Sebastian felt confused and frustrated. He didn’t want to get caught up in this devious adult game. Deep down, he wanted his father to want something more genuine and meaningful for their relationship. “But this isn’t what I expected, Dad. I wanted us to build a stronger relationship based on honesty, not manipulation,” he insisted, feeling the emotions roiling inside him.
Of course, his father remained firm. “I know this seems difficult, but we have to play this game for our own good. Let them help us with connections and business opportunities. It’s all for your future,” he said again, trying to defend his position. Sebastian still couldn’t believe that his father hadn’t changed a bit. Deep inside, he felt a combination of anger and deep disappointment, but he realized that some things couldn’t be changed that easily.In the end, even though he was still angry, Sebastian knew that he didn’t have much of a choice. “Okay, Dad. I’ll try to accept it, evenSebastian seemed at a loss for words. He was not only angry with Sara, but also with himself for still paying attention to her argument, even though there was clearly injustice in this situation. “You really have no shame,” he said, staring at her with a sharp gaze. He was sure that all of this was not solely about Dinda, but more focused on Sara’s personal interests and the egoism that always overshadowed her decisions. “I’m just doing what’s best for Dinda. You should understand, this isn’t just about the two of us—she’s the most important,” Sara said coldly, as if she was trying to dramatize the situation to gain sympathy.Sebastian bit his lip, feeling the emotions inside him rising. “You may be able to pretend like you care about Dinda, but everything you do is only for your own benefit. If you truly want what’s best for her, you shouldn’t use her as a tool to bring me down.”The lopsided smile on Sara’s face grew wider, as if she felt she had the p
“She’s Sara’s child!” his father retorted, as if trying to emphasize that Dinda wasn’t entirely his. “You’re just caught up in these emotions. This isn’t the way to solve problems, Sebastian.”“It may not be the way you want, but it’s the way I believe in,” Sebastian said, his tone firm. He knew that his father didn’t want to understand what he was feeling. “I’m not going back to Sara. She stabbed me in the back, and I’m not going to let myself be tied down again to someone who betrayed me.”His father fell silent, perhaps surprised by Sebastian’s assertiveness. “But legally, this could be a serious problem. You can’t live your life based on feelings alone,” he tried to explain, but Sebastian no longer paid attention to his words.“Dinda doesn’t deserve to live in a controversial and toxic environment. She should have a brighter future, and I feel responsible for saving her,” Sebastian said, feeling determination in his heart.Sebastian stood str
“No. She doesn’t want to see you anymore. ‘Poor daddy’,” Sara replied sarcastically, as if belittling Sebastian’s efforts to be involved in Dinda’s life. Every word that came out of her mouth was like a needle that stabbed his heart deeper.Sebastian felt pent-up anger. “This is too much, Sara! I’m not the ‘poor daddy’ you mentioned! I may not be Dinda’s biological father, but I want to be a part of her life,” he said, his voice rising, but he tried to make sure he remained polite despite the anger. But Sara just smiled sarcastically, making him feel even more hopeless. “She might be better off without your drama-filled presence. Why don’t you just focus on yourself?” she replied, shrugging as if none of this mattered to her. Sebastian was completely fed up. Everything he had done, all the effort he had put into protecting Dinda and speaking up for the little girl seemed to be in vain. “You only care about yourself! Dinda deserves to know about me and ha
She only realized how important Sebastian was after finding out that he was the 'heir' of a large company. Everything she had previously considered trivial about Sebastian now seemed valuable in her eyes. She had once underestimated his struggles, thinking that Sebastian was just a part of her past, but now she felt as if she had missed a great opportunity. Even though regret was on her mind, Sara quickly pushed it aside. She had already committed herself to marry Rendy, who clearly had wealth and a strong social position. Money was the most valuable thing to her, and she knew that in order to get what she wanted, she had to be consistent with her choice. “There’s no going back,” she thought firmly. “Everything is done for money.” She knew that even though her feelings for Sebastian might still be there, her decision to unite with Rendy was a more strategic move. A life of comfort, luxury, and financial security were far more important to Sara than a r
Sara woke up in the middle of the night feeling restless. The room was quiet, but suddenly a weak groan came from Dinda's room. Her instincts immediately told her to get up and check on her daughter. With quick steps, Sara headed to Dinda's room, and when she approached the small bed, she saw Dinda's face sweating and looking restless in her sleep. "Dinda?" Sara called softly, trying to wake her daughter who looked disturbed in her sleep. However, Dinda only groaned softly, her small body writhing restlessly. Sara felt her heart sink in worry. When she touched Dinda's forehead, she was surprised to find her daughter's body very hot. The heat was so high that Sara pulled her hand away quickly as if stung. "Oh my God ...," Sara muttered, her heart pounding. Panic immediately surged in her chest. She knew this was no ordinary fever. Without thinking, she immediately grabbed her cell phone, called the driver to get ready, and carefully carried Dinda, whose
Suddenly, Dinda began to move restlessly in her sleep. Her pale face looked increasingly tense, and she began to make soft sounds. "Dad... Sebastian..." she groaned in a hoarse and weak tone. Her body was shaking even more, and Sara, who realized what her daughter had said, was shocked. "Sebastian?" Sara muttered softly, her heart astonished. Why at a time like this, when Dinda was sick and had a fever, was Sebastian the name her daughter was calling? She felt shocked to see Dinda continue to call out for her father, a small cry was heard between her gasping breaths. Dinda continued to sleep talk, her body shivering and calling incessantly, "Dad... Sebastian... miss you..." Sara felt her heart being stabbed. Guilt began to creep into her chest. How could Dinda miss her father so much, while she had always closed the door between Dinda and Sebastian? Sara knew, however, that Sebastian was a part of Dinda's life. But she never thought that the longing wo
Suddenly, Sara's maid, Mrs. Rina, appeared from the side of the house. Her face looked worried, and when she saw Sebastian, she immediately approached him. "Mr. Sebastian," she said in a low voice. "Dinda... she was taken to the hospital last night."Sebastian felt as if the whole world stopped for a moment. "What? Why? What happened to her?" he asked urgently, unable to hide his surging anxiety.Mrs. Rina shook her head, her eyes full of sympathy. "Dinda has a high fever and can't sleep. Mrs. Sara took her to the hospital for further treatment.""Dinda is in the hospital now?" Sebastian panicked and rushed to his car. "I have to go there. Thank you, Mrs. Rina.""Mr. Sebastian, be careful. Mrs. Sara is already there, and they are still examining her," Mrs. Rina added, but Sebastian was impatient. He drove to the hospital full of worry.Sebastian panicked when he arrived at the hospital and immediately found out where Dinda was being trea
Dinda, who was still lying weakly on the bed, suddenly hugged Sebastian tightly. Her small but soulful hands gripped Sebastian's shirt, as if afraid that her father would leave again. "Daddy... I miss you so much," her voice was hoarse but full of emotion. Sebastian was silent for a moment, his heart seemed to explode with mixed feelings—happy, sad, and relieved. He returned Dinda's hug gently, embracing his daughter in the warmth he had longed for. "Daddy misses you so much too, honey," he whispered, Sebastian's voice trembling slightly. Dinda continued to hug Sebastian tightly, not wanting to let go. Her tears began to flow, dripping down her cheeks which were hot from the fever. "I was scared, Daddy... I thought Daddy wouldn't come again." Sebastian rubbed Dinda's back gently, trying to calm his daughter. "Daddy is always there for you, Dinda. Whatever happens, Daddy will never leave you. You are everything to Daddy."
Flashing red and blue lights filled the accident scene, signaling the arrival of the medical team and security officers. The paramedics quickly evacuated Sebastian and Dinda from the wrecked car. At the same time, Sara and Rendy arrived at the scene with panicked and anxious faces after receiving a call from the hospital.When she saw Sebastian’s car, which was almost no longer in shape, Sara was shocked, her body shaking violently. She could barely recognize the shape of the car. Her little heart sank, filled with incredible fear and worry.“Where is Dinda? Where is my daughter?” Sara asked in a desperate tone to one of the officers there.The officer calmed Sara down by saying, “We have sent them to the hospital. Their condition is quite severe, but the doctor has prepared emergency measures.”Sara couldn’t hold back her tears anymore. Rendy, who was standing beside her, tried to calm her down and guide her into their car, heading to the hospit
After the ice cream was finished, Sebastian took Dinda to a small bookstore not far from the park. He knew that Dinda really liked storybooks, and this had been their favorite place for a long time. Every time she went to this store, Dinda always looked so excited to choose books with animal stories or fantasy stories. In the store, Dinda started walking from shelf to shelf, looking for a book that caught her attention. Sebastian followed her, occasionally helping her reach the books neatly arranged on the high shelves. Finally, Dinda found a picture book of a little elephant going on an adventure to find a friend. Her eyes shone as she showed the book to Sebastian. “Daddy, I want this book! Look, there’s a cute little elephant!” she exclaimed, smiling broadly. Sebastian stroked Dinda’s head gently. “Of course, honey. Daddy bought it for you. You’ll definitely like the story about this little elephant,” she replied, then took the book to the cashier.
Sebastian nodded. “Yes, Sara. I will be on time,” he said with a faint smile, calming Dinda who was holding his hand tightly. Today, he was determined to make Dinda happy, no matter how short their time together was.He took Dinda by the hand towards the car, then closed the door slowly. With a hopeful gaze, Sebastian looked at his little daughter sitting beside him, ready to bring simple but meaningful happiness. Today was the day he had been waiting for with all his heart, and he knew how precious every second he had with Dinda was. Sebastian drove his car with a heart full of hope, his eyes occasionally glancing at Dinda who was sitting beside him with an enthusiastic face. In his mind, he had imagined this day over and over again. A full day that he would fill with happiness and beautiful memories with his daughter. "Daddy, where are we going first?" Dinda asked while looking at him with sparkling eyes. Sebastian smiled warmly. "Let's go to
Sebastian took a deep breath, trying to steel himself. Lila’s words gave him a little hope, even though the bitterness had not completely disappeared. “Thank you, Lila. I just… I just need time to accept all of this.”Lila smiled faintly. “I’ll always be here, Sebastian. Whenever you need help or just want to talk, you know I’m ready to listen.”Sebastian smiled back softly. Even though his life felt like a mess, Lila’s presence gave him a little light in the darkness he was facing. And for now, that was more than enough.***Two weeks had passed, but for Sebastian, time felt like it was moving slowly, every second filled with immeasurable longing for his little daughter, Dinda. This was the day he had been waiting for with all the mixed feelings, the first day he could spend time with Dinda after the painful trial results.Sebastian stared at the clock with hope trembling in his heart. Every second that passed seemed to be a reminder of
The next morning, even though his heart and mind were still in chaos, Sebastian still had to attend the proposal submission meeting. He walked into the company meeting room with heavy steps but tried to hide all his pain behind a strong face. The office was the only place he felt he still had control, a space that would not judge or abandon him like what had just happened in court. The meeting room was already filling up when Sebastian arrived. There were several employees sitting there with thick documents in their hands, ready to present new proposals. Not far from them, Lila was busy reviewing several files, focused as usual. Their gazes met, and Lila gave a thin, sincere but understanding smile. Sebastian returned it with a small nod, although his smile was not entirely sincere. Lila knew exactly what was going on in his life, and her presence gave him a little comfort in the midst of the chaos. As Sebastian took a seat at the end of the table, he tried to co
"Yes, custody has officially fallen to Sara," Rendy continued with a thin grin, his expression changing to a satisfied smile. "The hardest part is over. Now all that remains is to make sure she continues to comply with everything that has been agreed upon." Rendy listened for a moment, then added, "Sebastian will not be a problem. He just needs to be left aside, with no chance to interfere again." Rendy's smile grew wider, his face now filled with suspicious confidence. "Just a few more steps and everything will go perfectly. Sara just needs to be kept from ruining this plan.”At the end of the conversation, he nodded slowly and said, “We will meet as usual, next week. Don’t worry, everything is under my control.”Rendy hung up the phone with a mysterious look. The smile on his lips reflected a hidden plan that only he knew, and it seemed that everything that had happened so far was just part of a grand scheme that was slowly star
Sara let out a long sigh, looking at Rendy with eyes full of disappointment that she had long suppressed. “Rendy, I should feel relieved now. I should feel victorious. But, look… Dinda is still looking for Sebastian, even though we’ve done everything to make her feel comfortable here. It feels like… all this effort is in vain.”Rendy nodded, trying to understand Sara’s feelings. He knew this wasn’t just about winning legal custody; it was about winning Dinda’s heart, something much more complicated.“Sara, I can see how much effort you put in. You’ve given your best, more than most single parents out there can do,” Rendy said while touching Sara’s shoulder, giving her a little encouragement. “But we also have to accept that the bond between Dinda and Sebastian has indeed formed so strongly. It’s not easy to erase those feelings.”Sara stared at Dinda who was sleeping on her bed, feeling increasingly cornered by the reality that Rendy had just revealed. “S
Dinda looked at Sara with a clear disappointed expression. “But why can’t Daddy come in? Why can’t you just meet me for a moment, Mom?”Sara sighed, a little confused about how to explain this complicated situation to her young child. “Honey, this is indeed difficult to explain. Daddy and Mommy have an agreement for certain times so that everything goes well for you.”Rendy looked at Sara as if he wanted to add something. He knelt down next to Sara and spoke softly, “Dinda, Mommy, and Daddy Sebastian have agreed to meet at a predetermined time. Daddy Sebastian loves you, and he will come at the predetermined time. You will meet Daddy soon, on Sunday, as scheduled.”However, Dinda did not look satisfied with that answer. Her face looked even sadder, and her tiny lips trembled, trying to hold back tears. “But… I miss Daddy Sebastian. Why do I have to wait until Sunday? I… I want to meet Daddy now.”Sara felt a tremor in her chest. She could not deny
The rain grew heavier, wetting Sebastian’s face until he had difficulty distinguishing between the rainwater and the tears that were starting to wet his cheeks. His gaze shifted from Rendy to Sara, then back again, hoping to see even a little sympathy between them. However, both of them looked cold and unaffected.“Sara, please…” he said again, his voice breaking with deep sadness. “I know I’m not her biological father. I know you think I’m not good enough, but Dinda is everything to me. I’ve taken care of her since she was little, I’ve given her all the love I have…”“And I also gave her love, Sebastian. Love that gives her peace, not anxiety,” Sara replied loudly, trying to hold back her thinning patience. “Dinda feels safer with me. And you should start to appreciate that.”Sebastian clenched his fists, feeling great disappointment welling up inside him. “I’m just asking for a little time, Sara. Just a little. You’ve already won custody. I’m n