bara breathed in relief. "May I be alone with her for a moment?"

"Of course, sir. I'll be right outside. Call me if you need anything," the nurse said before quietly stepping out.

Bara approached the incubator and touched the glass gently with trembling fingers.

"Hi, Bellyca. Did you miss Daddy?" he whispered. "Daddy is here, sweetheart. Daddy will always be here for you. So you must get well soon, okay? Daddy wants to take you home..."

His eyes turned red. Since losing his parents, this was the first time he had felt such warmth, such overwhelming emotion. Seeing this tiny, perfect life created by God stirred memories of how lovingly his own parents had held him as a baby.

"Mom... Dad... is this how you felt when you first saw me in your arms?" Bara whispered, tears finally falling-tears he had held in for years.

For a long time, he stood there watching the little baby stretch, twitch, and fall back asleep, each tiny movement curling a faint smile on his lips.

Click.

Bara opened the door.

"Nurse, I'll be leaving now. I'll come again tomorrow morning."

"Yes, sir," she replied.

Bara walked out of the clinic and into a small restaurant across the street. After dinner, he headed home and began working on the plan he had been forming since yesterday.

With his expertise in architecture, Bara started designing various models of luxury homes, villas, and office buildings. He began establishing his new business-an online architecture service.

By three in the morning, exhausted but satisfied, Bara finally went to sleep. Now all he could do was wait for someone to discover his work and contact him.

The next morning, he immediately opened his laptop and checked the website he had created the night before. There were no inquiries yet-no company, no individual had seen his designs.

After washing up, he made himself a cup of coffee and ate a simple breakfast of bread. Then he sat down again to create more unique, eye-catching designs that might attract potential clients.

Days passed in this quiet routine-wake up, design, visit Bellyca, return home, and continue working. Until the fourth day finally arrived, when Bara was able to take the now-recovered Bellyca home.

"Young Master, are you... married?" Doctor Lissa asked, surprised to see him holding the tiny baby so fondly.

...