Mr. Rudolf's kitchen was bustling with activity, an unusual scene after a period of quiet. This time, it wasn't Mr. Rudolf at the center of it all but his wife, carefully arranging freshly baked egg tarts on a plate. Nearby, Mr. Rudolf stood, impeccably dressed but tense. He barely moved, even as his wife garnished the tarts with small, angled pieces of pandan leaves.

His eyes darted toward the open garage door, watching cars pass by. His heart skipped a beat whenever one slowed down. Outside, Erin waited, dressed in a sweet pink dress, her hair tied neatly as she chatted with the security guards. The household wouldn't have been this lively on a Sunday if not for Erin's decision to invite her boyfriend over for the first time.


Rudolf took a deep breath, trying to summon his rational side. Erin was undeniably happy with Amir. For the first time in a while, he saw a spark of warmth and joy in his stepdaughter. That joy was infectious, spreading to him and his wife, Christy. But the knowledge that Amir was a widower with a child stirred a storm within him.

On one hand, Amir's life experience might be a guiding force for Erin. On the other, Rudolf wasn't sure if his heart could fully embrace Amir's child as his grandchild. His love for Christy had once driven him to accept Erin into his life despite the disapproval of some of his family. It had been especially difficult for Berta, who, married before him, had faced fertility issues and couldn't have children.

Those memories brought back Rudolf's old fears: accepting a stepdaughter, worrying about the continuation of his lineage, and the guilt he would feel if that legacy ended with Christy's pregnancy complications. The birth of Nathan had eased those fears, bringing relief that his family would continue. But now, with Erin dating a man who already had a child, Rudolf couldn't help but feel as if life was repeating a karmic cycle he was unsure he could fully accept.


'Look, babe, the car is here," Christy said, taking off her checkered apron.

Rudolf watched the white car pull into the driveway. He could see the joy in Erin's eyes as she waited for the door to open. When it did, a tall young man stepped out. His cream-colored short-sleeved shirt highlighted his strong frame and broad shoulders. Erin ran to him, and Amir effortlessly lifted her into a brief embrace. Even though Erin wasn't his biological daughter, something in Rudolf's chest tightened at the sight.


'How sweet," Christy said with a wide smile. 'Come on, let's go meet him."

In the living room, Amir sat next to Erin, who clung to his hand as if afraid to let go. Rudolf's eyes caught the glint of an unfamiliar ring on Erin's finger, a subtle sign that stirred a mix of emotions in him.

'Did you come from Tangerang?" Christy asked, breaking the silence.

'No, Auntie. I came straight from home."

'Oh, where do you live?" she inquired.

'I live in a housing complex in East Jakarta, near the AEON Mall."

Christy's intuition caught Rudolf's tension, and she gently squeezed his hand, intertwining their fingers. 'Have you moved out from your parents' house?"

'Yes, Auntie. I visit my parents in Tangerang once a week, usually on weekends."

'And where does your child stay?"

Rudolf's brows lifted slightly; he hadn't anticipated the conversation veering towards children so soon. It brought back memories of when he was courting Christy, a time marked by similar uncertainties.

'She lives with my parents in Tangerang, Auntie," Amir answered calmly.

'Do you have a photo of her?" Christy asked, eyes bright with curiosity.

'Yes, just a moment." Amir reached into his pocket, taking out his phone. The screen lit up, displaying a wallpaper of Erin and Sheyna.

'Oh, how adorable," Christy said, holding the phone up for Rudolf, who glanced at it briefly, his face unreadable.

'When you get married, will you live in Amir's house in East Jakarta?" Christy asked, returning the phone to him.

'Christy, we don't need to jump that far ahead," Rudolf interjected, his voice low but firm.

'It's not that far ahead, Dad. Why wait?" Erin said, a hint of determination in her voice. 'Amir and I are both prepared, both mentally and financially."

'What about your job?" Rudolf pressed. 'You've just been promoted. It's better to wait until your careers are more stable. Like it or not, you'll have to take leave eventually."

'For that, we've already set a timeline, Uncle," Amir said, his tone steady, "At least for the next few months, we'll be finalizing the details, ensuring that our work follows a steady flow," Amir stated confidently.

Truthfully, Mr. Rudolf did not appreciate the man's composure. Amir's structured demeanor made Mr. Rudolf feel as though his own emotions were being managed. It felt unfair—he was the one brimming with tension, not Amir.

Mr. Rudolf's mind raced to find a way to break through Amir's polished exterior. He needed to see how the young man reacted under pressure, to understand his true character. His gaze settled on Amir's left hand, absent of any ring, and he seized the opportunity for a probing question.

'Was there an issue with your ex that led to the divorce? Did she pass away, or was there something else?"

The question hit the room like a sudden storm, prompting a sharp nudge from Mama Christy. For a brief moment, satisfaction flickered in Mr. Rudolf's chest as he noticed Amir's hesitation, the surprise in his eyes at such a direct question.

'Dad, why bring up exes?" Erin interjected, her voice laced with annoyance.

'We need to understand past mistakes, Erin, so they're not repeated," Mr. Rudolf replied.

'Dad, Amir and I are trying to move forward. He doesn't need to share those things with us."

'As someone who will be responsible for you, I need to be sure, Erin. I need to make sure you're safe. Amir, you don't mind, do you?"

Amir swallowed hard, tightening his hold on Erin's hand. 'No, it's fine, Uncle."

'There's no need, love," Erin whispered, concern shadowing her face.

'It's alright," Amir reassured her with a soft glance before turning back to meet Mr. Rudolf's intense gaze. 'My previous relationship ended in an official divorce, Uncle. The main issue was due to disagreements over financial matters."

Mr. Rudolf nodded slowly, understanding but skeptical. Life in South Jakarta could be unforgiving, especially for those caught up in the race for status and luxury. Amir appeared modest, someone who likely disliked the pressure of constant demands. Yet, doubt lingered, urging Mr. Rudolf to probe deeper.

'Was it an issue of insufficient finances?" he pressed.

'It was sufficient, Uncle, but the other party deemed it too limiting," Amir answered, his tone careful, guarded. A good sign, Mr. Rudolf thought—it indicated that Amir wasn't one to speak ill of others. But it also hinted at something unsaid.

'And the custody of your child fall to you? Was she considered incapable?"

'Yes, Uncle."

'Yes, what? Incapable in what way? Explain," Mr. Rudolf's tone rose unintentionally, causing Erin to scowl.

'Dad, please, calm down," Erin protested.

'Hush, Erin," Amir whispered, a calming force beside her. 'It's okay."

'But, Dad is being intrusive. I don't want this!"

'You should want it, Erin. This is your future. We need full transparency," Mr. Rudolf said, his voice edged with paternal concern.

Amir squeezed Erin's hand tighter, signaling for patience. 'It's alright, Uncle, I'll explain. Custody was granted to me because the other party was deemed financially unfit."

'That sounds unusual. Normally, the mother retains custody, and the father provides support. Isn't that how it usually works?"

'Dad, don't pry into it so much," Erin scolded, frustration flaring.

Mr. Rudolf noticed Erin's strange reaction, as if she were guarding a secret. The wrinkles on his brow deepened. 'Why are you defending him so fervently? Are you unsure of your decision?"

'No, Uncle, it's fine. I'll clarify," Amir interjected. He met Mr. Rudolf's eyes with a firmness that was both respectful and resolute. 'The court determined that the other party was physically and mentally unfit, Uncle."

A crack appeared in the wall of Amir's composure. Mr. Rudolf's ears caught on a series of heavy words—mentally unfit, court ruling, custody. His breath quickened as those words pulled at buried memories and deep-rooted apprehensions.

'Unfit how? Are we talking mental instability?"

'Dad, enough! This is in the past. Why dig it up now?" Erin shouted, unable to hide her distress.

'Why shouldn't I? If there's nothing to hide, let him speak."

Amir's gaze softened as he whispered to Erin, 'It's fine." He then turned back to Mr. Rudolf, eyes steady. 'Uncle, the court's decision stated that the other party had responded to a police summons and was under guidance for certain unlawful actions."

Calming him down by rubbing his hand helped ease his tension a little. Amir knew he had to be patient a bit longer to get clearer information. "For what? What did he do?"

"Bogus investment and luxury goods fraud," Amir answered, resigned.

Okay, that was clear now. Their family was once again entangled with someone involved in criminal affairs.

A wave of anxiety washed over Mr. Rudolf's clear mind, and he instinctively began to plan how to separate Amir and Erin. He considered kicking Amir out and locking Erin in her room to keep the two apart. But he held himself back. "So you really couldn't provide for her? Until that woman had to do everything to meet her needs?"

"No, Uncle," Amir denied. "That was something she was involved in even before she married me. After stopping when she married me, she continued her activities and was finally caught because of that. I can bring my family's lawyer to explain the entire chronology, along with the official statement from the police, that all her actions had nothing to do with me."

But still… it was impossible to completely separate Amir's name from the case, even if technically he wasn't involved. Worst of all, their child would forever be known as the offspring of a con artist, the child of a disgusting criminal woman.

Mr. Rudolf felt his head spin. Sweat beaded on his forehead as nausea gripped his stomach. This incident was terrifying. Memories of various events throughout his life flooded his mind.

Long ago, when he met Christy, he had lost interest in the world for the sake of that girl. He believed Christy was the center of his universe, the answer to his dreams, a gift from the cosmos to mend all the heartbreaks that had come before.

Learning that Christy had been married and had a child shattered his heart. He had a bad feeling about the child, a fear he had tried to ignore, but it lingered in the back of his mind, a premonition of the child's troubling future. No matter how well Mr. Rudolf educated that child, no matter what school the child attended, or how high their education might go, a part of them would always carry the gene of their biological father—a criminal who was insane, temperamental, and embodied all things bad.

Mr. Rudolf had worked hard to raise Erin as a sweet, intelligent child alongside Mama Christy. But karma seemed to find its way to them, manifesting in a different form. Erin's past relationships with people of criminal backgrounds felt like another sign that her biological father's genes were still clinging to her. It was absurd and almost mystical, but it wasn't impossible. This wasn't the first time Erin had dated a criminal, and now she might be raising a child who was undeniably the offspring of a con artist.

Could Erin ever be as determined as Mr. Rudolf to sever all ties to the biological parents of her stepchild, who bore such a bad reputation? Guilt assaulted Mr. Rudolf, suffocating him with regret over the risk he had taken in accepting Erin as his own. Perhaps, if he hadn't, he wouldn't have had to sacrifice his good family name.

What would his extended family say? What would his colleagues think? What would his business partners believe if they learned that his son was marrying a divorcee connected to crime?

"Amir has nothing to do with that woman's actions, Dad," Erin interjected, noticing her father's sudden disconnection from reality.

"Sorry, I can't stay long. I need to take care of something at the factory," he replied curtly.

"Really, Dad? It's Sunday," Erin said, disbelief clear in her voice.

"I usually goes to the factory on Sundays. Sorry, Amir, I'll take my leave." He rushed to say goodbye, ignoring Christy, who was still trying to hold him back, and Erin's pleas for him to stay. He needed to escape the sadness and disappointment that engulfed him—anywhere but here.

The clock neared eleven o'clock. The street outside was quiet, a sign that no one was passing by. Nathan's room, usually filled with the sounds of his favorite music, was silent. His mother had likely sent him to her room since nine o'clock, either asleep or holding back her worries about him.

Erin hadn't left the living room since morning, except to use the toilet. She remained seated on the sofa, gazing out at the front yard, waiting for her father to return. As far as she could remember, and she was certain her memory was sharp, her father had never acted like this—leaving the old house without Mama Christy's company and without any news at all.

Anxiety coiled in her stomach, mixing with a sense of guilt and helplessness. What was her father thinking? How would he come to terms with the past that Amir had so carefully revealed? Erin's fingers dug into the armrest, the worn fabric crinkling beneath her grip.

The revelation had left them all exposed, baring a history steeped in complexity and shadows. Her father had departed without looking back, his expression unreadable, though the pain in his eyes was impossible to forget. She replayed the scene over and over in her mind: his sudden pallor, the sweat beading on his brow, the way his eyes had darted away as if he couldn't bear to meet hers.

Somewhere deep inside, Erin knew her father's fears weren't only about Amir. They were tangled in the painful memories of her biological father, the mistakes and horrors he had tried so desperately to erase. Her father had taken a risk raising her, molding her with love and steadfast guidance. But now, faced with Amir's past, it was as if the ghosts of their family history had risen once more.

Erin closed her eyes, willing herself to calm down. Her father had always been her rock, strong and unwavering, but tonight, she felt the shift. The uncertainty, the splintering of their shared resolve, scared her more than anything Amir's past could hold.

The night deepened, stretching its quiet fingers across the house. Erin took a deep breath, silent and heavy, praying that when her father returned, they could face this, together.

Erin could sense the energy of rejection radiating from her father toward Amir. She was certain that Amir felt just as scared as she did, yet he remained calm and reassuring, promising her that everything would be okay. Erin focused on staying composed, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she should have prepared herself for the worst-case scenario to avoid the disappointment she now faced.

The moment Mr. Rudolf stepped into the house, Erin rushed to block his path. His face was flushed and his eyes swollen, a sight that broke her heart. She had never seen her father look so sad since her mother had passed away.

"What's on your mind, Dad? Please, explain it to me," she demanded, her voice steady but laced with urgency.

"Not much," he replied, his tone flat. "Just hoping you'll reconsider your relationship with that man."

Erin felt as though she had been kicked in the chest. Clenching her hands to stifle her emotional turmoil, she replied, "Long before you told me, I had considered it carefully, Dad. I'm sure about him."

"Then think again. But this time, please involve your family in your considerations," he said, his voice devoid of warmth.

'What part should I consider, Dad? My heart is already with him. I love him, and I want him," Erin asserted firmly.

'What you should consider is the good name of our family," Mr. Rudolf said, his voice growing stern. 'I know you might feel it's not important to maintain the Handani family name because you don't come from this family, but—"

Erin felt a sharp pain in her chest, as though her body were being twisted, her bones cracking under the pressure. The words hung in the air, each syllable hitting her like a blow. With a vacant expression, her father had just implied that she didn't belong, that her origins made her less deserving of their family's honor.

Tears welled in her eyes as she looked at him in disbelief, hoping he would retract his statement, that he would apologize. But Mr. Rudolf stood there, unwavering, as if savoring the view of the heartache he had just inflicted upon her.

For years, they had lived together in happiness. Mr. Rudolf had been the first man Erin loved, his and her mother's teachings forming the foundation of her dreams for a loving relationship. Nathan's presence had never disrupted that love; Erin held a deep affection for them both, without exception.

She had thought she found a miracle in life. After escaping her biological father's shadow, she believed she deserved a happy existence. For years, she clung to that hope—until now, when her beloved father seemed to forget everything and deny her place in the family.

'Is this enough to make you reconsider?" he pressed, his voice laced with anger.

As a final defense, Erin stepped back, her body colliding with the table holding a flower vase. She gripped the edge, her right hand instinctively pressing against her chest as she fought for breath.

'I accepted you with an open heart," Mr. Rudolf continued, his voice rising. 'I took you abroad, leaving the factory I was meant to manage, all to ensure you grew up free from the shadow of your criminal father. But it seems my efforts were in vain. No matter where you go, you gravitate toward criminals. The longer you are around them, the more blind and ignorant you become."

Erin's sobs caught in her throat, the pain unbearable. It felt as though she were suffocating.

'And now you want to embrace the child of a criminal woman? You're dreaming, Erin, if you think we will accept her," Mr. Rudolf mocked, a cruel laugh escaping him. 'There's criminal blood in her veins—who knows when it will activate? When she'll inherit the madness that leads to deceit, theft, and the slow destruction of our family name?"

He stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, and Erin felt the heat of his anger radiate toward her. 'I love you, but it's unfortunate that you don't love this family. My attempts to separate you from your biological father's genes have failed to secure your future."

Erin felt her world spinning, the very foundation of her life threatening to crumble beneath her. She was sure she would lose everything.

"One last chance from me, just because I loved your mother. If you insist on marrying that man, I will no longer consider your presence. I refuse to add another family member related to crime. This family name is already tarnished enough with your existence."

Those final words were like a dagger, piercing Erin's consciousness. She crumpled to the floor, too hurt to respond, too confused to defend herself, and too disbelieving that this was really happening.

Her father's footsteps echoed as he left her behind.

In the haze of her fading awareness, Erin looked around. This spacious, luxurious house with its high ceilings had once been a sanctuary for them, a place filled with laughter before Nathan was born, a home where they had bounced between Indonesia and Australia.

She recalled the day her father had taken off her shoes when she came home from the ballet competition, and how in this warm living room they had installed the best giant LED TV of the time. She remembered learning to swim in the pool, the first time she had ever stepped into water, a child from the island navigating a new world.

Their love had run deep; their bond had been strong. But now, everything was shattered. All of it had unraveled because of his arrogance, because he had forgotten his origins, because he couldn't control his emotions.

With the weight of that painful statement pressing down on her, Erin became increasingly convinced that she needed to leave immediately. She was alone, alienated from her family, the troublemaker who had destroyed their warmth and intimacy.

It was time. It was time for her to go.

Summoning the last vestiges of her strength, she limped toward her room, her mind racing with thoughts of what she would take with her when she left this place.

***