4

“Ah, Sebastian. You remember, right? This land is under my name. You gave it to me as our wedding gift. Even the house you built with great difficulty, it’s all mine now.”

Sebastian fell silent, his heart felt like it was being squeezed. That house was where he had placed his hopes and dreams, every stone he had stacked was a manifestation of his love and dedication to their little family. He used to think that the house would be a place where they would grow old together, watching their children grow up. But now, reality hit him. Sara not only claimed the property but also lived there with another man—her lover. The thought of that stranger sitting in the living room, walking on the floor that Sebastian had once built with his own hands, was something he could barely accept.

Sebastian’s lawyer coughed softly, drawing his attention back to the pile of documents in front of him.

“You need to sign this as soon as possible. The longer we delay, the worse the situation will be. Especially regarding the custody of your daughter…”

Sebastian shifted his gaze to the papers. His eyes traced every word, and suddenly his breath hitched when he read one clause that made his blood boil. Full custody of their daughter, Dinda, would go to Sara. Not only that, Sebastian would also be required to pay $10,000 every month in child support.

“What do you mean by this?” His voice was low but tense, almost shaking. He slammed the paper down on the table. “Sara gets custody of Dinda? And do I have to pay that much support every month? For what? So she can continue living comfortably with that jerk?”

“We both know Dinda needs her mother more than her father. Besides, $10,000 is not a big amount for you. You have more than enough.”

“It’s not about the money, Sara. It’s about Dinda! You don’t even care about her. You’re more busy with your new life, with that man. Do you really think you can be a good mother to Dinda when you can’t even be loyal to your family?”

Sara chuckled, coldly. “Oh, Sebastian, you’re always so dramatic. Do you want to raise Dinda? In what way? You’re almost always working, how much time can you spend with her? Besides, I know you don’t want Dinda to grow up traumatized by this divorce. She’d rather be with her mother.”

Sebastian gripped the arms of his chair, trying to hold back his rising anger. It was true that work often took up his time, but he knew he was more capable of being a loving and caring parent than Sara. Sara had never really been interested in a home life, let alone being a good mother to Dinda. She was always focused on herself—on her social life, her friends, and now her new man. There was no place for Dinda in Sara’s life, and that made Sebastian angry.

“You don’t deserve Dinda. You don’t even deserve to be called a mother. While I worked hard to give you guys a decent life, what were you doing? Going on vacations, partying, and cheating. And now, you want me to pay this much alimony? For what, Sara? So you can keep traveling with that man? So you can live a life of luxury with the money I earn?”

“It’s up to you how you look at it. What’s clear is that Dinda is better off with me. And about the money, it’s child support, not support for me. But if it also helps me live more comfortably, well, that’s a bonus.”

Sebastian’s anger was getting hotter. How could Sara be so cold? How could she consider the money as just a “bonus” for him, while what was at stake was their child’s future? For him, the money wasn’t just about material things. It was a symbol of his hard work, of every hour of overtime he spent to support his family. And now, everything he did would become funds for an affair, funds for Sara to continue her new luxurious life while she tried to rise from the ruins of their household.

“I won’t let this happen. I will fight for Dinda, and I won’t just hand over this money for you to spend as you please. You can continue to live in your false fantasy, but Dinda will know who the parents are who really care about her.”

Sara just smiled thinly, as if unperturbed by Sebastian’s threats.

“We’ll see. The court will decide.”

Sebastian clenched his fists on the table, holding back the harsh words that threatened to escape his lips. He knew that this was not over yet. But one thing was for sure—he would not back down. Dinda’s custody and their future were too precious to be handed over to a woman who only cared about herself.

“I will not sign this. Do you think I will give up custody of Dinda just like that?”

“Oh, come on, Sebastian. This is just a formality. You know you won’t have time to take care of Dinda. You are always busy working. Leave her with her mother, where she can get the attention she needs.”

“What attention? You never even cared about Dinda! All this time, you only cared about yourself, about your luxurious life.”

“Sebastian, you are being too emotional. Don’t make this harder than it has to be. Besides, $10,000 a month is not a big deal for you. You have more than enough to give Dinda a decent life.”

“This is about Dinda. You don’t care about her future. All you want is my money! You expect to live comfortably on child support, without having to lift a finger to work. This isn’t about Dinda. This is about you and the lavish lifestyle you want!”

Sara’s expression hardened. Her smile vanished, replaced by a sharp glare.

“You know what, Sebastian? You’re right. I do need the money. Why not? Dinda lives with me, I take care of her. What’s wrong with me enjoying a decent allowance while she’s under my care?”

“You call that ‘taking care of’? While you’re busy traveling and partying with that jerk? You only see Dinda as a long-term meal ticket. Dinda needs more than just money. She needs love, attention, and stability—all things you’ll never give her.”

Sara’s eyes narrowed, and her lips tightened.

“You don’t understand. You always think you’re better than me just because you work hard and have money. But Dinda would be happier with her mother, and you know it.”

“No, Dinda would be happier with someone who truly loves her, not someone who only sees her as a source of income. I will not hand Dinda over to you, Sara. I will fight for her.”

At that moment, a small voice from behind made them both flinch. Unknowingly the argument woke their daughter.