"This is too cruel, Uncle!" Renata said, sitting across from Richard. "How could Trisya be so heartless to her own mother?"
"I don't entirely blame Trisya. Ariana has been provoking her lately. She should have controlled her anger so it wouldn't escalate into an argument."
"Why are you defending Trisya, Uncle?"
"I'm not defending Trisya, but Ariana has gone too far. Trisya is not a child. She can't speak to Trisya by always using her hands."
Renata sighed.
"Do you know what Trisya did to Aunt Riana? She sent her a photo of you two in bed. And the worst part is, she was smiling as if she had won! It's crazy, Uncle!"
"What?"
"I'm telling you this because I consider you and Aunt Riana my own family!"
Richard was silent.
"She's the biological daughter of your wife, Richard. How could you betray your wife with your own daughter? If you're looking for a woman who might make you happier, find another woman. Not Trisya. She's not your blood, but she's still your daughter from a marriage certificate! I'm sorry if I'm being nosy, but this is outrageous, Uncle! You know who Trisya is! Even if Trisya seduced you first, whatever the reason, why didn't you reject her? How could you be so heartless to your wife?"
"Yes, I admit I was wrong," Richard said. "I don't know why my faith was so weak when she seduced me. I realized she could never love me. She just wanted to hurt Riana, but I went along with it."
"Not to me, Uncle! You should apologize to your wife."
The door was knocked on.
Renata and Richard turned.
"Trisya?"
Trisya walked in.
"Mom is here, Dad?" Trisya asked.
"Mom?"
"She called me earlier. She told me to come here," Trisya sat next to Richard. "Oh, Dad, you dropped your keys on the bed."
Trisya shifted her gaze to Renata.
"Why are you here?"
"How could you do something so cruel to your mother, Trisya?"
"She's more cruel, but you never reprimanded her. You let her do whatever she wanted to me."
"But not like that!"
"Why? You don't like it? Don't interfere!"
"You're evil, Trisya! You're so cruel to your mother! And you betrayed Robby."
"Just take him, I don't care."
"Trisya!" Ariana stood at the door, her voice trembling with anger.
Trisya looked at Ariana, who was walking towards her.
"Why were you born as my child, you devil woman!!" Ariana pulled Trisya's hair.
"Riana!" Richard pulled Ariana's arm. "Stop hurting her!"
Ariana looked at Richard.
"When did you start seeing her? Since that night? Is that why you've always been defending her?"
"I'm not defending her, but your attitude towards her is outrageous!"
"There are many beautiful women out there! Why did you have to choose my daughter, Richard? Don't you remember me? Don't you remember Aldo? Do you forget that your son has the same mother as that woman?"
"Men get bored of wives like you, Mom!" Trisya retorted.
"You…?!" Ariana grabbed a vase of flowers and swung it towards Trisya's head, but Richard quickly protected Trisya, so the vase hit his back.
"I told you! Why didn't you kill me when I was born???" Trisya screamed, tears streaming down her face.
"Aunt, don't! You could kill her," Renata pulled Ariana's arm.
Ariana looked at Richard, who was hugging Trisya.
"GO TO HELL!"
Richard quickly pulled Trisya out.
"I regret letting a devil like you be born into this world, Trisya Monica!!" Ariana shouted.
"Aunt…" Renata hugged Ariana and patted her back.
"Richard is even willing to take a hit from that vase for Trisya…" Ariana was shocked. "How long have they been playing behind my back?"
Ariana released Renata's hug and ran outside, carrying a knife she had taken from the dining table.
"You want me to kill you, right? Fine, I will!" Ariana shouted.
"Dad…!" Trisya screamed, hugging Richard.
"I'll still stab you even if you're hiding in your husband's arms!"
"Mom, don't!" Andre, Richard's driver, pulled Ariana's arm. "I'm sorry, Mom, give me the knife."
"It's okay as long as that devil woman dies! It's good for you two to be together! I don't care if I go to jail after that!"
"Aunt, remember Aldo!" Renata screamed.
Ariana froze. Andre quickly took the knife from Ariana's hand.
Richard quickly took Trisya into the car and left the house.
"I never thought that Richard and I would end up like this…" Ariana cried. "I'm going to report him to the office. Let him get punished!"
"Don't, Aunt… It's not about Richard getting into trouble, but Aldo is still too young," Renata reminded her.
"Then I'll just let his betrayal go?"
***
"Does it hurt, Dad?" Trisya asked.
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry, Dad, you got hurt because of me," Trisya apologized.
"It's okay."
"Let's just compress it," Trisya suggested.
"No need, it's not a big deal."
Trisya's phone rang.
"Who is it?" Richard asked.
"Robby…"
Trisya quickly answered the phone.
"Hello…"
"Trisya, where are you?"
"I'm… outside, there's a seminar at the hotel."
"Oh, that's why your house is empty… Which hotel?"
"Are you at home?" Trisya didn't answer Robby's question.
"Yeah, I want to take you hunting for a Wedding Organizer."
"What?"
"Okay, maybe next time… Get enough rest, honey."
"Yeah…" Trisya hung up the phone.
Richard looked at Trisya.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing…" Trisya sat next to Richard. "Do you want me to buy you dinner?"
"No need."
"I'm sorry, because of me… Dad is in trouble. I'm worried that Mom will complain to Dad's office."
"She won't."
"Dad…" Trisya leaned her head on Richard's shoulder. "Let's run away, just the two of us."
"Don't be silly."
"It's too late…"
"Wait for things to calm down, Dad will apologize to Mom. It all happened so fast."
"Are you sorry, Dad?"
Richard didn't answer.
"Are you sorry?"
"Even if I'm sorry, it won't change anything," Richard said.
"I'm sorry for getting Dad into trouble."
"It's okay."
"Dad… Can't you trade Mom for me?"
"What do you mean?"
"It's okay if I choose to spend the rest of my life with Dad, right?" Trisya looked at Richard.
"We've already sinned, don't add to it!"
"We can't get married, but there's nothing stopping us from living together, right, Dad?"
"Don't be like this, Sya. Don't forget that you're already committed to Robby."
"But I love you, Dad…"
Richard sighed.
"Your revenge on your mother is enough. Just stop it."
"What do you mean?"
"You've already made your mother very heartbroken. Aren't you going to stop?"
"Why do you think I'm intentionally seducing Dad to get revenge?"
"Get some rest…" Richard stood up.
"Where are you going?"
"Out."
"Dad…" Trisya hugged Richard from behind. "Can I keep leaning on you?"
Richard released Trisya's hug.
"Get some rest… I'll be out for a while. You need to rest," Richard quickly walked out.
Trisya sat on the couch, looking at her phone.
A WhatsApp message from Ariana came in.
"Where are you?"
"Why?" Trisya replied.
"Aldo is sick. He's looking for Dad."
"Why didn't you call Dad?"
"His phone is left at home."
"I'll tell him later when Dad gets home!"
"You can take him from me if you want, but don't separate your Dad from your little brother! Aldo is Dad's biological son!"
"I'll soon replace Aldo's position in Dad's heart! Later, Dad will have a child from me who's more perfect than your son!"
"You're a devil!"
Trisya smiled with satisfaction.
"How would it feel if your husband had a child with your own daughter, Mom? It would be exciting!" Trisya closed her phone.
The clock showed 12 midnight when Richard opened the door and walked in. He saw Trisya sleeping in bed.
He approached, sat on the right side of Trisya, and looked at the girl's face. Richard reached out and stroked Trisya's hair. He took the blanket and pulled it over Trisya's body.
"I thought Dad wouldn't come back here…" Trisya said softly.
"Dad thought you were already asleep."
"I couldn't sleep."
"Why?"
"I'm afraid Dad will leave me here."
"Did Mom call you? Dad's phone seems to be left at home."
"Mom WA'd me earlier, she said Dad's phone was left behind."
"Oh. Dad wants to see Mom tomorrow."
"To apologize?"
"He has to."
"Dad must be thinking about Aldo?"
"Aldo usually plays soccer with Dad before bed. Go to sleep, you have to go to campus tomorrow, right?"
"Where is Dad sleeping?"
"On the couch."
"Why not here?"
Richard didn't answer, walked towards the couch, and lay down there.
Trisya got up from the bed and walked towards the couch. She lay down next to Richard and hugged him.
"Trisya…"
"Who knows if tonight is the last time I can sleep in Dad's arms. Tomorrow I've lost Dad again. I don't know if we can still go through the day like before."
Richard didn't answer.
"Dad."
"Yes."
"If Mom chooses to leave Dad, can I be with Dad?" Trisya looked at Richard.
"Don't start again, Trisya."
"Why don't you want to answer?"
"Dad won't leave Mom…"
"Does Dad love Mom that much?"
"We've been together for 6 years, it's not a short time."
"What if Mom leaves Dad?"
"Go to sleep!"
Trisya's phone rang.
"Ugh, who's calling this late at night?" Trisya grumbled, getting up and walking to get her phone on the bed.
"Hello…"
"Did you tell Dad?" Ariana asked.
"I did."
"Then? Why hasn't Dad shown up yet?"
"I don't know!" Trisya went back to the couch and lay down next to Richard.
"Don't play games, Trisya! You can't keep my child's father!"
"Tomorrow morning. It's already late!"
"You!"
"Good night!" Trisya hung up the phone.
"Who was that?" Richard asked.
"A student."
"Calling this late at night?"
Trisy hugged Richard.
"Dad… Dad loves me too, right? We feel the same way, right? If Dad doesn't think about me, doesn't have any feelings, and thinks this is all just a mistake, why doesn't Dad leave? Why doesn't Dad leave me?" Trisya didn't answer Richard's question.
"Don't make my head spin, Trisya!"
"Dad…" Trisya called, looking into Richard's eyes.
"Dad's eyes are beautiful… So calm, maybe that's what makes me comfortable near Dad."
"Go to sleep!"
"Good night, Dad…" Trisya kissed Richard's cheek before closing her eyes.
Richard looked at Trisya, who was hugging him tightly.
"What's wrong with you, Richard? Are you crazy? You know who she is, you've made one mistake, why are you letting it drag on?" Richard thought to himself. "Oh, God. What have I done?"
Trisya's phone vibrated. It seemed like she had intentionally turned off the ringtone.
Richard looked at Trisya who was sleeping next to him. He reached for Trisya's phone to see who was calling.
"Renata…"
Richard immediately answered Renata's call.
"Hello…"
"Uncle Richard. Where are you?"
"I can't let Trisya stay at home right now, Riana is very angry. You can see for yourself how she wanted to kill Trisya."
"Then where are you, Uncle?"
"At a hotel."
"Aunt called me. She said she called twice through Trisya."
"Yes, Trisya said so."
"Uncle isn't coming home?"
Richard looked at Trisya who was sleeping. He always saw tears streaming down the girl's cheeks while she slept.
"Tomorrow."
"Why?"
Richard was silent.
"Uncle Richard?"
"Uncle can't leave Trisya." Richard said.
"What? Uncle is crazy?"
"She needs me right now. Just tonight."
"Don't tell me that Uncle has feelings for Trisya! She's your daughter after all!"
Richard hung up the phone.
"Thank you, Dad…"
Richard wiped the tears on Trisya's cheek.
"Don't cry in your sleep anymore," Richard said.
"I won't if Dad stays with me forever."
"Robby will wipe your tears in the future."
"Honestly, I don't love him. I was just playing around with him."
"Go to sleep…" Richard stroked Trisya's hair.
"No kiss for me before bed?"
Richard closed his eyes.
Trisya smiled.
"How are you, Mom? Your brain will keep thinking about what I'm doing right now. It's really fun to be able to hit Mom's mental state," Trisya hissed.