Chapter 13 — 47 Days of Betrayal, I Turned the Game Over

Leaving there, I took my child back to the hotel in Kelowna. Bathe your child and change into new clothes. She clung to me, refusing to let go.

“Mom, when are we going home?”

“Very quickly.”

I was silent for a few seconds.

“Dad did something wrong, he must take responsibility.”

“What's wrong?”

“You're still young, I'll tell you later.”

“Dad, do you not need me anymore?”

“No, but no matter what dad does, mom will never leave me.”

She buried her face in my lap.

“Mom, you're good to me here, but I don't like the food here.”

“What do you want to eat?”

“I want to eat my grandmother's cinnamon cake.”

"When I get home, I'll do it for you."

“I still want to eat fried eggs and tomatoes that mom cooked.”

“Okay, mom will do everything for you.”

The baby laughed. Laughed then cried. I patted my child's head and said nothing. These forty-seven days have been harder for you than me. I don't understand anything, but I have to endure everything. A seven-year-old child, pulled from his familiar home, to a strange country, without mother, without friends, without school. My world has collapsed once. Today… rebuilt. That wound will take time. But it's okay. I have time. The return flight departs from Vancouver. From Kelowna the drive to the airport takes four and a half hours. In the car, Tieu Hoa fell asleep. I sat next to her, looking at the endless road outside the glass window. The phone rang, it was lawyer Tran.

“Sister To, congratulations.”

"Thank you. How's the water?"

"There is some good news. First, Trieu Vinh Xuong's request for a 'bona fide third party' was rejected by the court. The court accepted our evidence, determining that he and Lam Tri Vien had colluded in advance, and the sale transaction was declared invalid."

“Did I get my house back?”

"Procedures to return ownership are in progress, expected to be completed in two weeks."

“And the second news?”

“Trieu Vinh Xuong has been detained in criminal detention, suspected of contract fraud.”

"Ha Khai Minh from Vancouver was also arrested by Canadian police, suspected of being involved in immigration fraud and money laundering, and his company account was frozen."

“What about Lam Tri Vien?”

"Currently detained in Canada, the two sides are discussing extradition procedures, with crimes such as falsifying documents, fraud, and related to illegally taking children abroad, the possibility of extradition is very high."

“After extradition?”

“There will be criminal prosecution, the charges combined could carry a sentence of more than ten years.”

More than ten years. I don't feel gloating. Not feeling relieved either. Just see... very far away.

“What about the divorce verdict?”

"The court decided in absentia, the result was that the divorce was approved, custody of the child belonged to her, Lam Tri Vien had to pay the child support costs, and the common property was divided in such a way that she received 70% due to his fault."

“Yes, the rest will be pending after the criminal case is over.”

"Ms. To, from beginning to end, you handled this case very calmly and clearly. I have done many similar cases, but very few people can do it like you."

“Because I have no other choice.”

“But not everyone who doesn't have a choice can do that.”

“Thank you, lawyer Tran.”

“Nothing, go back home and have a good rest.”

Forty-eight hours later. Airport terminal T3. I carried Tieu Hoa out. The girl was wearing a red coat, lying on my shoulder. My parents stood outside. As soon as my mother saw it, she ran over.

"Tieu Hoa! Tieu Hoa!"

The little girl raised her head, saw her grandmother and immediately burst into tears cry.

"Grandmother!"

My mother hugged her, the two of them hugged each other and cried. Dad stood next to me, his lips moved but he didn't say anything. He reached out and patted my shoulder. A very strong pat. Like it says it all. When I got home, my mother cooked a full table. Tieu Hoa sat in front of the table, holding a piece of cinnamon flower cake and eating little by little.

“Grandma, it's delicious.”

“If it's delicious, eat a lot. I'll make a whole plate.”

Dad sat next to her, watching her eat, her eyes reddening several times. I sat opposite, looking at everything. Very peaceful inside. Haven't been this quiet in a long time. After eating, Tieu Hoa was sleepy, so her mother took her to her room. My father and I sat in the living room. He took a sip of tea.

“How is the house?”

"We're going through the process of getting it back, about two weeks from now."

“What about the furniture?”

“Is the money enough?”

“Enough, the money from the Hai Duong Loan project has arrived, enough to renovate.”

He nodded.

“What do you plan to do next?”

"Clean up the house, bring Tieu Hoa back to live, work must continue."

“Aren't you thinking about finding someone else?”

I looked at him.

“Dad, I just got divorced.”

“I don't mean to rush you, just asking.”

"I'm not looking, at least I won't think about it now."

Dad took another sip of tea.

“That's good, you can live well.”

Father and son were silent for a while.

“You are stronger than I thought.”

I don't answer. But I understand the meaning of that statement. From childhood to adulthood, my father rarely praised me. Two weeks later. The villa in Cam Lan Phu was officially transferred to me. I took Tieu Hoa to see the house. Empty. There's nothing left. But the sunlight still shines through the window, spreading across the floor. The wisteria trellis in the yard that no one takes care of is overgrown, yet it still blooms. Tieu Hoa stood in the yard, tilted her head and looked.

“Mom, the flowers are still there.”

“Yes, the flowers are still there.”

“So are we still here?”

“What about your room?”

“I will make it again for you, what color do you want?”

The girl thought for a moment.

“Still mint green.”

I sat down and looked into my child's eyes.

“Mom, tell me something.”

“What?”

“From now on, no matter what happens, I will never leave you.”

“Mom, promise?”

She held out her little finger.

“Handshake.”

I waved my hand at my child.