7 Chapter 6

"You should marry Laras."

Rio immediately tightened his fingers hard until they were red, he gritted his teeth to contain his anger that was ready to surge out.

"Are you kidding dad?"

"Marry Laras, or Daddy himself will throw you in jail for raping Laras twice."

"Steven!" said Fania who immediately barged into her husband's private workspace, for the first time Fania called her husband by name.

"Don't be crazy! Do you want to imprison Rio just for the sake of that damn child?! The child who suddenly came and claimed to be pregnant! Come on, you've been fooled by her, realize Steven!" Fania said angrily, she did not accept if the eldest son married an unknown person, even one who had cheated on her family now.

"Enough Fania! Do you want to raise a son who is a jerk like him! Look! You saw for yourself that he was touching Laras's body just now, don't pretend to be blind!" Steven said firmly making Fania's guts immediately shrink, if like this no one will be able to refuse orders from Steven, and now he turns her gaze to the eldest son.

"Take responsibility for your lewd deeds, or you'll sleep in prison tonight. You know I never play with my words, and one more thing. Dad never taught you to ruin people's lives, be a responsible man."

Rio was silent, he could not answer the words of his father. He shouldn't be so drunk. He shouldn't have accepted Rizal's offer to accompany him for drinks, he was just annoyed that Dinda postponed their proposal. He thought it was a good thing to let Dinda make a one-sided decision, but in fact it drained her mind and emotions. And now? Maybe marrying Dinda will only be his wishful thinking.

"Dad give you time to think until tomorrow afternoon, marriage or prison." Steven's final break up.

"What?" Rio was silent, he was getting dizzy. Why did his father give him such a short time, this can't be.

"Father... why do you have the heart to make Rio marry that maid?" Fania said softly hoping Steven would melt.

"That means Mommy is willing to see Rio in prison."

"You're too cruel."

Steven ignored his wife's protests. He just looked at Rio who was now thinking hard.

"I never taught you to be a coward. I know you are a responsible man. Never disappoint me again."

DEG

Steven's words pierced Rio's heart, disappointing his parents was not one of his wishes.

Rio was silent, he preferred to get out of his father's workspace. He needs to think clearly, this decision concerns his future, he doesn't want to be rash to marry Laras who he doesn't even know at all.

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.

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Rio hit the steering wheel of his car hard, he drove his car at high speed to release the thoughts that were now raining in his head.No, he wasn't thinking about the wedding, but he was thinking about Dinda's feelings. Her lover.

After wandering around the city aimlessly, Rio decided to return home. But he emphasized the speed of his car when he saw a small church not far from his house, Rio thought.He had rarely visited the house of God. In the end, he parked his car in the front yard of the church.With unsteady steps, he entered the church. The atmosphere was very quiet, maybe because it was already night. But this atmosphere made Rio's heart a little calm.

He sat down on the front bench, he looked down. He shouldn't be here, he thought. He came dirty and still smelled of alcohol, but his feet brought him here.

Rio Silence.

He took a deep breath to ask Him for help. Hopefully this prayer of his can be heard, at least to make Rio convince himself to make the right decision.

"God, I am your sinful creature. Actually I am ashamed to face You, after a long time I came again to your house. But. If you can, can you give me this guide for myself? This time I really will leave everything to You."

Rio exhaled again, he leaned against the back of the bench he was sitting on.He didn't want to hurry home, for some reason the cool and peaceful atmosphere he felt now made him want to linger. He is now struggling with his thoughts and feelings. Looking for a way out of the problems he is currently facing.

"Should I be honest?" asked Rio of the vacuum he was occupying now.

He thought for a long time, he didn't realize it was almost midnight now. Rio's better to go home, he is sure of his choice.He would rather be imprisoned than betray his lover. He had no idea.

Rio tightened the jacket he was wearing ready to stand and stepped out of the church. But he undoes that intention when he hears the sound of crying behind him.

"Laras..." said a familiar voice. Aunt Lin, and she is not alone, she is with Laras now.

"God...Hiks. Isn't it enough for you to give me this test? Isn't it enough that my father doesn't want me to be his daughter?" Laras said with a sob because she had been crying for a long time.

"I just want the father of my baby to admit what he did and apologize to my baby. He shouldn't have done such a vile thing if he didn't want his presence. I will sincerely accept his existence, I just want him to know his father is enough, I don't want him to live as miserable as I do. But. I believe in all your plans. This time I really will leave everything to You. My job is just to be patient and strong."

Rio's chest suddenly felt tight like it was being squeezed by a very large rock. The corner of his heart ached, he felt like he was slapped by the words that came out of Laras's mouth, he looked back up at the church ceiling.

"Should I?"