I Am Not A Poor Daddy

16

Sebastian 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 power in this situation. “So, what are you going to do?” she asked, as if testing the tension between them.

 Sebastian took a deep breath, trying to think of his next move. He knew that choosing to fight with Sara wouldn’t benefit anyone, especially Dinda. However, deep down, he felt that this was the time to show that he wouldn’t be deterred.

 “I will take responsibility as a father, but I won’t let you manipulate me any further. We will find a fair solution for Dinda without having to fight this energy-draining battle,” he answered firmly, his eyes staring straight into Sara’s.

  In that moment, Sebastian felt a strong sense of determination. He knew this journey would be difficult, but this time he was determined not to let the woman who had betrayed him take over his life. With a firm decision, he was ready to move forward and rebuild his life, without getting caught up in a detrimental game. 

 The trial that day ended without a satisfactory answer. No common ground was reached, and the two remained stuck in a seemingly never-ending dispute. Sebastian felt frustrated and hopeless, but one thing remained clear in his mind—he wanted to save Dinda. Even though he knew that Dinda was not his biological child, the love he felt for the little girl was so strong. 

 He could not imagine Dinda growing up in the same environment as Sara, who had proven to be a source of poison in their lives. Sebastian felt sorry for Dinda, who never asked to be born into a difficult and toxic situation. The thought continued to haunt him, making the divorce process even more difficult and painful. 

 “You have no right over Dinda,” Sara said, her cold and sharp voice making the statement sound cutting. Every word seemed to be aimed at attacking him, showing complete ownership of the child.

 Sebastian stared at Sara, feeling his blood boil. “She’s not just your daughter, Sara. She’s a part of my life, and I’ve treated her like my own daughter,” he replied firmly, trying to keep his emotions in check. He could feel all the anger and abuse being directed at him right now, but he knew he had to keep his focus on Dinda.

 “You can’t just expect all the rights for her after everything you’ve done to me. This isn’t about us, it’s about her. Dinda deserves a better life, not to be caught up in all this drama,” he added, hoping to remind Sara of the greater good.

 However, as he spoke, Sebastian also felt the weight of his burden—despite his apparent strength, he knew this was a difficult situation to overcome. Sara wasn’t going to let go of her control over Dinda easily, and he had to fight for what he believed was best for the girl.

 “If you really care about Dinda, prove it in a good way. We don’t need you as someone who behaves toxically around us,” Sara said, spreading her arms, as if rejecting his presence.

  Sebastian felt like he was cornered, but one thing was for sure, he would not back down. “I will fight and do everything I can to protect Dinda from all of this. She should not suffer because of the choices we made,” he said, a firm decision reflected in his heart. 

 He was determined to find a way to fight for what he could for Dinda, even though it would not be easy. Eventually, the dispute with Sara would affect the path of his divorce, but he was sure there was a way to save the girl from the bad influence. 

 Sebastian knew that it would be a long road, but his love for Dinda would be the fuel for his fight. No matter how difficult the challenges were, he promised to protect Dinda and try to free himself from the shackles that might worsen the future of the little girl who should have lived in happiness and love. 

 After the tiring trial, Sebastian returned to his father's house, hoping to find a quiet moment to reflect. However, as soon as he entered the house, he was greeted with his father's anger. 

 “Sebastian! What did you do? Why didn't you follow my advice?” his father shouted, his eyes showing deep disappointment. “You should have taken the easier path! This could have all been avoided if only you had listened to me.”

 Sebastian felt his soul burning from his father’s scolding. He knew that his decision to fight over Dinda and refuse to return to Sara was a matter of pride. “Dad,” he replied calmly, trying to keep his emotions in check, “this isn’t just about me. This is about Dinda. She’s not just an ‘illegitimate child’ in my eyes; she’s like my daughter.”