Chapter 8 — One Sentence Scares Away the Whole In-Law Family

Your father's grandson is wonderful, and I am wonderful too. Now, the two of us are living a truly wonderful life.

A gentle breeze swept through the forest, setting the pine trees into a rhythmic whispering song that seemed to echo my very thoughts. I tightly held little Lac's soft hand as we descended the winding mountain path together. The golden hues of the setting sun stretched our intertwined shadows long and graceful across the earth. Suddenly, the sharp ring of my mobile phone broke the serene evening quiet. It was Lawyer Vuong.

"Ms. To, Chu Hang's side has decided to completely relinquish all visitation rights."

I paused for a moment, a wave of mild surprise washing over me.

"What is his reason?"

"He stated that... he simply has no face left to look the child in the eyes."

Lawyer Vuong's voice remained calm and professional. "Furthermore, the first installment of the child support has still not been transferred."

"I understand."

I ended the call, feeling no sense of shock whatsoever. There are certain individuals in this world who will never learn the true meaning of shouldering responsibility. Abandonment is always their first and only choice. Perhaps it is for the best. From this day forward, across vast mountains and endless rivers, our paths shall never cross again. Upon returning home, I walked over to my long-neglected easel, dusted off its wooden surface, and began to mix the vibrant colors once more. Outside the window, the countless twinkling lights of the sprawling city below glittered like a fallen galaxy. I glanced tenderly at my daughter, who was sitting beside me, utterly absorbed in her own watercolor creation, before lifting my brush to make the very first stroke upon the blank canvas. It was a vast, deep blue ocean, stretching out into boundless infinity, and at the very horizon, a brand-new sun was slowly, brilliantly rising.