"I'm sorry, miss, but your little girl is diagnosed with a disease called AML, more specifically, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia."

"Leukemia? Isn't that, isn't that cancer?"

"Yes. It is the cancer of the blood and bone marrow, occurring very rarely in young children. We have to act as fast as we can, Miss Sara. If we start treatment early, there is above ninety percent chance of a long-lasting remission for your child."

Sara could not accept the devastating news. How could that be? Her only precious child, Hanie, was only five. She has already been disadvantaged as a child, growing up in a single parent family. Furthermore, given the social stigmas attached so strongly to single parent, Hanie had suffered more, also Sara having troubles with finding lodging and such.

"Mummy, is Hanie going to die?" The little girl asked when she saw her mummy crying, "Don't cry, mummy, Hanie will be a good girl, I promise!"

Helpless and tearing up apart inside, Sara approached the doctor, only to be told that a bone marrow transplant was the best chance of survival. However, a suitable donor was needed, and that was often the greatest obstacle. Sara could only recall the nights she spent crying alone when the tests revealed that her own bone marrow, and those of her own friends like Hailey and Minho did not match;

"How am I going to find a suitable donor, doctor?" Sara asked out of desperation, breaking down in tears in front of the Oncologist.

"I do have an idea in mind, Miss Sara." The experience mid-forties doctor replied softly, as if hesitant. "I am sorry for what I am about to say, but.. I understand that you are a divorcée, are you?" In which Sara nodded.

"Then there is still a chance of survival for your child if you can manage to get in contact with your former husband. Since she's related to him by blood, there stands the possibility of their HLA tissue types being compatible."

#

Taking a deep breath, Sara stepped into the tall towering building which read, 'Smith Holdings'

The chilly air-conditioning greeted her, before glass sliding doors closed behind. The clean, Burberry scent of the building seems nothing to change she thought as she had not visited this place for five years since they finalized their divorce.

She had no choice at all, she would never have opted to come here. Not when it reminded her all the pain she tried to forget and the time when she used to be working here as well.

But her mind went back to the little life that was waiting for her. It all started two months ago when Sara started noticing tiny red spots under Hanie's skin, her frequent bouts of high fevers, paleness of her face and complains of constant ache.

Now her only chance left was her ex-husband. There was no other alternative when Hanie's life at stake. Even if his former spouse was unwilling to help, she would beg until he agreed. After all, this particular person did dote on his precious girl so much.

Even though it has been five years since they last saw each other, this man has been doing his part as a father by depositing an amount of money intended for Hanie's schools, but that's it. They had never once meet up because he thought his ex-wife left America for Seoul City after they're separated.

With her determination renewed, Sara took another step into the elevator, and told the attendant in the elevator the level she intended to go to and her thoughts went back to her girl lying in hospital with only nurses for company.

As the elevator came to a halt, Sara gestured her thanks to the attendant, before stepping out onto the spacious office area and walking over to the receptionist area. "Excuse me, I would like to meet Mr. Stefan Smith, please?"

The lady at the counter peered at her for a good three seconds, before her eyes widened in recognition. "You, you are Mrs. Sara Smith, aren't you?"

Sara forced a tight lip smile onto her face at being recognized, before saying, "I'm no longer Mrs. Smith. Just called me Sara."

"Oh, my apologies! So, you wish to see my boss, Stefan?" She asked, "I wish I could assist you, but I can't because Mr. Stefan will reject anyone who came without any arrangements made. But don't worry, I could fix an appointment for you immediately."

"No, I'm not a stranger." Sara shook her head, "Please, please understand, this is very urgent. I have to see him right now no matter what. Could you-"

"Do we have anything more to talk about?"

At the familiar voice, Sara spun around only to come straight into face with the man she spent so many nights trying to erase from her memory. Goosebumps as she mentally took note of the close proximity between them. Shock in Stefan's eyes at seeing his former lover. Surprised, but he hid his emotions so well now that he shows his arrogance almost instantly.

Stefan was still every bit as good-looking as she remembered him to be, the look on his handsome face. Sara quickly evaded the eye contact and lowered her head in respect. Now here she is, stood in front of him awkwardly, unsure of what to say or where shall she begin first. Sara exhaled slowly taking a deep breath, before saying, "I really, really need to talk to you, in private, its urgent. Please?" Sara said almost losing her composure.

"Fine. We will talk if that is what you wish." Stefan cast a glance at his wrist watch and change his gaze, "We will talk over coffee then. Follow me." he turn and head to the elevator with Sara followed behind him.

#

They're now in the chic cafe they used to date before their separation. Stefan holds the glass door open for her to enter first and pulled out the chair for her to be seated too. This was what Stefan used to do in the past, and his acts of gentlemanliness was enough to make Sara wish to cry again but she had to controls her emotions, it was so hard to breathe right at that moment as they were facing each other.

"Hmm." Stefan hum softly, "Try this fruity mint tea; it is of a good quality." Sara could only force a smile and nod in agreement, before picking up the cup in front of her as well. Raising the cup to her lips, she could feel Stefan's eyes on her. He was watching deeply like he used to do, but this time round, it was not at all welcoming. The strong, piercing gaze makes her panic that she sips in more of the piping hot liquid tea than she could take.

The heat from the tea slices her tongue slightly before she pulled away to cough and her face turned cherry red as she tried to hold back the oncoming coughs but couldn't. Sara could only gasp in shock when she felt a soft hand pat on her back, rubbing circles and asking if she was alright. He sat down again in his seat, while his eyes continued its gaze on her, "So, talk when you're ready. I'm listening,"

"Hanie, our daughter. She has been diagnosed with... leukemia" Sara finally said, biting her lower lip.

"What did you just say?" Stefan said in a deadly quiet tone; "Since when?" he asked, still unable to process the shocking news that came to him but the moment he heard about it, he had to find out why fate had dealt such a cruel blow to a young child.

"In the last two months ago.." Sara replied, "I started noticing red spots on her skin, and she has been complaining of constant pain in the bones. I thought it was chicken pox or something else but when I brought her to the clinic, the doctor suggested that I bring her to the hospital immediately."

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sara went on in a soft tone. "This is why I came to look for you. Hanie has been placed on a chemotherapy treatment plan more than a month ago, but her body is not exactly responding well to it." Stefan was listening intently but he still so deathly silent.

"The doctor told me that the best chances for survival will be a bone marrow transplant. But no matter how hard I've searched, I cannot find any suitable match for her." Tears slipped down her cheeks as she recalled the disappointments she suffered. "My own didn't match hers, and now, you are her final hope." Stefan did not make a sound, but his hand was clenched tightly into a fist so tight.

"I beg of you, please make a trip down to the hospital with me to take the test." She continued, as she stood up and bowing right in front of him. Looks like Sara has been following the Koreans culture after living there for more than a year.

"Will right now be convenient?"

"Now? Oh, thank you, Stefan. Thank you so much." She smiled through the tears, "Thank you for willing to saving Hanie."

"She is my daughter too," Stefan replied. 'Why is she thanking me like this?' He asked himself. Sara fell silent for a moment, after she step back and sat on her seat before saying in a much softer voice, "I'm sorry, so sorry, Stefan."

"Why do you apologize?"

"I did not take good care of her; it must be my fault that she fell sick. Maybe because she hasn't been eating good food with me. Could it be that she has eaten too much instant noodles or something? Or maybe because our living conditions are not good enough? Maybe because I did not buy any vitamin pills for her, maybe-"

"Sara, hey, calm down. It is not your fault."

"No, no! It has to be somehow-?"

"No one wished for this to happen, Sara. Stop blaming yourself." Stefan interrupted firmly. "If you wish to blame yourself, then you have to blame me too." That made Sara stopped her ramblings, and settled for crying soundlessly, except for an occasional sniffle. "I don't want her to die, she's only five."

"Our child will not die, Sara. I will not be allowed that to happen. She will live."

#

Walking down the corridor, they came to a brightly lit ward, pinky walls with four beds in there. Stefan instantly identifies his little girl dressed in Elmo pajamas. Sitting up in her bed by the window, playing with Elmo soft toy and placing plastic biscuits, fruits and tiny cups on her bed to form of a little tea party.

"Hanie, sweetheart, see, daddy is here to see you." Sara softly said and the girl large brown eyes widened in surprised at the man standing before her.

"Daddy?" Hanie said then her nose turned red as she started to cry. Stefan quickly came forward and wrapping his strong arms around his daughter's weak frame and lifted her up from the bed that reeked of medication and antiseptic wipes.

"Where did you go for so long, daddy?" Hanie cried as she buried her face in her daddy's neck, "Is it because you don't like Hanie and mama?" Hearing her saying that made his heart swell agonizingly.

"Don't go away again, daddy please." She pleaded, before adding a sentence that almost cracked Stefan's and Sara's hearts, "Next time before you go away, you must tell Hanie first, okay?"

"Daddy is not going anywhere, I will be here with you, alright? I promise." The childish voice of his child was so full of innocence, somehow, he realized he missed that voice so much.

After Hanie was soundly sleeping and Stefan's scheduled for a bone marrow compatibility test the next day, they walked out of the hospital together. "Stefan, thank you for today. This means a lot to her. I've not seen Hanie having so much fun since a long time." Sara awkwardly confess.

Stefan shook his head slowly. "I am her father, it's what I should do. Shall we go home? It's late. We have to arrive here early morning tomorrow." Before he could move further towards the direction of the carpark, he heard Sara told him that she's going another way which is the bus stop, a few distances from the hospital building. "Sara, I'll send you home. It's dark and it's not safe for you on your own."

"Thank you for your offer, but I've been going home by this way for the past two months already. Don't worry, I'll be fine and also because we are separated, you don't have to be so nice to me." Sara smiled forcibly, "Good night." Sara walked away with a heavy heart.

#

It has been a few days since Stefan went for the compatibility test. Sara sitting on the comforter couch next to the bed, she sighed heavily and peck a kiss on Hanie's slightly puffy cheeks before she fell asleep as she is too exhausted by the mental and physical stress she was experiencing.

Suddenly she was awakened because Hanie was crying and screaming, demanding for her daddy. There was nothing Sara could do to calm the emotionally-disturbed child. It totally broke her heart to see her daughter suffering like that, and she could not help but send a silent plea to the Gods above to stop tormenting her poor child.

Hanie stop crying immediately as her frail-looking hand was reaching out towards the door, and her eyes were shining with a joy. Baffled, Sara turns to look at the door, her heart did a little leap when she saw Stefan standing there, holding a large blue teddy bear in his hold.

"Hanie, see daddy kept to his promise, getting you this Chimmy plushie. Do you know this BT21 toy is limited. I managed to get it just for you. Now you should keep your promise too, right? Will you promise to be a good girl and listen to what mama tells you?"

Hanie sniffled and nodded while reaching her hand out for her mummy.

"Mama, Hanie is sorry. Today Hanie very naughty." Hanie pouted and Sara return a smile to the child, ruffling her hair nicely.

"Hanie!" Came another cheery girly voice from behind. It was Hailey. Sara's best friend. Hailey was a little bit surprised with Stefan's appearance but she respects her best friend situation. It's not the right time to question the male at the moment.

She greeted them and brought out two large picture books from her bag, "New story books for you! Do you want to read them together with me?" Hanie made a move to nod, before looking up at her daddy and mama for approval.

"Baby, daddy and mama will be outside for a while, okay?" Stefan said and they both walked out together to the lobby. Somehow, the seriousness in his voice and whatever he was about to say just makes Sara more nervous.

He did not speak up immediately, and it felt as if he was deep in thought. "What is it?" Sara broke the silence first, "Is it about our child?"

Stefan took a deep breath, "I received the results of the compatibility test." He looked into Sara's eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes were something Stefan loved so much, shaped to the point of perfect measurements. They were still beautiful, but it looked so sad now. "It was a half-match." Stefan spoke in a soft voice. "Not enough for a bone marrow transplant."

Sara could feel the tears rising as the horrible news kicked in. Stefan's bone marrow could not save Hanie and now what other hope was there for the little girl? How can she be saved? Her little girl was really going to die. "What am I going to do now?" Sara sobbed bitterly, "She is only five and she has such a long way to go! I told her she will get well for sure. I am such a useless mother!"

"Sara. You are already doing your best." Sara choked back a sob, "How am I doing my best? Our final hopes are gone. I really don't know how long I can hold on like this alone. I am already not thinking about the money issue but right now, it seems that no amount of money can save her! I am so tired... I don't know if I can take it anymore."

Her sentence died as Stefan pulled her into a tight hug, pressing her close to his chest with his hand placed on the back of her soft hair. "You will not be alone anymore. Because I'll be with you and Hanie from now on. Every burden, worry or fear you have, I will share with you. Don't worry about any financial matters, just leave that to me. Do you hear me?"

#

Stefan swiveled around in his chair to look out of the window, witnessing the smooth blue sky. For some reasons, he couldn't focus on his work, his mind keeps remembering the day at the hospital, when he pulled Sara for a comfort hug, it only made things more awkward for them now.

He did not know what made him react that way or say all those words to Sara. So, what exactly is their status now? The entire ordeal with Hanie's illness only served to make their relationship even weirder. They were divorced, so they should not be on such close terms anymore. At least that was what he thought. Then the mail alert rang, notifications popped out. 'You've got mail!'

Sitting closer to the screen, he clicked on the link to his inbox, before his eyes widened slightly in surprised. His older brother, Dylan, replies his mail from Shanghai.

( Hey Stefan, it's sad that something like that had to happen to poor little girl. Don't worry about the test; my friends along with myself will definitely go for the test as soon as possible. Because you never know if one of us are compatible matches. Please tell my adorable niece to stay strong and uncle Dylan will bring in more BT21 plushies for her. My earliest flight in four hours from now you received this mail, before I get there, please take good care.)

Another hope to believe in. Thankful that Dylan and his friends willing to go for the test. Just for the sake of his daughter.

#

Sara pouted tiredly as she carried the heavy boxes from the store. She unwrapped the boxes with a pen knife, took the packed books out by the dozens and arranged them as neatly as he could on the display shelf. "Sara." Came the voice of a colleague. "Come let's go join us for lunch?"

Sara shook her head. "It's alright Kara, I brought my own food. Thanks for asking me along." The young girl looked at her and asked again. "Are you sure you don't need any help here? You look very tired."

"I can manage, don't worry." Sara smiled. "I had taken off from work for so many days already, today I'll just sort things out." With that, Sara turns to the direction of footsteps approaching them. "Stefan? What are you doing here?" Sara asked awkwardly. With that Kara and her friend left the bookstore hurriedly.

They're now sitting at the garden area designated for staff short breaks for meal. "Why do you not go for lunch with the others?"

"Oh, I brought my own food daily, you see." Sara explained and took out a small lunch bag and taking a bite of the chicken steamed bun.

"Is that all you are eating? For lunch every day?" Stefan asked for the fact he was not able to mask his emotions and Sara just nodded, before taking a sip of plain water from her pink water bottle. "Sara, are you on diet?" Stefan didn't know where the conversation was leading to, and it would not be long when he questions Sara's lack of care for her own health.

Sara did not say a word, and she took another sip of water in silence. She placed the water bottle down to pick the second steamed bun up, but Stefan stops her by grabbing her wrist and Sara eyes widened in surprise. "Do you have any idea how thin you're getting?"

"Look, I am sorry but I don't have enough money to go for lavish lunches and dinners, okay?" Sara replied annoyingly but stubborn Stefan drag her abruptly towards his car. "We'll go eat and I'll pay for your lunch."

"Stefan, wait. I hope you can stop treating me like a charity case." Sara sounded almost helpless.

"I never said you were one. But I am very sure you are the mother of my daughter, and I won't let you suffer like that! You look like losing energy then who will be taking care of Hanie later?!" That, gave Sara no more reasons to refuse the lunches treat but the topic was getting slightly too much for Sara to handle so Stefan hastily switched the conversation when he saw the unreadable expression on Sara's face.

"Okay, let's just forget about lunch. I'll buy you takeaway later. Right now, I wanted to tell you that I've already contacted my older brother if you remember him, Dylan? Actually, he has agreed to go for the test and he will be asked around for more people to get themselves tested for compatibility." Sara's eyes instantly shone with gratitude, "Really? Oh, please say my thanks to Dylan, this really means a lot to me, and you too, Stefan, thank you."

"Why are you thanking me?" Stefan asked with a small smile, "I told you, she's my daughter, she's their niece too. We are all family. The fact that Hanie is related to us by blood will never change."

Suddenly Sara's mind reminded back to their moments when they were happy, but because of misunderstanding that leads to their separation, Sara had mentally prepared for the sufferings she's going to get. At that point, her cell phone ringing. They broke their eye contact and Sara quickly 'accept' the call.

Within mere seconds, a tear fell as Sara let the phone slip off from his ear. Things were not looking good and Stefan could guess he was not going to get an answer from Sara in this state so he hurriedly reached for the phone speaking to the person on the line. "We will be right there." With that he hung up and holding Sara's weaker frame up. Sara felt so limp, as if all the fighting spirit has been drawn away from her body.

("I hope the two of you can come over right now. Your child, Hanie has been hit with pneumonia, and is right now we've move her to the intensive care ward.)

"How could this happen to her?" Sara cried, her weight supported by worried Stefan. "Is her suffering not enough? Her immune system is so weak and now she could even die."

"Stay strong, Sara, for our daughter, please." He knew deep down Hanie's life could go wrong anytime from the doctor's tone but he did not know if he meant what he was saying. "She will be fine, our precious child will be fine."

Everything was happening so fast and Sara could not help but feel like an audience of a horribly dramatic movie. Maybe it was indeed a dream which he could awake from, to find all the terrible happenings gone from her life. The doctor's tone was strained but professional. "Due to the chemotherapy, Hanie is suffering the side effects, leading to a very high vulnerability to infection. Hence, the pneumonia is now causing slightly damage on her body."

"Doctor, you have to save her. You have to! She's all I have, please." Sara said in a hoarse, soft voice choked with tears, her body shaking she felt as if her world collapsed. Stefan watching Sara in such great distress only made him feel the need to protect him more. How could such a horrible thing befall them and wonder what kind of fate is this?

The doctor had an apologetic expression on his face as he spoke. "Please rest assured that we will do our best to save Hanie but I am afraid I can't allow you to see her yet. Her immune system is exceptionally low sensitive to infections at the moment, which is why we've to isolated her."

Sara released the breath she was holding; blood was rushing in her veins and all she could feel was the rapid beating of her heart and the dizzy cold situation. "Isolated? Where is she? I must see her!" Sara said frantically, attempting to release the hand grips from Stefan but her weakened knees buckled as she fell to the floor.

"She will be scared, Stefan. She has never slept on her own, she needs me."

Sara straining and she fight against his hold but gradually slowed down before her body went completely limp and nodding weakly, hearing those words from Stefan.

"She will be fine, haven't I promised you I'll do anything I can to save her?" Stefan said while looking at her eyes. The eyes he once loved so much told him of all Sara's pain. "We must not give up." and with that Sara finally pass out from exhaustion in Stefan's arms.