Chapter 3: Fortune in Desperation

Bella looked around for her parents, but they were nowhere in sight.

The crying was relentless, and she couldn’t just leave the child there. Her own dump of an apartment wasn’t fit for a baby, and the train ride would take over an hour—but she had no choice. She had to get her home.

Her plans for sleeping on the streets were now postponed; survival had a new, urgent priority.

********

(BELLA’S APARTMENT)

Bella opened the door and pushed the stroller inside, then scooped the baby into her arms. The crying was so intense that Bella feared she might lose her breath or even pass out.

“Shh… shh, baby, don’t cry. I’ll find your parents,” she whispered, rocking her gently.

The baby tugged at her clothes, instinctively reaching for her breast.

Bella felt a pang of guilt, she couldn’t give the child what she needed. There was nothing; her body was dry.

She placed the baby on a pillow and shuffled to the corner of the apartment she called her kitchen. The milk she had was meant for adults, but the baby was hungry. Bella had no choice…it was all she could offer.

She warmed the milk and poured a little onto a small plate, then grabbed a tiny spoon from her sugar container to feed the baby.

Cradling the child, Bella sat down and tried to offer a small spoonful to her mouth…but the baby refused, tugging insistently at Bella’s chest. Her cries were sharp and frantic, veins standing out on her forehead as she screamed.

Frustration welled up within her. Tomorrow, she would have nowhere to live, and the baby’s relentless crying only made her feel worse.

Bella thought hard, biting her lip as a wild, desperate idea formed. It felt insane, but she couldn’t let the baby starve.

Even if it didn't satisfy her, at least it would stop the crying.

She placed the child on the pillow and rushed to the shower. There was no way she could do this with a dirty, sweaty body.

Once she was done, she didn’t put on a top. Cradling the baby in her arms, she sat down and carefully scooped some milk, letting it drip onto her breast.

The baby latched on instantly. Relief washed over Bella as the crying finally stopped. She carefully continued to offer the milk until the baby’s movements slowed, signaling she had fallen asleep.

Gently, Bella placed her back in the stroller, it was more comfortable that way.

She took a moment to search through the stroller, hoping to find something that could help her locate the baby’s parents.

She picked up a rattle and caught a glimpse of a name engraved on it.

“Rodriguez,” she murmured.

Anger surged through her. “So the man in shades… and they actually left this girl here like some forgotten piece of trash?” she fumed. But she paused, thinking.

Then a sly thought crossed her mind. In a way… this could work to my advantage.

All she knew was wealth, and this could be her chance. This baby might be a blessing…a way out of poverty. Bella smiled as she looked down at the child’s soft, sleeping face, feeling as if she had just hit the jackpot.

*******

(RODRIGUEZ MANSION)

The nanny knelt on the floor, shivering.

“Where is the baby I gave you to take care of?” he asked, calm and unbothered.

“Sir… I… I’m sorry. I… I forgot…” she stammered.

He narrowed his eyes, his calmness making it worse. “You forgot a child? Are you mad? Do you realize what would happen if the press found out I lost my daughter in the most ridiculous way possible?”

He turned to his bodyguards.

“Find the child and bring her back,” he said coldly. Then he pointed at the nanny. “Make sure she’s silenced. I don’t want my reputation touched.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No,no, please!” the nanny sobbed, crawling toward him. “I won’t say anything! I swear! Please, I’ll find your daughter. Please don’t hurt me, I beg you!”

She clutched at Lucian’s legs. Irritated, he kicked her away without a second glance.

The guards stepped in. One pressed a cloth over her mouth. Her struggles weakened within seconds, and she went limp. They lifted her and dragged her out of the room.

He lit a cigarette and poured himself a drink, taking a slow sip as he puffed smoke. His dark eyes stared at nothing, anger coiling tight inside him.

“My rivals could have taken the child. That idiot has ruined my hardwork.”

In a sudden motion, he threw the glass to the floor. It shattered with a sharp crash.

An aged maid, who had served the family for decades, watched him warily and let out a soft sigh.

“Food is ready, Lucian,” she said with a small, cautious smile.

He glanced at her and nodded, returning his focus to the smoke curling from his cigarette.

*******

Bella left early in the morning, before the landlord could show up. She didn’t take anything from the dump she called an apartment, she had all her hopes pinned on the baby’s parents.

The taxi stopped in front of a huge company. The driver pulled the stroller from the car boot.

Bella took in the sight. Rodriguez was boldly written at the top.

“Wow… it’s huge,” she muttered.

She looked down at the baby in her arms. “Your parents are rich… I’m sure they can spare some change for me.”

Carefully, she placed the baby in the stroller and started moving toward the entrance.

“Hey, bitch! You forgot to pay!” the driver shouted.

The insult was unnecessary, random, and infuriating.

Bella clenched her jaw but forced herself to stay calm. She turned and tossed the money to the floor, ignoring him as she kept moving.

The man lunged, grabbing a fistful of her hair and yanking her backward.

“Ow! Let go of my hair!” she yelped, elbowing him, but he didn’t release her.

“Who are you to disrespect me?” he growled, tugging harder. “First, you didn’t pay. Now you throw my money on the floor.”

The road was empty. No one was in sight to help. Tears streaked Bella’s face, and her scalp burned from his grip.

“I only did to you what you deserved, scumbag! Let my hair go!” she muttered through gritted teeth.

Bella struggled against him, but the baby’s cries pierced the air, growing louder with each second.

Suddenly, a car approached and screeched to a halt.

The man finally released her and shoved her aside.

Bella stared at the car, hoping…praying it belonged to the baby’s parents so she could get this over with.

The car door opened. The man stepped out, his gaze locking instantly on the crying child in the stroller. His face hardened.

Without a word, he pulled out his phone and dialed.

“Hello, police.”

Bella’s eyes widened.