Chapter 19 — Dawn After the Crack

Phuong Di Nhien's voice was completely different from last time. Last time he looked proud and pretended to be naive, this time all that remained was fatigue.

“What do you want to say?”

"Tran Canh Tham... he asked me to borrow money. He said he wanted to sue, he wanted to overturn the verdict. He asked me to temporarily lend him money for his childbirth."

Lam Niem So gently closed her eyes.

“What verdict does he want to overturn?”

"He said he had to prove he didn't know what his father did, saying that you intentionally harmed the Tran family."

“Do you believe it?”

Phuong Di Nhien was silent for a long time.

"I don't believe it. But I'm pregnant with his child."

"Phuong Di Nhien, the child is yours. It has nothing to do with him."

"I know." Phuong Di Nhien's voice was a bit choked, "Miss Niem So, I'm not looking for you to ask you to help me. I just want to let you know - Tran Canh Tham said he will come to the Lam family's house to look for you tomorrow. He said he wants to meet and talk frankly with Mr. Lam."

“What are we talking about?”

"He said... he would use the baby's DNA test results to negotiate. So Tinh is his daughter, he has visitation rights. He wants to use that as a bargaining chip."

Lam Niem So looked at her baby girl in the crib.

“Thank you for letting me know.”

“Ms. Niem So.”

“Sorry, sister.”

Lam Niem So hung up the phone. She dialed Tong Dao's number.

"Dao Dao, tomorrow Tran Canh Tham is planning to come and cause trouble. Can you help me prepare legally - about So Tinh's custody rights, how is the divorce judgment written?"

"Independent custody rights belong to you, the male side has no visitation rights - because you took all assets as a condition of exchange. The paper is black and white."

"Okay. If he wants to come, let him come."

The next morning at ten o'clock, Tran Canh Tham arrived. He doesn't go alone. Followed by Tran's mother, there was also a middle-aged man wearing a suit - at a glance you could tell that a lawyer had been hired. The person who opened the gate of the Lam family's house was Trieu Toan. Tran Canh Tham stood on the stone path in the garden, looking up at the three-story villa, his expression extremely complicated.

“I want to meet Lam Niem So.”

“Miss Lam is waiting for you in the living room.” Trieu Toan led them inside.

In the living room, Lam Niem So was sitting on the sofa, holding So Tinh in her arms. Next to them are Lam Tri Vien, Tong Dao and Cam Lan's Legal Director. Seeing this formation, Tran Canh Tham's footsteps slowed down a beat. The other lawyer spoke first: "Miss Lam, I am Truong Minh, Mr. Tran's lawyer. We came here today to negotiate..."

“What to negotiate?” Tong Dao stood up and interrupted him.

“About the issue of child visitation rights. Pursuant to the 《Civil Code》…”

“It's clearly stated in the judgment.” Tong Dao handed out a photocopy, "The female party renounces all property during the marriage, and the male party gives up visitation rights. Both parties have signed their names, and the court has sealed it. Lawyer Truong, haven't you read the case file?"

Truong Minh flipped through the documents in his hand, looking slightly confused.

“But from a humanitarian perspective…”

“Humane?” Lam Niem So spoke up. She didn't get up, just sat there, So Tinh in her arms still sleeping soundly. "Tran Canh Tham, say it yourself. Which of your eyes have ever looked at this child?"

Tran Canh Tham stared at the newborn baby in her hand. That's his daughter. But he has never actually hugged his child once.

“Nien So, after all, you are the child's father…”

“You are not.” Lam Niem So's voice was as calm as water, "When I was pregnant, you asked for a fair share of the money. When I went to the prenatal check-up, you didn't go with me once. When I gave birth, no one knew where you were. When you signed away the right to visitation on the divorce decree, you didn't hesitate for a second. Now you come here and want to be a father to me?"

“That was because…”

"At that time, it was because you were in a hurry to get rid of the relationship. Phuong Di Nhien was pregnant, you just wanted to quickly divorce me and live a new life. As a result, the new life was nowhere to be seen. Looking back, you discovered that your ex-wife's side was a gold mine?"

Tran Canh Tham's face turned red.

“Don't you dare defame me…”

“Smear?” Lam Niem So bent down to look at So Tinh, confirming that she had not been awakened, then raised her head to look at Tran Canh Tham.

"Your eldest uncle, Tran Quoc Luong, instigated your father to kidnap me, then arranged someone for me to marry you. Your family's purpose was to use me as a bridge to the Lam family's fortune. Now that the plan has failed, you use the baby as the last straw to save my life. Tran Canh Tham, do you think there is anyone here who can't see it?"

Truong Minh's lips moved twice, speechless. He turned to look at Tran Canh Tham, clearly not knowing that his client still had this background.

“Mr. Tran, you didn't tell me these details…”

“That's her making it up!” Tran Canh Tham took a step forward.

Lam Tri Vien immediately stood up. No need to say anything, no need to do anything unnecessary. He just stood there. Tran Canh Tham paused. He's not stupid. This person is the CEO of Lam Thi Group.