Chapter 20 — Post-Divorce Rebound: Claiming My Daughter and Starting Over

Yet, she remained like a little bird that had just escaped its cage; the moment she was away from my side, she grew anxious and unsettled. I sat patiently with her until she finished her breakfast, then took her to kindergarten. Throughout the entire journey, I remained on high alert, constantly glancing behind me to ensure that no suspicious vehicles or individuals were tailing us. On the way back from the school, I stopped by a supermarket to stock up on long-lasting groceries and other household essentials. As I passed the newspaper stand, my eyes inadvertently caught a headline on the local financial page, and my footsteps came to a sudden, involuntary halt.

"The Co Corporation may participate in the bid for the land in the southern part of the city, but they face a formidable opponent..."

"Rumors suggest that the Co Corporation's capital chain is under pressure, with many projects seeing slow progress..."

The headline was not particularly striking at first glance, but looking at it now, it carried a different weight. Perhaps things had not been easy for Dinh Tham lately. The business world is, by nature, a battlefield. The Co Corporation had never been invincible. Perhaps their rivals were simply waiting for an opportunity. And as for the stone I had just cast… had it unintentionally become the catalyst they were waiting for? Upon returning home, I began to edit my unfinished sketches. Yesterday’s events had slowed my progress, and I needed to catch up. Whenever I became immersed in the strokes and colors, my heart could find a moment of peace.

In the afternoon, I logged into my social media account. The series "A Little Fawn Searches for Home" had garnered many more likes and new comments. My private inbox was also filled with several partnership invitations. An online platform specializing in women's development expressed great interest in the series. They wanted to discuss a long-term collaboration, offering me a recurring column with royalties significantly higher than individual commissions. I deliberated for a long time before replying, though I did not agree immediately; I simply stated that I needed more time to think. Now, every decision I made had to be more cautious than before.

By evening, I went to pick up Noan Noan and bring her home. The hallway of the apartment complex looked perfectly normal, yet I felt an indescribable tension in the air. The way my neighbors looked at me carried a newfound sense of scrutiny and curiosity. It seemed that the "fire safety inspection" and Dinh Tham’s appearance the day before had left quite an impact.

Just as I stepped into my home, the phone rang. The name flashing on the screen was Chu Bich Hoa. I stared at it for a moment, took a deep breath, and answered, simultaneously activating the recording function.

"Diep Thanh Uyen!"

"You unlucky woman!"

"You jinx!"

Her shrill voice, filled with hysteria, rage, and panic, nearly pierced through the speaker.

"What have you done to my son?"

"What have you done to the Co Corporation?"

"You wicked woman!"

"Are you trying to ruin the entire Co family?"

I walked to the window, watching the lights in thousands of homes below flickering to life one by one, and replied calmly.

"Mrs. Co. I do not understand what you are talking about."

"Still pretending?" Chu Bich Hoa was so agitated that her voice warped. "This morning, an investigative team arrived at the company. Our partners are calling incessantly to pry. Did you go out and spread lies? Are you slandering us?"

"Let me tell you something. If anything happens to Dinh Tham, I will not let you off the hook! And that little bastard of yours, too..."

"Chu Bich Hoa." I interrupted her coldly. My voice was not loud, but it was clear and icy. "Please watch your tongue. My lawyer has fully recorded your threats and insults directed at my daughter. Furthermore, if Mr. Dinh Tham and the Co Corporation are truly clean..."