Irate voices argued in the distance—reminders that he was unwanted. The rare warmth of laughter or music was often cut short by stern nuns who shut him out, reinforcing a message of rejection. One woman’s harsh cry—“We have to get rid of that brat!”—etched itself into his fragile heart.

Routine and loneliness defined life in the orphanage. The building was old, the halls dim, and the food cold. Acts of kindness were rare, and affection scarcer still. Rumors swirled about a hidden inheritance from wealthy birth parents—adding a bitter irony to his abandonment. His name, “Bernardo,” tied him to a stranger and a legacy he never understood.

Despite the hardships, Bernardo clung to hope. He retreated into books, imagining love and belonging. While scars remained, the pain became a distant echo. The hardship of those early years forged resilience that would eventually guide him to an unexpected reunion—one that would challenge everything he believed about forgiveness, love, and family.