Chapter 3 — Lac Lac's Sunny Day

No, everyone is healthy. Is something the matter?

Nothing at all. Thank you for your time, and sorry to bother you.

As soon as the call ended, a chill crept up my spine. What a brilliant strategy to flush out the prey. To force me to reveal myself, you were willing to curse your own flesh and blood. You truly outdo yourself every single time, constantly redefining the absolute depths of my disillusionment.

06

I completely ignored every single message from Victor. I left him to marinate in the fabrications and anxiety of his own making. Lily and I spent a full five days in Phuket. Throughout those five days, I took her out to the islands to watch tiny colorful fish dart through the clear water and to ride gentle elephants. The carefree laughter, untouched by worry, returned to her sweet face. Meanwhile, I received daily progress updates from Attorney Wang.

The forty-eight-hour deadline has expired, and the opposing party has still failed to vacate the premises.

I have contacted the police and commissioned a notary public. Under the watchful eyes of the authorities and the estate management, we have entered the apartment.

Mrs. Zhang Thuy Lien became extremely agitated, staged a public scene on the floor, and received a formal verbal warning from the police.

Victor was not present.

All belongings inside the residence have been thoroughly cataloged and placed under temporary seal. The entire procedure has been officially notarized.

On the afternoon of the fifth day, I brought Lily onto a return flight. Not back to that house, but to an entirely different city where a modest apartment left to me by my parents awaited. That was the true sanctuary for the two of us. The moment the plane touched the tarmac, I switched on my phone. Victor’s call instantly flashed across the screen. This time, I answered, tapping the video call button as well. The screen illuminated to reveal his haggard, furious countenance. Behind him appeared to be the generic interior of a hotel room, with Thuy Lien wailing and throwing a tantrum in the background.

Qing! You finally deigned to answer my calls!

He gritted his teeth, his jaw working furiously.

What is it?

I asked indifferently. Lily, sitting beside me, peered curiously at the screen.

What on earth do you think you are doing! You threw us out on the street, forcing us to live in a hotel! Have you lost every shred of human decency!

I gave you forty-eight hours. You were the ones who chose to discard your final ounce of dignity.

I stared straight into the camera at him.

Victor, let me inform you of something.

What?

I want a divorce.

He froze for a second, then burst into frantic, unhinged laughter.

A divorce? Qing, on what grounds do you dare ask for a divorce from me? Let me tell you this right now, I refuse! I will never, ever agree to dissolve this marriage! I will drag this out until it drains the life right out of you! Lily is my daughter, and don't even dream of taking her away from me!

Is that so?

I flipped the camera to face Lily and asked gently,

Lily, do you want to go with Daddy or with Mommy?

Lily gazed at the ferocious, unfamiliar man glaring from the screen, then wrapped her arms tightly around me without a moment's hesitation.

I want Mommy! I don't want Daddy!

Victor’s face instantly drained of all color, turning dead white.

You… what did you say to her!

I didn't say a thing. A child's heart is the most honest thing in the world. She knows perfectly well who truly cares for her and treats her right.

I turned the camera back to myself.

Victor, do you really think that because you refuse, we cannot get a divorce?

My finger lightly tapped the screen, transmitting a batch of screenshots I had saved days prior directly to his device.

Screenshots of Thuy Lien hurling vile abuse at me inside the family group chat.

Video recordings of Victor’s relatives eagerly chiming in to corroborate her lies.

Photographs of the messages where he weaponized his own daughter's health to deceive me.

I watched as preview notifications continually popped up on his end. His complexion shifted from pale to sickly green, and then to a dark, livid purple.

Did you see them?

My voice was chillingly devoid of emotion.

These, coupled with domestic abuse—including severe emotional neglect and psychological warfare—alongside the fact that your salary cards remained in my possession with every transaction meticulously recorded, and your mother’s blatant defamation of my character, are more than sufficient for a court to rule that our marriage has irretrievably broken down. Not only will this divorce go through, but you don't stand a single chance of winning custody of Lily. Furthermore, I will force both you and your mother to issue a public apology in court for every single malicious word you uttered.

You… you vicious, cruel woman!

He trembled so violently with rage that he could barely complete the sentence.

Is this considered cruel?

I offered a faint, cold smile.

There is far worse to come. Attorney Wang has already filed criminal defamation charges against your mother. Every single one of the over one hundred people in that group chat will soon receive court summonses to testify as witnesses.

What?!

Hearing this from the background, Thuy Lien shrieked at the top of her lungs and lunged forward. I looked straight into the distorted face consumed by fury and terror on the screen, pronouncing every single word with chilling clarity:

Just wait and see if I dare to do it.

With that, I abruptly terminated the video call, and immediately blocked this new phone number of Victor's as well. The world fell wonderfully quiet once more. This time, I knew the initiative and absolute control were firmly back in my own hands.

07

I led Lily to settle into our new home. It was a cozy two-bedroom apartment, flooded with warm sunlight, holding countless cherished memories of my parents and me. I personally redecorated Lily’s bedroom, buying her a brand-new drawing board and plenty of toys.