Time seemed to slow as it spun in the air, memories of Amir replaying in her mind—his farewell with that knowing smile, the quiet assurance in his eyes. The ring glinted one last time before disappearing into the blue depths below.

Cliff at dusk. Her face was flushed and weary, but her smile remained wide as she proudly showed off the ring. She remembered the moment it had slid onto her slender finger—a finger untouched by any other ring before.


'I will always be with you as long as you still love me. I am inside you," Amir's voice echoed in her mind, reverberating painfully through her chest.

The rippling surface of the pool glistened beneath the soft glow of the garden lights. It signaled that the ring had reached the bottom, slipping out of her grasp in more ways than one. Everything about Amir—his face, voice, and touch—was still etched deep within her memory, hauntingly vivid, as if he were there, holding her from behind, unfazed by her impulsive actions.

Suddenly, Erin felt as if a cold hand had slapped her awake. 'Stupid! Stupid Erin! What are you doing?" she cursed herself. The realization hit hard, shattering through her daze.


With a surge of desperation, Erin pushed the wardrobe back into place and shoved the dressing table away from the door. She bolted down the stairs, her bare feet pounding against the cold tiles until she leaped into the pool. The icy water bit at her skin, but she ignored it, diving frantically toward the depths. Her eyes searched the bottom, darting between distorted glimmers that proved only to be reflections of the pool's mosaic tiles.

She surfaced now and then, gasping for air, only to plunge back down, determined. The deeper end was more challenging to navigate, and she wasn't as skilled a swimmer as Nathan. Time blurred, shifting from twilight to full night.


'You're such an idiot," she muttered between panting breaths, floating on the surface. Her tears mingled with the pool water, streaming unchecked down her cheeks as she made her way to the edge, dragging herself out with exhausted limbs. Every part of her felt weighted, doubled with defeat.

Her eyes strained to find any trace of a sparkle below. The ring was gone, as if the pool had swallowed it whole. Was this the universe's cruel message? That she wasn't meant for Amir, that she wouldn't be a good stepmother for Sheyna?

The thought opened a floodgate, and she wept openly, shoulders shaking as she sobbed. The rumble of an approaching car barely registered in her mind. Let them catch her in this state. Let them see her defeat, her broken resolve. Let them understand that the daughter of a man with a stained past had finally met her karma.

Amid the echo of her cries, voices murmured in the background, too distant to matter. Erin's attention stayed locked on the clear water, watching it reflect the approaching figure behind her.

'Erin," her father's voice said, soft and heavy as he sat cross-legged beside her. She didn't move, didn't acknowledge him. His tone remained calm, as if the past days of yelling and tension had never occurred.

'I just finished checking Nathan's bank records," he began, eyes searching for hers. 'It turns out his work as a photographer hasn't brought in much." He sighed, his voice tinged with something that sounded like regret. 'I also noticed the allowances you kept sending him. You didn't need to do that."

Why was he lecturing her now, when she was at her breaking point? Couldn't he see she was barely holding on? But her father's words pierced her fog of despair. She had done it out of love, never caring if Nathan was blood or step; to her, he was simply her brother.

'Raising Nathan and you has always been different," Mr. Rudolf continued, voice steadier. 'With Nathan, I've tried to make him tough, resilient. He's the youngest, spoiled by his mother, and he needs that firmness. But with you… with you, I've always tried to be gentle. Because gentleness is strength in a woman."

Erin felt numb, still staring into the dark pool. Let him speak. Let him explain his reasons; she wouldn't react.

'I know, Erin. I know what I said hurt you. But I've come to understand that an apology wouldn't mend it. I used those words as my final card, my last defense to make you listen."

Your last card? Erin's mind spat the words. No wonder they made me feel like dying.

'Raising you wasn't easy," he admitted, and in that moment, the weight of his words pulled her gaze to him.

'If only I had told Mom about this from the start," Erin whispered hoarsely, 'maybe I wouldn't have struggled all my life, Dad."

Mr. Rudolf felt a sharp pang in his chest.

'That's not the point, sweetheart. If you knew... all your life, after you chose to become part of the Handani family, i've always been haunted by fear. I am afraid that you wouldn't accept me, that your biological father would come back one day and take you away, or that one day you'd turn against me and remind me we're not a real family..."

'You were afraid?" Erin's voice trembled with frustration. 'Then why did you say all those things to me first?"

'Because you will scared, too," Mr. Rudolf said, struggling to keep his composure, though his voice wavered. 'You were terrified of facing what you went through. Amir's daughter is in a similar position to yours. Do you even know when that woman—the criminal—will be released? Have you set boundaries on how she can interact with her son?"

A sudden jolt of realization hit Erin. The dark fog of resentment that had clouded her vision began to dissipate, revealing a glimpse of clarity. Her tears paused momentarily as she met her father's eyes, seeing him for the first time that day in full focus.

'Do you see now, sweetheart?" Mr. Rudolf's voice was softer. 'It will only become harder the more you open your heart. Your fear will grow. I don't want you to go through what I did—this overwhelming worry, every single day."

'Why didn't you just tell me this from the start, Dad? Why didn't you explain it calmly?"

'Because you wouldn't have listened, Erin. When love blinds you, you fight, you argue, without really hearing what I'm trying to say."

'And what's the difference now?" Erin's voice was raw, almost broken. 'Now, I'm hurt beyond words. Do you think that makes me listen?"

'That's exactly the point, sweetheart. It's what I needed to show you—the worst pain you might face one day. The pain of being defied by a child you've loved as your own, being reminded of your status, questioned about the sincerity of your love. It won't be easy. You'll feel double the fear, double the—"

'And double the happiness," Erin interrupted, her voice steadier. 'Why didn't I remember that? Weren't we happy before all this, Dad? Before everything fell apart?"

'Of course, we were, sweetheart," he said, his eyes softening. 'But I don't want to feed you fairy tales. Life doesn't end with ‘happily ever after.'"

'Dad, I'm not a child anymore. I've been through so much with Amir, even the incident with that criminal. I never let it haunt me. It didn't make me bitter. It made me grateful, knowing Amir's love was strong enough to endure that. Aunt Berta took care of the rest, and I chose to move on."

Erin's voice took on a hopeful note, and she saw her father's expression waver as she continued, 'And now I understand your warning. I know why you brought up our past. You wanted me to see that I shouldn't take my place in Sheyna's life for granted. But Dad, you taught Nathan and me that after high school, we had the freedom to pursue our own dreams. You taught us that no matter how close a child is to their parent, we each have our path. If one day Sheyna decides to pull away, what could I do about it?"

'You could prevent that by not stepping into her life as her stepmother in the first place," Mr. Rudolf said, his voice tinged with pain.

'Yes, I could've walked away," Erin admitted, 'but that would mean losing Amir. And I'd miss out on the love of a man who accepts me entirely."

'You're beautiful, intelligent, and you have a wide circle of friends. You could find someone better, someone without all this baggage," Mr. Rudolf said gently. 'Even among my friends' sons, there's someone worthy."

'No, Dad." Erin's response was immediate. 'Amir is the one for me. I don't want to waste my life looking for someone else, only to realize Amir was always the best choice."

Mr. Rudolf's eyes searched her face, taking in the exhaustion etched into her features. The dark circles beneath her eyes, the puffiness of her lids, the dullness in her gaze—all evidence of the pain she'd endured. He felt a deep sadness settle in his chest, realizing he was the cause of this suffering.

And now he understood: the last measure he had taken to protect her had only broken her further.

Mr. Rudolf knew he had failed to change Erin's mind. Her words were true: his responsibility as a parent had come to an end. Now, he needed to let go and let her make her own choices, face both the joys and the hardships that came with them.

The image of Erin's adult face faded, and memories swept him back to the moment they first met. Back then, she was a fragile little girl, scarred by the trauma of her past. It took a year for Erin to truly smile at him, to proudly call him Papa. He remembered the indescribable happiness and deep peace that filled him when she did. It was then he realized just how profound love could be.

And now, that little girl had grown up, ready to walk a difficult path in pursuit of her happiness. It was as if he was watching her prepare to sail out into the open sea, and he imagined building the finest ship for her—one equipped with everything she might need, so she would never lack anything even after starting her own family.

With a resigned heart, Mr. Rudolf spoke, 'Do you promise to be responsible for your choice, Erin?"

'I swear, Dad. I promise I'll prove that I can be happy with Amir, and we'll be the sweetest little family you've ever seen," Erin said, her eyes shining with determination.

'Alright."

'Alright?" Erin's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Really?"

'Yes, alright. Tell Amir and his family to come over so we can discuss your future."

Erin felt like a balloon filled to bursting with joy, her smile spreading wide across her face. 'Oh yes! I'll tell him to come right away!" she exclaimed. But then a thought struck her, and she glanced toward the pool.

Minutes later, Erin sat by the pool with her mother, who rested her chin on Erin's shoulder and laughed. Across from them, Mr. Rudolf and Nathan were shivering from the cold after diving repeatedly in search of Erin's ring.

'Bro, you've let it get swept away in the drain! You're not going to get married!" Nathan shouted, catching his breath.

'I don't care! Keep looking until you find it!" Erin commanded.

'Come on, Nat," Mama Christy teased, giggling softly. 'Your apartment in Cikarang doesn't have a pool. Take advantage and swim all you want."

'This is NOT fun! I'm switching apartments!" Nathan grumbled, but despite his protests, he dove back in.

Mr. Rudolf surfaced next, his eyes reddened from the water. He swam to the pool's edge and lifted his hand with a triumphant grin. 'Tada!"

Erin's eyes sparkled as she saw the ring. Mr. Rudolf took her left hand and, with a proud smile, slipped the ring back onto her finger. 'Amir has good taste, doesn't he, sweetheart?"

'Of course, Dad. That's why I'm so smitten," Erin replied, her eyes twinkling. Mama Christy leaned over and kissed her daughter's cheek lovingly.

'I'm sorry, sweetheart," Mr. Rudolf said, his voice sincere as he kissed her hand.

'It's okay, Dad. And I'm sorry too, Dad, Mom." Erin kissed her mother's cheek in return.

'We love you, Erin," Mama Christy whispered.

'Alright, let's head inside and leave Nathan out here," Mr. Rudolf said with a mischievous grin.

He was serious about it. Moments after they reached the living room, Nathan's frustrated shout echoed through the house. 'Hey! Where did everyone go? You're evil!"

The three of them burst out laughing, their joy filling the room.

***