2024-11-30 05:12:00"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.
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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
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 40
On the other side of the room, Sara sat upright, as if unshaken by the serious atmosphere that dominated the courtroom. Her cold gaze was fixed on the judge, and occasionally she glanced at Rendy as if solidifying their strategy in securing Dinda's custody. Sebastian realized that Sara was very sure of her position. That feeling added a new burden to his chest, which was getting tighter as time went by.When the judge invited Rendy to give his initial statement, the lawyer stood calmly. He stepped into the center of the room with apparent confidence, delivering his opening argument in a loud and firm voice. "Your Honor," he said, "our client, Sara, has provided a stable and loving environment for Dinda. In addition, the emotional closeness between them has been a strong foundation that has encouraged Sara to maintain this custody."Every word that came out of Rendy's mouth was like a knife stabbing Sebastian's heart, making his chest
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 41
Seeing Sebastian looking shaken, Rendy continued his attack confidently. "In addition, Your Honor, we also have a video recording of the Child Protection Commission interview with Dinda. In this recording, Dinda explained very honestly about her feelings towards the parents who raised her." The video interview was played. Dinda's small voice was heard in the quiet courtroom. Dinda was seen sitting on a chair, trying to look at the Child Protection Commission interviewer with her innocent face, looking honest but full of caution. Her voice sounded soft and slightly trembling. "I ... I like living with mom. I feel comfortable at Mom's house. I can sleep soundly and I'm not afraid ..." Dinda looked down, then added in a softer voice, "When it's with Daddy Sebastian ... sometimes Daddy Sebastian likes to get angry with mom. I don't like seeing Mom cry because she fights with Daddy Sebastian ..." Those words pierced Sebastian's heart, who felt as if the world was conspiring against him.
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 42
The judge, who had listened to all the arguments thoughtfully, took a moment before speaking.“I will consider all the evidence presented, both from the plaintiff and the defendant,” he said in a firm, careful tone. “But the child’s interests are the top priority. Therefore, this decision will focus on Dinda’s comfort, safety, and happiness.”The courtroom was silent, everyone holding their breath waiting for the decision to be made. Sebastian sat with a broken heart, but deep in his heart he knew that, whatever the outcome, his love for Dinda would never fade. That day, in the midst of the emotional trial, Sebastian realized that being a father was not just about blood ties but about the unconditional love he had for the daughter, he might not be able to hug every day anymore.Sebastian stared ahead, trying to calm his turbul
I Am Not A Poor Daddy 43
"I will not give up," Sebastian muttered to himself, trying to gather back the strength that was starting to fade. He knew that even though the judge's decision had been made, his struggle as a father was not over. Dinda still needed a father figure in her life, and he was determined to stay there, even if in a different capacity.His lawyer, who was still standing beside him, looked at him with understanding. "Sebastian, we can appeal. There are many ways to fight for your rights as a father. This is not the end of everything," he said in a reassuring tone.Sebastian nodded slowly, even though his heart still felt heavy. He knew that this process would be long and tiring, but he would not back down. Dinda was everything to him, and he would do anything to make sure that his daughter knew how much he loved her. As they stepped out of the court
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
