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
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
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
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.
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
Sebastian woke up with a heavy body and a throbbing headache as if thousands of needles were stabbing his mind. He tried to move his body, but every small movement caused a sharp pain. In the confusion, pieces of memories began to flash through his mind: Dinda's presence in the back seat, her soft voice as he fell asleep, and then... a very loud crash. With difficulty, he opened his eyes and tried to adjust to his surroundings. The room was dimly visible, surrounded by shadows and dim light. Anxiety gnawed at him, and he tried to remember what happened before he woke up. Memories of Dinda's smile, their laughter on the trip, and the beautiful moments that now felt distant and painful. Sebastian tried to remember those details, but the shadows of fear and pain blocked his thoughts. Is Dinda okay? The question slid into his mind, strengthening his curiosity to immediately get up even though his body seemed to reject it. He bit his lip and tried not to panic, trying
Hearing the voice full of anger and sadness, Sara finally softened. She nodded slowly, although her face was still filled with anxiety and anger that had not subsided. Her feelings were mixed; on the one hand, she felt pressured by this complicated situation, but on the other hand, there was a faint hope emerging. Sara took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She knew that the anger and sadness that overwhelmed her could not be resolved with words alone. Maybe there was a way out, but it required the courage to face reality and open up. She stared at the man, searching for answers in his eyes. In the depths of that gaze, she saw sincerity that could possibly be the beginning of recovery. Although her heart still felt heavy, there was a desire to fix the situation, to understand and forgive. In the midst of the tension that still hung, Sara was determined to move forward, even though the step was full of uncertainty. "Okay," she finally said
It was not long before Sebastian finally opened his eyes again. For a moment, the world seemed blurry, but slowly his vision became clearer. On the side of the bed, he saw a very familiar figure: Lila. The woman was sitting on the side chair, her gaze full of worry and sadness.Sebastian tried to move his body, but fatigue still enveloped him. He could feel his heart beating fast as if trying to remind him how important this moment was. Lila lifted her face, looking surprised when she saw that Sebastian was awake.“Sebastian,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “You’re awake…” Lila spoke in a soft voice, her face calming down a little when she saw Sebastian finally open his eyes. “Sebastian, you don’t have to torture yourself like this.”Sebastian took a deep breath, holding back the pain in his chest and his head that was still throbbing. “I… I can’t, Lila…” his voice was weak and sounded hoarse. “Dinda… She got hurt because of me. This is all my fault.
Rendy stood with a tired face, filled with regret, and before Sara could say anything, he suddenly knelt at the door. "Sara... Please. I know I was wrong. I know I don't deserve to apologize, but I can't keep living like this without trying to make things right," Rendy said with a trembling voice.Sara's face instantly turned red, not with emotion, but with boiling anger. "How dare you come here after what you did to Dinda! Do you think an apology can erase everything?!" she shouted.Sara's loud voice made Sebastian come out of the kitchen, holding Dinda's hand. When he saw Rendy kneeling at the door, his expression hardened."Dinda," Rendy whispered when his gaze fell on the little girl standing next to Sebastian. With a sudden movement, Rendy stood up and ran toward Dinda, his arms outstretched wanting to hug her.However, before he could get close, Sebastian swiftly pulled Dinda behind him, distancing her from Rendy. "That's enou
"Yes," Sebastian replied without hesitation. "What he did is not only wrong but also illegal. He took away Dinda's right to choose. He exploited his position and your trust. That can't be allowed to pass."Sara took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Part of her felt relieved that Sebastian was by her side now, but another part still felt crushed under the heavy weight of guilt."I need time, Sebastian," she finally said. "To think about all this... and to find a way to make up for what has happened to Dinda."Sebastian nodded. "Take as much time as you need, Sara. The important thing is that we face this together. For Dinda."Time passed quickly, and Dinda slowly opened her eyes. The night air felt calm, but the faint aroma of cooking tickled her nose. She got out of bed, rubbing her still-sleepy eyes. The sound of laughter and chatter from the kitchen piqued her curiosity.With slow steps, Dinda walked toward the kitchen.
After helping Dinda lie down in her room, Sara stepped out and slowly closed the door. She stood for a moment in the hallway, taking a deep breath before finally walking to the living room where Sebastian was still standing.“Thank you for helping me today,” Sara said suddenly, her voice soft but sincere.Sebastian was a bit surprised, but he didn’t show it. “For me, Dinda is my child too. I will always be there for her.”The atmosphere between them felt lighter, although sadness still enveloped the day. Sara felt Sebastian's presence as a significant support. In this tense moment, gratitude flowed in her heart.Sebastian looked at Sara, understanding the heavy burden she had to bear. Although their relationship was not always perfect, moments like this made him realize the importance of supporting each other. He was determined to always be by Sara’s and Dinda's side, no matter how difficult their situation became.They exchanged glances,
“Clear!” The shout echoed again, followed by a second shock. But the monitor still showed a flat line.Panic enveloped the room further. Every second felt like a century. The doctors exchanged glances, trying to hide their anxiety even as the situation grew more critical. The continuous beeping of the alarm added to the tension, making everyone feel trapped in uncertainty.Meanwhile, outside the room, Rendy and Vina watched with bated breath. Rendy squeezed Vina's hand, trying to channel some strength. “Please, Rachel... Get up,” he whispered, hoping his heartfelt words reached the weak girl lying there.Vina, unable to hold back any longer, sobbed loudly. “Rachel, we love you! Come back!” Her voice was full of hope, even as fear gnawed at her heart. In this tense moment, all their hopes focused on one point: may a miracle happen.Sebastian stood a few steps behind Rendy and Vina, his heart heavy witnessing the scene. He knew this was a criti
Rendy felt his body weaken, as if struck by a heavy stone. His legs could barely support him, yet he held onto Vina, who continued to cry. “No... it can’t be...” he murmured, almost as if speaking to himself.Panic and fear enveloped him, making him feel trapped in darkness. Each heartbeat felt heavy, and Vina's sobs reminded him of how fragile life can be. Rendy tried to comfort the little girl, even though he himself didn’t know how to cope with the overwhelming fear.As he stared at the closed ICU door, thoughts of all the worst possibilities haunted his mind. Rendy felt guilty, realizing that all of this was the result of his own choices. He wanted to protect Rachel, but now he found himself in a situation that endangered everyone he loved.The tension in the air became palpable, and Rendy prayed that it wouldn’t end in disaster. He was determined to face the consequences of his actions, no matter how painful they might be. In his heart, he hoped there
Rendy looked shocked, but there was deep unease on his face. He knew the situation was worsening. Every word spoken by Sebastian only strengthened his resolve to protect Dinda, and Rendy felt cornered.Sebastian stood firm, trying to contain his emotions. He did not want to be trapped in this game, but the deep pain and anger pushed him to take action. In his mind, there was only one goal: to save Dinda from potential harm.They both fell silent, caught in a moment full of tension. Sebastian knew that the next step would determine not only their fates but also Dinda's future, which should not be affected by the selfish decisions of adults.However, before Sebastian could continue, Rendy knelt before him. His usually confident face was now weak and desperate. Tears began to flow down his cheeks. "Sebastian, please... don’t do this," he said with a trembling voice. "Rachel... Rachel doesn't have much time left."Sebastian paused, shocked to see
Filled with anger, Sebastian chose to confront Rendy. When he arrived in front of the ICU and saw Rendy there, without a second thought, Sebastian threw a punch. He growled with rage, his eyes red as he glared at Rendy, who staggered slightly from the blow.Without thinking, Sebastian grabbed Rendy by the collar, pulling him closer until their faces were just inches apart. "What are you doing with Sara and Dinda?" he hissed, his voice trembling with emotion.Rendy, still shocked, tried to defuse the situation. "Sebastian, wait! This isn't what you think!" he said, trying to keep his distance.Sebastian didn't want to hear any defense. His anger clouded his judgment. He wanted to know the truth, but right now, everything was blurred by his burning rage. He knew he had to listen to what Rendy had to say, but all he felt was the need to protect his loved ones.With his heart racing, Sebastian waited for Rendy's explanation, ready to listen or continu
Sebastian tried to imagine how Rendy and Vina were feeling right now. They must be experiencing a mix of profound hope and fear. He felt compelled to be by their side, providing the support they needed amidst this chaos.His mind was increasingly filled with questions. He recalled how strange Rendy's behavior had been all this time. Rendy suddenly appearing in Sara and Dinda's lives, always looking for ways to get close to them. And now, knowing that Rachel had just undergone a liver transplant, Sebastian couldn't ignore his suspicions.Could it be...? No, that was too cruel. Yet, as he contemplated the situation, the question kept haunting him. Did Rendy really approach Sara because of Dinda? Because he knew Dinda could be a liver donor?Sebastian felt a deep discomfort. He tried to dismiss the thought, but the more he thought about it, the harder it became to ignore. Rendy always seemed very involved and caring, but was it all just a facade to
Sebastian walked down the hospital corridor with hesitant steps, his mind filled with questions. He tried to locate Rendy, Vina, and Rachel, but he had no idea where they were. The hospital corridor felt silent, with only the sound of his footsteps echoing, intensifying his anxiety.Each door he passed seemed to hold untold secrets. He felt the tension in the air, shadows of uncertainty accompanying him. Memories of their emotionally charged meeting replayed in his mind, making his heart tremble.Sebastian thought about Rachel, the helpless little girl, and how easily the situation could turn into conflict. He wanted to protect them, yet at the same time, he felt trapped in confusion.He glanced at the clock on the wall; time seemed to crawl. In his heart, he prayed for their safety and tried to calm himself. He knew he had to find them and get the necessary explanations. With renewed determination, Sebastian continued his search, hoping to rectify his mis