A few hours later, Bae slowly stirred from her slumber, a wave of pain washing over her.
She groaned softly, instinctively clutching her abdomen as she tried to push herself up. Just then, a couple of nurses entered, concern etched on their faces.
"Please, take it easy, ma'am," one nurse urged gently, moving to support her.
"Where is my baby? And Nice Uncle?" Bae's voice trembled with worry, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of her child.
"Ma'am, please rest. You're not fully recovered yet," another nurse said, her tone soothing but firm. They gently laid her back down, one of them stepping out to fetch the doctor.
As the hours slipped by, the afternoon light streamed through the window, casting shadows in the sterile room.
Bae felt a growing knot of anxiety in her stomach. She hadn't eaten and hadn't seen Zanier since the night before, her heart heavy with unease.
"Is Nice Uncle angry?" she thought, glancing out at the bustling world beyond the glass.
Something felt dreadfully wrong; the doctor hadn't come, nor had anyone given her news about her baby.
Days passed, stretching into a week of hospital walls that felt more confining with each tick of the clock.
Frustration bubbled inside her, leading to outbursts directed at the nurses and doctors.
"Where is my baby? Where is Nice Uncle?" she demanded, her voice rising in desperation.
Finally, Dr. Liana entered, her expression somber. Bae's heart sank as she noticed the sympathy in the doctor's eyes.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," Dr. Liana began, her voice gentle but steady. "Your baby passed away a few hours after you gave birth."
The words crashed over Bae like a tidal wave, disbelief paralyzing her.
"No! No!" she screamed, gripping the doctor's sleeve tightly, her eyes wide with panic. "My baby can't be gone! I heard his voice, right?"
"I'm so sorry, ma'am," Liana replied, moving closer to offer comfort, her arms wrapping around Bae in a supportive embrace.
Bae felt her world just crashed down As she cried, Liana's thoughts drifted back to Zanier's cold command right after the birth: "Send her to the States."
The chill of his detachment echoed in her mind,
Bae's anguished screams echoed through the sterile hospital room, each cry a piercing reminder of her loss. She clung to Dr. Liana, her tears soaking the fabric of the doctor's scrubs.
Her eyes were shut tight, her face twisted in despair as she cried out,
"Why? Why did this happen?" The weight of her grief filled the air, heavy and suffocating.
Liana felt a surge of sympathy wash over her, even as frustration simmered beneath the surface.
"I truly hate you, Zanier," she thought, resentment bubbling within her for being tasked with managing such raw emotions on his behalf.
Bae's sobs grew more frantic, the reality of her baby's tragic loss settling heavily in her chest. She felt utterly alone, the absence of Zanier amplifying her fear of the outside world, a place that felt hostile and unforgiving.
As she sat there, tears streaming down her cheeks, Bae mourned the life that could have been. Each silent cry echoed in the emptiness of the room, a haunting reminder of her shattered dreams.
The sound of her grief hung in the air, filling every corner with sorrow, as Liana gently stroked her back, trying to provide some comfort in the midst of despair.
Months had passed, yet Bae still lingered in the depths of grief. She sat on a weathered park bench, her gaze lost in the vibrant playground where children laughed and ran, their joyful shrieks echoing through the air.
As they chased each other, her tears fell silently, pooling in her lap.
The sight of their carefree innocence felt like a knife twisting in her heart, a painful reminder of what she had lost.
"Come on, Bae. It's time to move on," Liana said gently, her voice soft yet firm as she approached.
She placed a comforting hand on Bae's shoulder, feeling the tension that coiled around her like a thick fog. "You're about to start school, and holding on to this grief will only weigh you down."
Bae leaned her head against Liana's arm, words escaping her as she struggled to articulate the emptiness inside her.
It felt as if life had turned into a cruel joke, each day blending into the next without meaning.
"Ahh," she sighed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Five months of mourning had left her feeling like a ghost, invisible to the world around her.
"I'm fine. I don't need to go to school. I'm fine just like this," Bae replied, her voice barely above a whisper as she watched parents embrace their children, her heart aching with a strange mix of longing and despair.
"You're tormenting yourself, Bae," Liana said, fighting back her own tears.
Anger simmered within her, directed at Zanier for his heartlessness. How could he vanish after everything he had put her through?
Just then, Bae's gaze shifted, and a smile broke through her sorrow. Liana flinched in concern, unsure if this was a sign of recovery or a slip into madness.
But then she saw what had captured Bae's attention: a toddler, giggling uncontrollably, chased after a squirrel that darted playfully into the tree line.
Liana couldn't help but smile too, the child's innocent delight a refreshing burst of life amidst the heaviness surrounding them.
"Well, that's a breath of fresh air," she thought, relieved to see a flicker of joy brighten Bae's face.
As they returned to Liana's apartment, Bae stumbled through the doorway, her movements unsteady and erratic. Liana quickly guided her to the bedroom, gently easing her onto the bed.
Bae's eyes fluttered with confusion, and Liana's heart ached at the sight. She tucked the covers around Bae, ensuring she was comfortable before stepping back into the dimly lit living room.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, Liana's gaze fell upon the divorce papers she had been hesitant to show Bae—documents from Zanier that felt like a betrayal.
A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she picked them up, fingers trembling slightly.
"I don't think she's ready for this," Liana thought, her mind racing.
Bae's mental state was still fragile, and the last thing she needed was more heartbreak.
"I'm not doing this for you, Zanier," she muttered under her breath, her frustration boiling over as she ripped the papers into shreds, the sound echoing like a small rebellion against his coldness.
"Do it yourself. If you have the guts to face her, jerk!" The anger surged within her, fueled by months of dealing with Zanier's careless abandonment of Bae.
He had vanished, leaving her to pick up the pieces alone.
"The fact that you dare send this to me after all this time proves your indifference," she said aloud, the bitterness in her voice lingering in the air.
Determined to check on Bae, she stepped out of her room, only to be interrupted by a message notification that made her pause.
It was from Brag, a name she had been avoiding since Bae entered her life.
"This damn two-faced jerk dares to contact me again?" A wry smile crept across her face as she recalled the flood of messages she had received, all ignored and swiftly deleted.
The thought of Brag trying to worm his way back into her life only fueled her resolve.
"I really don't want anything to do with him," Liana muttered, shaking her head.
She refocused her attention, turning her thoughts to Bae's future.
As she sat at her desk, she began booking a flight for Bae to the States. The weight of the decision pressed down on her, but a sense of urgency stirred within her.
"So this girl has to go," she concluded, her mind made up.