Chapter 78

Zara's POV
“Congratulations, you’ve made it, Zara! Here’s your daughter!” the doctor announced, as she picked up the little baby and handed her to me.
That moment was a miracle beyond words. Staring at the face of a newborn baby, I felt such deep love. All the pain and struggle felt like it had paid off in an instant.
My mother was beside me rubbing my back. “You’re amazing, Zara. You’ve done so well,” she said. I could feel how proud she was of me, and I felt as light as a wing.
I now held the little jewel I had been waiting for. This journey had been long and challenging, but I knew it meant a new beginning. With the love and support of my loved ones around me, I felt ready to start a new chapter in my life as a mother.
After three days in the hospital, I was finally able to go home with my little girl. It felt like a dream when I saw her face, the little baby who had filled my life with new love and hope. I had started breastfeeding her, and every moment of breastfeeding was a joy for me. Even though Leo was not here to see our baby, I felt confident that I could take good care of her. My comfort was the presence of Mom, who patiently accompanied and supported me.
When I arrived home, a warm atmosphere greeted me. Mom helped me prepare everything, making sure that I and the baby were comfortable at home. Mom not only helped me with baby care but also by providing emotional support when I felt anxious or tired.
A few moments after we went home, Ismaya and Orion came to visit. They were always worried about me and wanted to see my daughter. When they entered the house, I felt my heart blossom, but also a little uncomfortable when I saw Orion there.
All this time, I knew that our relationship was over and there were many memories that I had together, but now I felt more comfortable thinking of her as a friend. However, there was an uneasy feeling that I couldn't deny. Maybe this was the effect of feeling closeness that brought mixed feelings.
"Zara! Welcome back home! Your daughter must be beautiful!" Ismaya said, her face shining with enthusiasm as she walked over to me.
"Thank you, Ismaya. This is her," I said, showing my sleeping baby. Ismaya immediately approached and looked at her in awe, gazing at her gently.
"Oh, she's so cute! What's her name?" Ismaya asked, very excited.
"I named her Kayra," I replied, feeling a sense of pride when saying the name. I couldn't help but smile when I saw Kayra who looked peaceful in her sleep.
Meanwhile, Orion just smiled and nodded. My mind's grasp tried to maintain an emotional distance between us. "Congratulations, Zara. Kayra will be an amazing child," he said, his tone sounding sincere even though inside I felt uncomfortable.
With a strong smile, I said, “Thank you, Orion. I will do my best to raise her.”
We continued our conversation and talked about our experiences during pregnancy and childbirth. Ismaya enthusiastically told us funny things that happened in a prenatal exercise class while Orion listened attentively, even though I felt a little awkward.
As evening approached, Ismaya seemed to feel the awkwardness as well, and she tried to lighten it up. “Come on, we should all celebrate Kayra’s arrival. How about we order food or do something fun?” she said.
That was a good idea. The moment of happiness meant so much. “That sounds great! We can order our favorite food!” I replied, trying to distract myself from the stress that was clouding my mind.
With some research, we finally decided to order our favorite food and enjoy some time together. Even though I felt uncomfortable around Orion, I knew that this was a step towards rebuilding our friendship—albeit in a different form.
That night, when I woke up to Kayra’s cries for milk, I took my little baby to breastfeed. I felt comfortable lying in bed, but the calm atmosphere was suddenly disturbed when I saw a figure coming into the room.
I gasped, surprised to see Letto, Leo's friend, standing near the door. "Letto! What are you doing here?" I asked, confused and anxious.
"Zara, I want to take Kayra from you," he answered in a calm tone. His words seemed to make my heart beat faster.
"N-no!" I replied, confirming a decision that I could not accept. "Later Leo will be angry. He has left and does not want Kayra to be kept away from us!"
But Letto looked at me seriously. "Leo will not come back, Zara. He is imprisoned on our planet for violating the policy on taking human ova. You do not understand how serious all this is," he said, trying to warn me.
Those words were like lightning striking. All the anxiety and fear came back. "What do you mean, Letto? Why is he imprisoned?" I asked, trying to understand the situation that had suddenly become complicated.
“He made the wrong decision, and that decision got him stuck there. Now, I just want to warn you. If you don’t hand Kayra over to me, I can’t guarantee your safety or the baby’s,” Letto told me in a terrifying tone.
Fear gripped my heart. I couldn’t imagine losing Kayra. “B-but, Letto, Leo will definitely come back! He loves us. He’ll do anything to protect us!” I cried, trying to convince myself.
Letto shook his head, indicating that he disagreed. “Listen, Zara. I don’t want to hurt you or the baby. This wasn’t an easy choice for me, but I was just doing my duty. I’ll be back. Watch what you do,” he said, and with that, he started to leave.
Panic and anxiety washed over me as he backed out of the room, leaving me and Kayra with only the panic that filled my heart. I held Kayra’s body, embracing her tightly. She had to be safe, and I swore to protect her no matter what.