Chapter 13 — 6 Days to Clean Up Your Estate Then Divorce

The contract signing process went so smoothly that there was almost no ripple. The buyer is a middle-aged man who works decisively. When he saw the house, he decided immediately, without beating around the bush. Under Ly Tuyet's close supervision, all the documents were signed neatly, each page turned as if each piece of the past was closed. When I walked out of the brokerage office, my phone vibrated and a message from the bank appeared. A large deposit has been transferred to the account. Three days later, when the name transfer is completed, the remaining amount will be transferred to the joint account and then divided according to the court's decision. He will receive his share. As for me, I will take my share with my daughter, leave his world, and disappear completely. Ly Tuyet patted my shoulder, her eyes could not hide her satisfaction.

“This is the most important step, once the money and house are gone, he will have no reason to hold you back anymore.”

I nodded, but my heart did not feel as light as I imagined. I know, the hardest part is still ahead. Child custody rights. That is the real battlefield, where people reveal their most naked nature.

“Is there any movement on his side?”

Ly Tuyet curled her lips, her eyes carrying a bit of irony.

“His lawyer called me this morning, his tone was very polite.”

“Said that their client was extremely sorry for his behavior at the school gate, and hoped that the two sides could sit down and talk.”

“Divorce agreement.”

I stopped. Divorce agreement. The man the other day wanted to throw me in jail, yesterday he was still playing life and death games, today he wanted to have a nice conversation.

“Is he awake?”

“It wasn't him that woke up, it was his lawyer that kept him awake.”

Ly Tuyet spoke frankly, without beating around the bush.

“The police report, the application for a protective order, plus the evidence that his family harassed you, any lawyer with experience knows that if he goes to trial, he will not only lose, but lose very badly.”

“Especially child custody, there is almost no chance.”

“So his only option now is to negotiate.”

“Using the so-called ‘peaceful ending’ to save the last bit of face and benefits.”

I got it. This is not regret. This is just a calculation.

“What does he want?”

“Two points.”

Ly Tuyet spoke clearly.

"First is the assets, he wants to divide more, using the reason that you proactively liquidated the company, causing him losses."

“Second is the right to raise Niem Niem, he proposed to raise them together.”

My heart clenched.

“Let's raise them together.”

“Yes, that was his last card.”

Ly Tuyet looked straight at me.

“I suggest meeting and talking it over once and for all. It will greatly shorten the litigation time, good for you and Niem Niem.”

“But the location must be chosen by us, in my office, everything will be under control.”

I was silent for a few seconds. I agree. I need a proper ending. A dot clear enough to cut through everything. The next afternoon. In the conference room of the law office. I saw him again. Just a few days, but he seemed to have aged ten years, his hair was tangled, his eyes were sunken, his gaze was cloudy like stagnant water. The shirt was wrinkled, no longer neat, of the person who once stood at the top. He sat across from me, next to his lawyer, a middle-aged man with glasses and sharp eyes. Between us is a long table. It is also an insurmountable distance. He looked at me, his lips moving slightly, as if he wanted to say something. But in the end it was silent. His lawyer spoke first.

“We come today with the desire to resolve the issue peacefully.”

“Regarding assets, my client's side…”

“Let's talk about custody first.”

Ly Tuyet interrupted, her voice decisive.

"This is a prerequisite, if we cannot agree, other things do not need to be discussed."

“We will meet in court.”

The lawyer on the other side paused and turned to look at him. His eyes were still glued to me. There is regret, there is begging, there is also something that I no longer want to understand. I opened my mouth. For the first time since entering this room.

“The right to raise Niem Niem must belong to me.”

My voice was cold and clear, not allowing any room for negotiation.

“I will not accept any form of co-parenting.”