2024-12-05 05:17:00On 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
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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.
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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
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"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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The rain grew heavier, wetting Sebastian’s face until he had difficulty distinguishing between the rainwater and the tears that were starting to wet his cheeks. His gaze shifted from Rendy to Sara, then back again, hoping to see even a little sympathy between them. However, both of them looked cold and unaffected.“Sara, please…” he said again, his voice breaking with deep sadness. “I know I’m not her biological father. I know you think I’m not good enough, but Dinda is everything to me. I’ve taken care of her since she was little, I’ve given her all the love I have…”“And I also gave her love, Sebastian. Love that gives her peace, not anxiety,” Sara replied loudly, trying to hold back her thinning patience. “Dinda feels safer with me. And you should start to appreciate
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Dinda looked at Sara with a clear disappointed expression. “But why can’t Daddy come in? Why can’t you just meet me for a moment, Mom?”Sara sighed, a little confused about how to explain this complicated situation to her young child. “Honey, this is indeed difficult to explain. Daddy and Mommy have an agreement for certain times so that everything goes well for you.”Rendy looked at Sara as if he wanted to add something. He knelt down next to Sara and spoke softly, “Dinda, Mommy, and Daddy Sebastian have agreed to meet at a predetermined time. Daddy Sebastian loves you, and he will come at the predetermined time. You will meet Daddy soon, on Sunday, as scheduled.”However, Dinda did not look satisfied with that answer. Her face looked even sadder, and her tiny lips trembled, trying to hold back tears. “But&h
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Sara let out a long sigh, looking at Rendy with eyes full of disappointment that she had long suppressed. “Rendy, I should feel relieved now. I should feel victorious. But, look… Dinda is still looking for Sebastian, even though we’ve done everything to make her feel comfortable here. It feels like… all this effort is in vain.”Rendy nodded, trying to understand Sara’s feelings. He knew this wasn’t just about winning legal custody; it was about winning Dinda’s heart, something much more complicated.“Sara, I can see how much effort you put in. You’ve given your best, more than most single parents out there can do,” Rendy said while touching Sara’s shoulder, giving her a little encouragement. “But we also have to accept that the bond between Dinda and Sebastian has indeed formed so strongly. It’s not easy to erase thos
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"Yes, custody has officially fallen to Sara," Rendy continued with a thin grin, his expression changing to a satisfied smile. "The hardest part is over. Now all that remains is to make sure she continues to comply with everything that has been agreed upon."Rendy listened for a moment, then added, "Sebastian will not be a problem. He just needs to be left aside, with no chance to interfere again."Rendy's smile grew wider, his face now filled with suspicious confidence. "Just a few more steps and everything will go perfectly. Sara just needs to be kept from ruining this plan.”At the end of the conversation, he nodded slowly and said, “We will meet as usual, next week. Don’t worry, everything is under my control.”Rendy hung
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The next morning, even though his heart and mind were still in chaos, Sebastian still had to attend the proposal submission meeting. He walked into the company meeting room with heavy steps but tried to hide all his pain behind a strong face. The office was the only place he felt he still had control, a space that would not judge or abandon him like what had just happened in court.The meeting room was already filling up when Sebastian arrived. There were several employees sitting there with thick documents in their hands, ready to present new proposals. Not far from them, Lila was busy reviewing several files, focused as usual. Their gazes met, and Lila gave a thin, sincere but understanding smile.Sebastian returned it with a small nod, although his smile was not entirely sincere. Lila knew exactly what was going on in his life, and her presence gave him a little comfort in the midst of t
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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
