2024-11-26 05:37:00“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 sol
Previous Chapter
Related Chapters
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 32
"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 betra
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 33
That day, officers from the Child Protection Commission arrived at Sara and Rendy’s house to interview Dinda. Sara greeted them at the door with a polite smile, a little anxious but trying to look calm. Rendy was nearby, making sure everything went smoothly. The Child Protection Commission officer, a friendly woman named Mrs. Anita, asked if they could speak to Dinda privately in the living room.After the request was made, Sara felt a little trembling in her heart. She knew that the conversation would have big consequences for Dinda and them as parents. However, she tried to think positively and hoped that everything would go well. Rendy, beside her, tried to provide moral support by nodding and giving a reassuring smile."I understand this may be a difficult situation for you," said Mrs. Anita softly, trying to lighten the mood. "But we just want to listen to Dinda's story and make sure t
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 34
Dinda looked at Mrs. Anita, her expression looking a little sad. “But I love Daddy Sebastian too… I just don’t like it when Daddy Sebastian gets mad. When it comes to Rich Daddy, no one gets mad. Mommy and Rich Daddy are always nice.”“Okay then, I had cookies for Dinda. See you later,” Anita said as she finished her interview.After the interview was over, Anita sat in the living room with Sara.“Judging from the results of the interview earlier, I think it’s very likely that custody will fall to you,” Anita said quietly, but confidently.Sara looked at her, trying to hold back a relieved smile. “So… everything’s okay, huh?”Anita nodded. “Dinda seems very comfortable with you and Rendy. She also
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 35
"I will not give up," he said finally, trying to channel all the conviction he had into his words. "This is about Dinda's future, and I will not stop until I get justice. Whatever it takes, I will do it."His lawyer smiled thinly, though the tiredness was still evident on his face. It was not a smile of victory, but rather a kind of support that he wanted to give to his client in her predicament. "Okay," he said, "we will work hard to turn this around. What we need to do now is show that Dinda needs her father—and that you can provide the love and stability she needs."Sebastian nodded firmly, though his heart was still filled with anxiety. In his chest, feelings of worry and love wrestled in an endless struggle. Still, one thing was for him: he would not back down for the sake of his beloved daughter.---
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 36
In a large and classy meeting room, Sebastian sat at the head of a long table, surrounded by company executives. One by one, they gave presentations, discussing the quarterly targets that had to be achieved. However, Sebastian's gaze was blank, his eyes not really paying attention to the presentation screen filled with numbers and graphs. His thoughts drifted to Dinda, his little daughter, and Sara who was increasingly trying to win custody."Mr. Sebastian," called Andi, the marketing manager, in a hesitant voice. "What do you think about this expansion plan?"Sebastian was surprised as if he had just been woken up from his reverie. "Oh, yes... the expansion plan," he mumbled while trying to understand the slide that was being displayed. However, his mind was still in turmoil.One of the other staff, Lila, looked at him worriedly. "Sir, are you
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 37
Lila nodded slowly, her eyes soft but filled with emotion. "I really thank you. If it weren't for you, maybe I would have given up and left this company, maybe even my dream of becoming a successful person."Sebastian smiled bitterly, feeling the pain behind Lila's praise. "I'm happy to be able to help, but also sad that something like that happened in this company. At that time, I felt that this company was not worthy of continuing anyone's dreams."Lila looked at him gratefully. "It was your presence that changed all that. Since you took over, I and many other staff feel more appreciated. You are not only a leader, but also someone who listens."Sebastian just chuckled, looking at his almost empty glass. "I'm not a perfect leader, Lila. My family's problems... I've never found a solution until now."Lila put her hands o
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 38
"Sara, please..." Sebastian's voice was barely audible. He knelt down, his head bowed, and both his hands tightly gripped Sara's hands. "I don't care what happens between us... But Dinda, she is my life. Let me remain a part of her life."Sara stared at Sebastian with a look full of disgust, then pulled her hand roughly, freeing herself from Sebastian's grip."You no longer have any rights over us, Sebastian. And the sooner you accept that fact, the better," she said in a cold and firm tone.Sebastian lowered his head, his tears falling to the ground as if all the hopes he had were shattered into pieces in front of the woman he once loved. He didn't know how he would face life without Dinda, without her warm smile, without her cheerful laughter. The pain was so deep, so devastating.
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 39
The day of the trial finally arrived, and Sebastian sat in the cold visitor's chair, looking at the room with mixed feelings. Although the courtroom was quite large, the day felt cramped and full of pressure. The high ceiling that usually made the room feel spacious actually added to the unbearable sense of intimidation. Sebastian's heart was beating fast, its rhythm seeming to accompany his increasing anxiety. His gaze was straight ahead, but occasionally, he glanced at Sara and Rendy, who had come as Sara's lawyer, his wife, sitting a few rows in front of him.Sebastian tried to calm himself down, but every beat of his heart seemed to remind him how important today was. Dinda, his beloved daughter, was at the center of all this. He remembered the beautiful moments with Dinda, the laughter and happiness they shared, and how hard it was to imagine life without her presence.Sara looked calm
Latest Chapter
103
Sebastian tried to push away his wandering thoughts, but the curiosity kept gnawing at him. With each passing second, the feeling that there was something deeper than just a professional relationship between them grew stronger.He attempted to refocus on the meeting and the clients in front of him, but the image of Rendy being close to the woman and child continued to disrupt him, making him feel increasingly alienated from his surroundings.After the meeting with the clients concluded, Sebastian excused himself to go to the restroom. However, instead of heading to the toilet, he took a detour that brought him closer to Rendy's table. From a distance, he heard their laughter, warm and full of joy.The woman called out to Rendy in a very familiar tone, "Rendy, look at Rachel, she’s so cute eating
102
Sebastian was having a serious discussion with a client at a restaurant, talking about the business strategy that needed to be executed immediately to win the hearts of investors. The atmosphere at the table was quite formal, though small laughs occasionally lightened the conversation. Lila, sitting next to Sebastian, appeared confident as she explained the technical details of their proposal. She spoke with enthusiasm, outlining figures and projections that were persuasive. However, despite her efforts to stay focused, Sebastian couldn’t fully shake off his thoughts drifting to Dinda. His image of Dinda, her smile, and the way she spoke kept interfering with his concentration. Every time Lila posed a question or asked for feedback, Sebastian was jolted back to reality, trying to push aside the longing that weighed on his heart. He struggled to provide the right answers, but his mind always returned to Dinda. Sebastian knew he had to be professional, but his feelings made it hard t
101
Dinda looked so cheerful, as if there was nothing to worry about, and Sebastian felt happy to see the child smile again. The smile seemed to light up his dark heart, making him feel closer to Dinda despite the distance between them. Sebastian remembered how meaningful that moment was and how much he wanted to protect Dinda's happiness. He was determined to always be there for her, even if it was just through a message or a call. With that thought, he closed his eyes for a moment, letting the beautiful memories fill his mind before finally falling asleep. Sebastian stared at the photo for a long time, looking at Dinda's bright eyes and her face full of happiness. However, his heart was soon filled with worry. Dinda needed his full attention, and although he felt happy to see his daughter at that moment, he also felt very guilty for leaving her. The guilt gnawed at his mind. He knew Dinda was going through a difficult time, and his presence meant a lot to her. Every second that pass
100
Sara sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes staring blankly at the phone screen lying in front of her. News from Sebastian about Dinda still rang in her ears. Why did that man always make her feel like this?Every time she felt calm, there was always something that made her anxious, especially when it came to Dinda. Her worries overflowed, and she felt torn between wanting to protect her daughter and her dissatisfaction with Sebastian, who seemed to always be there in difficult situations.Her mind was spinning, remembering all the difficult moments they had been through. Even though her heart was trying hard to understand the situation, feelings of frustration still gripped her. Taking a deep breath, Sara tried to calm herself down, determined to focus on Dinda and make sure her daughter got the attention she needed.Sebastian kept calling her, asking about Dinda
99
Sebastian, even though he still felt awkward inside, continued to walk. This trip was important, but he couldn't shake the feeling of guilt for having to leave Dinda, even for a short time.When he stepped out of the apartment with Lila, he just hoped that everything would go according to plan. The atmosphere around him felt strange, and thoughts of Dinda continued to haunt him.However, he tried to stay focused on the purpose of this trip. With Lila beside him, full of enthusiasm and optimism, Sebastian tried to dispel the doubts that were pressing on his heart. They both stepped into the taxi, ready to face the challenges ahead while also hoping that their relationship and commitment to Dinda would remain strong despite being separated for a while.Arriving at the airport, Sebastian and Lila headed straight to the departure gate after going through security. I
98
That morning, Sebastian was getting ready in his apartment for a planned two-day business trip. A small suitcase was open on his bed, filled with only a few clothes and important documents. He moved leisurely, not wanting to rush. However, a knock on the door made him pause for a moment.When the door opened, Lila was standing there with an enthusiastic smile. Sebastian let out a small sigh, realizing that Lila seemed a little too excited for this trip. He nodded and said, "Yes, that's right. But I still have a few things to finish first. Come in if you want."Lila stepped inside, looking around the simple apartment. Sebastian returned to his bed, where the small suitcase was open, and began to organize the important documents that were still scattered around. Lila sat on the edge of the bed, waiting and occasionally glancing at the clock.Sebastian packed his t
97
However, as she said that, her stomach let out a loud growl, creating a brief silence. Sara looked awkward, while Sebastian just smiled faintly."Seems like your body has a different answer."That moment created a slight relief amidst the tension. Though there was still awkwardness, Sebastian's small smile offered a glimmer of hope that they could get through this difficult situation together.Sara rolled her eyes, annoyed at being caught off guard."I don’t have time for that.""Come on," Sebastian coaxed. "There’s a little restaurant not far from the hospital. The food there is good, and you can get back to Dinda’s room quickly."Sebastian tried to assure Sara, hoping that a
96
Sebastian remained calm, though it was evident he was starting to tire of Sara’s anger."Sara, I didn’t mean to disregard you. But you weren’t here all day, and I tried calling you multiple times. Dinda really wanted to go outside. I couldn’t bear to say no to her."He spoke with a more serious tone, trying to explain the situation. Even though he knew Sara was under pressure, he hoped to provide a clearer perspective on his decision."That’s not an excuse! Don’t you know the risks? Dinda just had surgery, Sebastian! Fresh air, the possibility of infection—this could be dangerous!"Sara spoke with a trembling voice, half out of anger, half out of concern.She felt that every word she said was crucial, hoping to convey how serious the situat
95
Sara tried to calm herself, but anxiety and frustration continued to haunt her. Sara hoped to find someone who could give her more information about Dinda's whereabouts. Her daughter's safety was her main focus, and she wouldn't stop searching for her.In the midst of her panic, Sara suddenly remembered Sebastian. She frowned, feeling hesitant to contact her ex-husband.All this time, she had tried to avoid Sebastian as much as possible, limiting their communication only to important matters regarding Dinda. However, this situation left her with no choice.Taking a deep breath, Sara reached for her phone again and scrolled through her contacts. She knew that despite their complicated relationship, only Sebastian might know where Dinda was at that moment. With a racing heart, she dialed the number, hoping her ex-husband could provide the answers she d
