Chapter 13

The next morning, Sienna woke up feeling lighter, as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She looked at Rafa, who was still asleep, his expression peaceful. She felt a surge of affection for him, a deep sense of gratitude.

She leaned down, gently kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered.

Rafa stirred, his eyes fluttering open. He looked at her, his expression soft. “For what?”

“For being here,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “For everything.”

Rafa smiled, reaching out to take her hand. “Anytime,” he said.

They spent the day exploring the surrounding hills, enjoying the simple beauty of nature. They laughed, they talked, they shared stories. For the first time, Sienna felt truly free, truly happy.

As evening fell, they returned to the cabin, their hearts filled with a sense of peace. They lit a fire, and settled in for the night.

“Sienna,” Rafa said, his voice hesitant. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Sienna looked at him, her heart pounding in her chest.

“I…” Rafa paused, his eyes filled with emotion. “I love you.”

Sienna’s breath caught in her throat. She had never expected to hear those words, especially not from Rafa.

“I…” she began, her voice trembling. “I love you too.”

Rafa smiled, his expression filled with relief. He reached out, gently cupping her face in his hands.

“I know this is sudden,” he said, his voice soft. “But I can’t imagine my life without you.”

Sienna nodded, tears streaming down her face. “I feel the same way,” she said.

They leaned in, their lips meeting in a tender kiss. It was a kiss filled with love, with hope, with the promise of a future together.

The next morning, Sienna and Rafa made a decision. They would return to the city, to face her father, to reclaim her life.

They packed their belongings, and set off on the journey back to the city. The ride was quiet, filled with a sense of anticipation.

When they arrived, they went straight to her father’s office. The receptionist looked surprised to see them, but she didn’t question their presence.

They walked into her father’s office, and found him sitting behind his desk, his expression stern.

“Sienna,” he said, his voice cold. “I thought I made it clear that you were to return home.”

“I am home,” Sienna said, her voice firm. “But not the way you expected.”

Her father’s eyes narrowed. “What is the meaning of this?”

“I’m here to tell you that I’m not going back to my old life,” Sienna said. “I’m not going to marry the man you chose for me. I’m going to live my life on my own terms.”

Her father’s expression hardened. “You’re making a mistake, Sienna. You’ll regret this.”

“No,” Sienna said. “I’m making a choice. And I choose him.”

She turned to Rafa, her eyes filled with love.

Her father looked at Rafa, his expression filled with contempt. “Who is this man?”

“His name is Rafael Hartanto,” Sienna said. “And he’s the man I love.”

Her father scoffed. “Love? You think you know what love is?”

“I know what I feel,” Sienna said. “And I know that I want to spend my life with him.”

Her father sighed, a hint of resignation in his eyes. “Very well,” he said. “But don’t expect me to approve of this… arrangement.”

“I don’t need your approval,” Sienna said. “I only need your acceptance.”

Her father looked at her, his eyes filled with a mix of anger and sadness. “Fine,” he said. “You have my acceptance.”

Sienna smiled, a sense of relief washing over her. She had finally stood up to her father, and she had won.