Chapter 12 — Post-Divorce Rebound: Claiming My Daughter and Starting Over

This was precisely what Lawyer Tham had specifically cautioned me about. I had read his instructions over and over, committing every syllable to memory until they were etched into my mind. The middle-aged man and the two building management staff members were visibly stunned; clearly, they had not expected me to stand my ground with such iron resolve. For a moment, all three of them stood frozen in place.

You... the middle-aged man stammered, his expression souring into a look of pure disdain. Just then, the rhythmic sound of footsteps echoed through the hallway—neither hurried nor slow, but heavy with intent.

Oh, what a lively gathering, a voice drawled.

Co Dinh Tham appeared at the corner of the stairwell. He was draped in a charcoal wool coat, tailored to perfection, his tall frame cutting an imposing figure. He carried the same air of untouchable authority he always did, yet there was a difference; faint shadows bruised the skin beneath his eyes, and his face appeared colder, more severe than before. His gaze swept over the small group huddled at my doorway, finally settling on me. He made no attempt to conceal his scrutiny, his eyes glinting with a sharp, mocking edge.

Diep Thanh Uyen, he said, his voice smooth and cutting. Is this the sort of place you call home now? You refuse to even cooperate with a basic fire safety inspection. It seems that since leaving the Co household, you have forgotten even the most elementary obligations of a law-abiding citizen.

In an instant, the truth crystallized in my mind. Fire safety inspection? Concerned neighbors reporting violations? It was nothing more than a charade, a petty script written by Co Dinh Tham himself to exert pressure, to pick a fight, or perhaps to seize an opportunity to force his way inside and hunt for things that he believed should not exist.

Mr. Co, I said, straightening my spine. I looked him directly in the eye, my voice steady. What a coincidence. A man as busy as you are, with the weight of an empire on his shoulders, how do you find the time to concern yourself with the fire safety standards of your ex-wife’s modest residence?

I emphasized the words ex-wife with deliberate care. Co Dinh Tham’s expression darkened instantly, a flicker of genuine shadow crossing his features. Perhaps he was still unaccustomed to me speaking with such sharpened thorns.

Regardless of what you think, he replied, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous register, safety is not a trivial matter. Step aside. Allow the inspection to proceed.

His tone was an ultimatum, an order that brooked no dissent.

And if I refuse? I didn't budge an inch. Did you bring a search warrant with you, Mr. Co? Or is it that the fire safety regulations of Phong Dan city are now dictated entirely by the Co family?

Diep Thanh Uyen! His patience finally snapped. He surged forward, pressing close to the doorframe, the sheer, suffocating pressure of his authority bearing down on me. Do not push your luck! I came here today out of a sense of good will to offer you a warning. Do not think that simply because you have found some bottom-tier lawyer, you are capable of turning the tide. There are things that never belonged to you—stop living in a dream world. There are some words… that are best swallowed and kept silent.

At last, he had shredded the mask of false calm, exposing the raw, ugly threat beneath.

Mr. Co, I asked, my heart hammering against my ribs even as I forced my voice to remain perfectly level, may I take that as a threat? My lawyer once told me that threatening others is a violation of the law. Should I assist you by calling the police, or would you prefer I simply contact my lawyer to discuss the legal ramifications of your conduct?

At the mere mention of the word lawyer, the muscles in Co Dinh Tham’s jaw twitched. It seemed Tham Du Minh had been a significant obstacle for him of late.

Lawyer? He let out a cold, sharp laugh. Diep Thanh Uyen, do you truly believe Tham Du Minh is a benevolent soul? He took your case for only two reasons: money and notoriety. The moment you are of no further value to him, or the moment I apply enough pressure, do you think he will still be bothered by your miserable, tangled affairs? And as for you…

His gaze turned into a blade, sweeping over me before landing on the trembling child, Noan Noan, standing behind me. Carrying this child around, living in this dump, relying on worthless paintings that no one wants to buy—how many more days do you think you can survive like this? Today, Tu Hien and the children were running a fever. They were crying out for their mother.