2. CAN'T REFUSE

Amanda's heart pounded wildly when she saw her dad lying motionless on the floor. She immediately dropped to the ground nearby, her legs feeling weak beneath her.

The ER waiting room became the silent witness of her pacing back and forth, anxiety etched on her face as she waited for the doctor's report. So lost in her own thoughts, she didn’t even notice the intense gaze of a man watching her from a distance. Only when they both approached the wide-open glass doors did she realize he was there.

“Family of Mr. Yuda?”

“Yes, I’m his daughter, Doc,” Amanda answered quickly, trying to step forward. But her arm was suddenly yanked back roughly. Her brows furrowed as she turned to see who it was.

“I’ll go,” the man said curtly.

Amanda raised an eyebrow as he cut in front of her and walked inside. Left with no choice, she stayed back, waiting with Mama Tiara.

“Radit cares a lot about your dad,” her stepmother said with a deep sigh, a faint smile crossing her lips. “He’s been part of the family since he was little, remember? That’s why your dad and Dinda’s late mother arranged for Dinda to marry him.”

“So, now that Dinda’s gone, shouldn’t Radit be free? Maybe he only agreed to marry her out of obligation,” Amanda quipped bluntly, chuckling under her breath.

“Amanda, don’t talk like that,” Mama Tiara scolded.

“Why not?” Amanda grinned slyly, then leaned closer and whispered, “What about you, Ma? There’s only a five-year gap between you and Radit. You never thought about him, hmm?”

“Stop it, Amanda!” her stepmother snapped. “I would never even think about leaving your dad.”

The sound of the glass doors opening cut their conversation short. Amanda and Mama Tiara turned their attention to Radit, who had just stepped out.

“Dad’s okay. He’s just stressed and overwhelmed,” Radit explained. “But he needs to stay in the hospital for at least two days for further observation. The doctors found signs of a possible heart attack.”

After that, Radit and Mama Tiara continued their conversation while Amanda distanced herself, standing a few feet away. She stayed like that until her dad was transferred to a private room. Her heart clenched when she heard her father calling her name for the first time in ages.

“Your dad’s calling for you,” Radit said, almost repeating the older man’s words.

Amanda hesitated, her steps feeling heavy as she approached her father’s bed. Standing there, she lowered her head, guilt washing over her.

Tears streamed down her face as she looked up and saw her dad smiling weakly at her. She realized in that moment that he was the only family she had left. Their bond should’ve grown warmer, not colder, over the years.

“Dad,” she said, her voice trembling as she gently touched the back of his hand. A shiver ran through her as they connected. It had been so long since they were this close. “I’m sorry.”

Her father shook his head slightly, his frail hand reaching up to pat hers. “I love you so much, just like I loved Dinda.”

“Dad?” Amanda’s lips trembled as she kissed his hand repeatedly, her eyes locked onto his as tears blurred her vision. The tension from earlier dissolved into nothing, replaced by the warmth of this heartfelt moment.

Meanwhile, Radit and Mama Tiara quietly left the room, giving the father and daughter some privacy.

“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be around,” her dad said softly.

Amanda shook her head quickly. “Don’t say that, Dad. I don’t want to be alone.”

He smiled, his hand brushing gently over her hair as she leaned on the edge of the bed. “That’s why, sweetheart. I want you to be with Radit. You two can take care of Ayra together.” His voice grew softer but carried the weight of his wish. “He’s the only one I trust to stand by you. Maybe this is God’s plan, taking Dinda first so that you two can have a chance.”

Her dad’s words lingered in her mind. Amanda sat alone, staring at the untouched food on the table before her. His desperate plea, disguised as a request, weighed heavily on her heart. Torn between loyalty to her father and memories of a three-year-long relationship with someone else, Amanda didn’t know what to do.

“You?” Amanda’s voice snapped as she noticed Radit pulling out the chair opposite her. “Where’s Dad?”

“He’s with Mama Tiara,” Radit replied calmly, his eyes flicking to the untouched food in front of her.

“I want to see him.”

“Dad’s fine. Everything depends on us now,” Radit said flatly, cutting to the chase.

Silence filled the space between them as they both retreated into their thoughts. Amanda felt like her head was going to explode. Coming back to Indonesia had already upended all her carefully laid plans.

And Radit? Who knows what was going on in his mind. He was busy scrolling through his phone.

“What do you think, dear? Have you made up your mind?” Mama Tiara asked as she approached Amanda, who was just waking up.

“Can I even say no?” Amanda shot back, sitting up and glancing at her father, still asleep on the hospital bed.

“Radit has agreed,” her stepmother said gently.

Amanda murmured softly, standing up and walking out of the room. She needed fresh air to clear her thoughts, even if just for a moment.

But the peace didn’t last long. As she neared the doorway, voices raised in anger pulled her attention.

“You think just because you’re rich, you can order my son to marry your daughter like it’s nothing!”

“Amanda is Dinda’s older sister. She’ll be a great mother to Ayra,” Tuan Yuda said, trying to reason.

“What about Radit? Don’t you care about his feelings?”

“Please, Ma’am, calm down. Let’s talk about this properly,” Radit said, attempting to soothe his mother.

“No, Radit. You’re always defying me,” his mother snapped, her eyes blazing. Turning to Tuan Yuda, she spat out, “My son could marry someone far better than Amanda. She’s old, stubborn, and way older than him. Why would my son marry a woman like that? Huh?”

“Don’t you dare insult my daughter!”

Tuan Yuda’s anger was about to boil over, but he stopped when he noticed Amanda standing frozen in the doorway.

“Amanda?”

She shook her head weakly, forcing a small smile as she stepped into the room, acting like she hadn’t just heard her future mother-in-law’s cutting words.

“Look at her! Wearing clothes like that. Does she even look like someone fit to be Ayra’s stepmother?”

Amanda’s fingers itched to fire back with something equally sharp. Her lips parted, but before she could speak, a firm hand gently rested on her shoulder.