Chapter 1.2

"You're not of the same blood?" Adel was dumbfounded. She looked at her husband, who nodded dejectedly at her question, with her eyebrows furrowed.

She was even more surprised. There was an idea that was formed in her mind but she needed to confirm it first. "Then why do you look depressed? Maybe she inherited her mother's blood type?" She looked at him intently and was making sure that she would hear the exact words that would come out from his mouth. 

"Her mother's blood type is the same as mine," Ramon replied, confirming Adelaida's thoughts. 

‘Tatiana is not his child!’ she screamed in her mind.  

Adelaida was overjoyed at her husband's answer. But she pretended to be sad then hugged him tight. She smiled secretly because she had finally found a reason to evict that filthy woman from their household. 

Fortunately, the nurse had already found a donor for Tatiana. She was finally out of danger. And she was now transferred to a private room. 

Ramon had never thought that Tatiana was not his child. Because ever since he saw her in the arms of his first wife, he had loved her more than when she was still in her mother's womb. Sadly, Tatiana's mother died a day after she gave birth. So he did not know whom to ask about what he had learned. He loved his baby girl so much and learning that she was a fruit of his first wife's infidelity made him more heartbroken. 

Adelaida hugged and comforted him until he calmed down. 

As Ramon held his wife's hands, he whispered something to her. "You take care of Tatiana first, love. I'll just take care of something for the hospital bills." 

And before Ramon left the room, he took one last glance at his sleeping Tatiana. Tears dripped from his eyes again, but he immediately wiped them away. He left the room afterwards. 

Adelaida impatiently waited for Tatiana to wake up to carry out her plan. 

Tatiana slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was blurred at first, but it eventually became clear. The white ceiling was the first thing she saw. Then she slowly roamed her eyes around the room. The room size was only moderate. Only the hospital bed, bedside table, and a chair were in the room. There was also a bathroom door on the right side.

Then she saw her stepmother. She was looking at her with raging eyes. 

And whenever her father was away, she always showed her true color to her. 

Adelaida never liked her because she always thought that Tatiana was taking her spouse’s attention away from her since Ramon's attention was all on her since she got pregnant. 

However, Tatiana remained kind to her. She still respected her because she loved her Papa Ramon so much. And she had also learned to love her stepmom after several years of living together. 

"Where is papa, Aunt Adel?" Tatiana immediately asked. She even tried to get up. But her body was still weak.

Adelaida raised an eyebrow at her. "He left," she replied shortly. 

Tatiana was hurt by her stepmother's answer. In her mind, she thought, 'Haven’t he forgiven me yet?'

She thought that her dad had already accepted what had happened to her. He was even more excited for her to give birth than her. So she had hoped that he would be the first to greet her when she woke up. 

"Why?" That was all she could ask. Maybe her dad just left to buy her something. ‘Yeah. That’s right,’ she marked in her mind to ease the pain.

Her aunt stood up and approached her. An annoying grin was plastered on her face. But Tatiana did not mind that. 

"Do you want to know why?" Adelaida asked.

Tatiana did not answer. She just waited for her to continue. 

But Adelaida did not speak. Instead, she threw her a piece of paper. 

She could not get it right away because her body was still weak. And when she got it, she rushed to find out what was written on that piece of paper. 

It was her and her father's blood test result. 

"That's the reason. He found out you're not his real child!" Her stepmother smirked. "He found out that the unica hija whom he loves so much and nurtured for decades is not really his," she whispered as she stroked her hair. 

Tatiana shrieked when her Aunt Adel suddenly pulled her hair towards herself. "He found out that you were a bastard so he left! He was so hurt that he left!" She was still holding on to her hair. She bent down and levelled her mouth to Tatiana's ear. "And do you know what he said to me before he left? He said that he doesn't want to see you ever again. Never! So don't bother calling him," she whispered as she stood up. Then harshly let go of Tatiana's hair. 

Adelaida walked away from Tatiana and then took her bag and left the room. 

Tatiana was left inside the room with a broken heart. She just cried her heart out for hours. 

*** 

Few hours later after her stepmother left, Tatiana waited and hoped that her Papa Ramon would come to prove that what her Aunt Adel said was wrong. But her father never came. Only a nurse carrying her baby girl entered the room. When she carried and saw her newborn's face, she felt relieved. She temporarily forgot about her problem with his dad' presence. All the hardships and pain she went through and was feeling were replaced with overflowing joy. For her, she had a new world and a new reason to live. She found serenity in her. 

"I love you so much, Serena. You're all I have now," Tatiana whispered as she watched her baby crying in her arms. She kissed her angel's forehead. With that, Serena immediately calmed down and yawned. Tatiana smiled. 

She looked at the person who suddenly came into the room. She hoped it was the only man in her life who entered. 

But it was just a nurse. 

"Ma'am, I'm sorry but you need to be discharged tonight," the nurse seemed shy and unsure of what he said. 

Tatiana frowned. "What? Why?" She felt a sudden wave of fear in her heart. 

"Your parents didn't leave any payment for your childbirth. You don't have health insurance either. I called them earlier to ask for payment but no one answered the call," he carefully explained. 

Tatiana blinked a few times to stop her tears from falling. Her Aunt Adel was not lying this time. 

The nurse who delivered the message could not help but feel sorry for the crying lady. 

"A-Are you sure about what you said? M-Maybe you've just mistaken me for someone?" she asked, trembling, convincing herself that the nurse had just made a mistake. 

But the nurse just kept staring at her. He looked conscientious but helpless. 

Tatiana realized that he did not. Tears instantly pooled her eyes. "Maybe my daughter and I can stay here for a while. Even just for tonight. I'm begging you. Please!" If only she could kneel, she would do it. They could not be dragged out tonight! She just gave birth. It would be dangerous for her, especially for Serena to be thrown out from the hospital tonight. Because it might cause complications to her baby. 

"I'm sorry, ma'am. You really need to be discharged tonight because I'll lose my job if not," the nurse uttered apologetically.

"No! Just for tonight, sir. Just for tonight. Please! " she begged. 

"Ma'am… " The nurse could not find words to say. He was truly sorry for the damsel. 

"Look at my angel, sir. We cannot be thrown away outside for tonight! My baby will get sick! Please! Please! I beg you!" She became hysterical about Serena's sake. "My family abandoned me and I have no one else to go to! I lost my friends when I got pregnant! And I don't know who is the father of my child! Have mercy on me, sir!" She was already kneeling on the hospital bed while carrying Serena. "Have mercy on my baby. Please!" 

Guilt had eaten the nurse. 

"I apologize, ma'am," he started. He could not look at her directly as pity engulfed his being. "But I cannot lose this job. I have a family to feed." 

Tatiana was in deep sorrow as she took a glance at her sleeping Serena. She was sleeping soundly in her arms. Her tears still flowed but she immediately wiped them away. Then she weakly returned sitting on the bed. 

She looked out the window. It was late at night and it was raining heavily. 

What would happen to them now? Where would they go now that her family abandoned them? 

She returned her gaze to the nurse. Her eyes were bloodshot and glassy. "C-Can you at least lend us a blanket and an umbrella?" she pleaded.

The nurse sadly nodded at her.