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2024-10-29 19:42:56Sara's face turned annoyed. She didn't expect Sebastian to bring it up here, in the middle of a tense situation. "Sebastian..."
"Do you think I'll just let it go?" Sebastian gritted his teeth, trying to hold back the pain that was surfacing again.Sara took a step back, her face trying to remain calm. But her eyes showed panic that could not be hidden. "That's none of your business anymore, Sebastian. What happened between us is over. And I will not give Dinda to you. And I will protect her from this endless debate.""If you really want to protect Dinda, you won't raise her with lies." Sebastian's voice rose, his emotions could no longer be contained. "I have the right to Dinda, and I will not keep quiet anymore. I will fight for her custody, Sara. She deserves to grow up with the truth, not in the lies you created." Sara flinched at the threat. She knew that if Sebastian really fought for Dinda’s custody, there was a big chance that she woulRelated chapters
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With a smile on his lips, Sebastian began to feed Dinda again. Although she still winced a little because of the bland taste of the porridge, Dinda still obeyed and tried to finish her breakfast. While feeding Dinda, Sebastian spoke softly to her, telling funny stories about the things they did together when Dinda was younger."Dad, do you still remember when we went to the park, and Dinda ran around with that big dog?" Dinda asked, suddenly remembering an old incident that made her eyes shine.Sebastian chuckled. "Remember. That dog likes Dinda, he didn't stop chasing you until we had to climb onto the park bench," he said, still remembering how funny and adorable that moment was."Dad also climbed onto the bench, right?" Dinda giggled, remembering her Dad's surprised expression at that time."Yeah, Dad was scared too at that time," Sebastian admitted jokingly, making Dinda laugh even more. They continued to laugh and share stories, enjoying eve
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Sara, seeing the opportunity, immediately took over. She hugged Dinda lovingly, pretending to be calm in front of her daughter. "Dinda, Mommy isn't crying. You know Mommy loves you, right? Daddy just wants to ruin everything. He doesn't care about us," she said softly, but in a tone that clearly conveyed the message that Sebastian was a dangerous figure. Dinda nodded, wiping away the tears on her still-damp cheeks. "Yes, Mommy. I don't want to see Daddy anymore! Get out of here!" Dinda shouted, her voice getting higher and full of hatred. Sebastian felt an unbearable pain in his chest. He wanted to step closer, but he felt as if an invisible wall was blocking him. "Dinda, please... listen to Daddy. I love you. Daddy doesn't want to make Mommy or you feel sad. Daddy just wants us to be together again. We can play and have fun," he said, his voice full of hope, even though deep inside he felt despair. "No! Go away!" Dinda insisted, her voice breaking the
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Sara knew that this fight wasn’t over yet, and she was determined to win. “No one will be able to stop me,” she said to herself, as she imagined the future she wanted, where she and Dinda could live happily without Sebastian’s interference.With renewed confidence, Sara took a deep breath and prepared herself for the next challenge. She had to strategize well and make sure that all her plans went according to her wishes. Everything Sebastian did would only backfire on her, and Sara was determined to prove it in court. A few moments later, the atmosphere in the hospital room felt warmer with the arrival of Rendy, Dinda's rich father. He appeared with a big smile and a big teddy bear propped up in his arms. "Honey, look what Daddy brought!" Rendy shouted cheerfully, entering the room and making Dinda turn her head curiously. Dinda woke up from her sleep, her face immediately lit up when she saw the big and adorable teddy bear. "Daddy is
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Hearing this, Rendy smiled in satisfaction. “Very good, Sara. That’s a smart idea. With the recording, we can show how Sebastian negatively affects Dinda. This could be a big advantage for us.”Sara felt calmer and more excited, then leaned her head on Rendy’s shoulder. “I want to end all this, Rendy. I don’t want to deal with Sebastian anymore. I want to marry you soon,” she said in a soft voice, but full of hope.Rendy looked at her intently. “Are you sure, Sara? This is not a small step. We have to think about all the consequences,” he asked, although his smile showed his support.“Yes, I’m sure,” Sara answered firmly. “I don’t want to live in fear or constantly deal with a painful past. Dinda needs certainty and a stable environment. With this marriage, I’m sure we can give her everything she needs.”Rendy nodded, understanding how important this step was for Sara. He hugged her closer, giving her the support she needed. “We will get through t
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Sebastian thought for a moment, trying to remember the difficult times after his divorce from Sara. He knew that Sara wasn’t always there for Dinda as she should have been, but hard evidence of that was hard to come by. “I know she left the house for days without telling Dinda,” he mumbled. “But that was before we got divorced.”“Those things could be relevant,” Arman said, leaning forward. “If we could prove that Sara often left Dinda or that she was irresponsible as a mother, that could help.”Sebastian felt a little hope rise in his heart. “So, do you think we still have a chance?”Arman smiled thinly, shrugging his shoulders. "There's always a chance, Sebastian. We just have to work hard and gather all the evidence we can. This tape is a good start, but we need more." Sebastian nodded slowly. "I'll do whatever it takes. I just want to make sure Dinda grows up in a safe and loving environment." Arman tidied up his documents on his d
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Rendy sat on the sofa, enjoying a cup of freshly brewed coffee. His head was leaning back, his eyes slightly closed, trying to calm his mind after so much had happened. Sara, after making sure Dinda was okay in her room, approached Rendy with slow steps. “Dinda looks very happy,” Sara whispered as she sat beside Rendy, her eyes looking at him full of hope. “I’m glad to see her cheerful again.” Rendy opened his eyes, smiling slightly. “Yes, she is indeed a strong child. It’s nice to see her laugh again.” Sara spun her coffee cup in her hand, hesitating for a moment before finally asking, “Last night, you mentioned your plan. Are you serious about taking Dinda to the Child Protection Commission so we can win custody?” Rendy turned his head, put his coffee cup on the table, and took a deep breath. “Sara, I know this isn’t easy, but we have to make sure that Dinda is in the safest and most stable environment for her. Yesterday’s experience at the
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“Rendy, I… I’m not sure about this,” Sara muttered softly, her voice hoarse. She lowered her head, not daring to look at Rendy. “If we open this in court, Sebastian could turn the tables. The court could see me as the guilty party for hiding the truth. I could lose a lot more than we thought.”Rendy looked at Sara calmly, noticing the anxiety that was clouding her mind. He understood how hard this decision was for Sara. While a DNA test might seem like the perfect solution on paper, the reality in the courtroom could be different. The courts were not always focused on absolute truth, especially if past lies could be used by opponents to tarnish Sara’s image. “I understand your hesitation, Sara,” Rendy said in a soft yet firm tone. He moved closer, sitting closer to Sara. “This is not an easy step. But trust me, we can come up with a solid strategy. I will make sure that the focus remains on Dinda’s well-being, not past mistakes.”Sara took a deep breath,
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"But, Rendy," Sara spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly. "Dinda has long believed that Sebastian is her father. If we suddenly reveal the truth, aren't you afraid that it will destroy her? She's still young..."Rendy looked at her deeply, trying to convince Sara with sincerity in his eyes. "I know this will be hard, Sara. But the longer we wait, the harder it will be for Dinda to accept the truth. Right now, she is still young enough to understand and accept. If we wait until she is older, the impact could be much worse." Sara fell silent, staring blankly ahead. She understood Rendy's concerns. There was a part of her that knew that Rendy was right. However, as a mother, her instincts always wanted to protect Dinda from pain. Revealing that Sebastian was not her biological father would cause confusion and perhaps a sense of betrayal for her daughter. Rendy continued, more gently this time. "I want us to be able to knit a life togeth
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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
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"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
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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
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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
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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
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"I will not give up," Sebastian muttered to himself, trying to gather back the strength that was starting to fade. He knew that even though the judge's decision had been made, his struggle as a father was not over. Dinda still needed a father figure in her life, and he was determined to stay there, even if in a different capacity. His lawyer, who was still standing beside him, looked at him with understanding. "Sebastian, we can appeal. There are many ways to fight for your rights as a father. This is not the end of everything," he said in a reassuring tone. Sebastian nodded slowly, even though his heart still felt heavy. He knew that this process would be long and tiring, but he would not back down. Dinda was everything to him, and he would do anything to make sure that his daughter knew how much he loved her. As they stepped out of the courtroom, Sebastian stared out the window, watching the rain begin to pour. He felt uncontrollable tears streaming
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The judge, who had listened to all the arguments thoughtfully, took a moment before speaking.“I will consider all the evidence presented, both from the plaintiff and the defendant,” he said in a firm, careful tone. “But the child’s interests are the top priority. Therefore, this decision will focus on Dinda’s comfort, safety, and happiness.”The courtroom was silent, everyone holding their breath waiting for the decision to be made. Sebastian sat with a broken heart, but deep in his heart he knew that, whatever the outcome, his love for Dinda would never fade. That day, in the midst of the emotional trial, Sebastian realized that being a father was not just about blood ties but about the unconditional love he had for the daughter, he might not be able to hug every day anymore.Sebastian stared ahead, trying to calm his turbulent thoughts. The judge’s firm, the authoritative voice echoed in the courtroom, but it all felt vague to him. He could only think o
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Seeing Sebastian looking shaken, Rendy continued his attack confidently. "In addition, Your Honor, we also have a video recording of the Child Protection Commission interview with Dinda. In this recording, Dinda explained very honestly about her feelings towards the parents who raised her."The video interview was played. Dinda's small voice was heard in the quiet courtroom. Dinda was seen sitting on a chair, trying to look at the Child Protection Commission interviewer with her innocent face, looking honest but full of caution. Her voice sounded soft and slightly trembling."I ... I like living with mom. I feel comfortable at Mom's house. I can sleep soundly and I'm not afraid ..." Dinda looked down, then added in a softer voice, "When it's with Daddy Sebastian ... sometimes Daddy Sebastian likes to get angry with mom. I don't like seeing Mom cry because she fights with Daddy Sebastian ..."Those words pierced Sebastian's heart, who felt as if the world w
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On the other side of the room, Sara sat upright, as if unshaken by the serious atmosphere that dominated the courtroom. Her cold gaze was fixed on the judge, and occasionally she glanced at Rendy as if solidifying their strategy in securing Dinda's custody. Sebastian realized that Sara was very sure of her position. That feeling added a new burden to his chest, which was getting tighter as time went by. When the judge invited Rendy to give his initial statement, the lawyer stood calmly. He stepped into the center of the room with apparent confidence, delivering his opening argument in a loud and firm voice. "Your Honor," he said, "our client, Sara, has provided a stable and loving environment for Dinda. In addition, the emotional closeness between them has been a strong foundation that has encouraged Sara to maintain this custody." Every word that came out of Rendy's mouth was like a knife stabbing Sebastian's heart, making his chest feel tighter. Rendy arranged
