Chapter 3 — The Hand That Carves Sin

I remained calm as I offered my explanation: "If he is sent to prison, what will become of An An? She would be the daughter of a convicted criminal. That is hardly a healthy environment for a child to grow up in. Furthermore, considering the nature of his unit… I have no desire to create a spectacle." I understood Tran Da and the rigid structure he belonged to far too well. In their pursuit to preserve the reputation of a so-called hero, they would stop at nothing. I had no interest in entangling myself further with them; I simply wanted a clean and absolute severance from this man.

"I only want An An. I require nothing else," I repeated.

Lawyer Vuong nodded. "I understand. I will initiate discussions with the opposing side immediately." The response arrived with surprising speed: Tran Da refused to grant a divorce. His reasoning was that our bond remained deeply entrenched, claiming his recent behavior was merely a momentary lapse in judgment for which he felt profound remorse. He begged me for one more chance. His plea was delivered with such earnestness that, had I not been the one enduring the trauma, I might have almost found myself swayed by his words.

"He stated that if you persist with the divorce, he will not make it a public issue, but he has one condition." Lawyer Vuong looked at me, appearing visibly conflicted. "He is demanding custody of An An."

My entire body trembled with indignation.

"On what grounds?"

"He claims… that as a surgeon, you are frequently working overtime and lack the time to properly care for her. Furthermore, he argues that because your hand is injured and your emotional state is fragile, you are unfit to provide a stable environment for a child’s upbringing."

I closed my eyes and drew a steadying breath. Very well. Tran Da, you always know exactly which blade will cause me the most agony. You destroyed my career, and now you intend to use that very destruction as a weapon to tear my daughter away from me.

"Lawyer Vuong," I said, opening my eyes to meet her gaze. "Tell him we will see each other in court."

I would not retreat anymore. Not even a single step.

On the day of the hearing, the sky was heavy and overcast. I shed my hospital gown, dressing in a professional shirt and trousers. My left hand remained held in a protective brace against my chest, a visible mark of my trauma that no one could ignore. An An had been picked up by the wife of Old Truong; I had no intention of letting her witness the ugliness that might unfold within these walls. Outside the courthouse, I spotted Tran Da. He was clad in a crisp uniform, the rank insignias on his shoulders glinting dully under the dim sky. Beside him stood his lawyer and a senior official from his unit. I recognized the official, Chief Luu, a man who had often shared dinner at our home. Upon seeing me, a flicker of unease and hesitation crossed his face.

"Little To," Chief Luu approached, sighing heavily. "Look at what a mess this has become. A husband and wife are bound to have their disagreements. Tran Da knows he was wrong; you should just—"

"Chief Luu," I interrupted him. "If the cost of a disagreement is the total destruction of a person's career, would you not say that price is a bit too steep?"

My calm gaze swept past him to settle on Tran Da, who stood behind him. Tran Da looked away, unable to meet my eyes. Chief Luu’s expression grew even more strained. "I know Tran Da went too far this time. He has been disciplined, and the unit has already admonished him. Look, he is a promising officer, a pillar of the nation. It would be a tragedy to ruin his prospects over a domestic matter." A domestic matter? I nearly laughed aloud. My maimed hand, rendered useless, was merely a domestic matter to him.

"Chief Luu, I am here to divorce him today." I looked away from him, my voice devoid of tremor. "Everything else can be settled inside the courtroom."

With that, I walked straight into the building. The air inside the courtroom was thick and suffocating. True to their strategy, Tran Da’s lawyer immediately seized upon my career and my injury.

"My client acknowledges that in a moment of emotional loss, he caused injury to Doctor To. He is profoundly regretful and is prepared to cover all medical expenses and damages. However, this does not constitute grounds to strip him of his paternal rights."

"It is common knowledge that Doctor To is one of the nation's premier surgeons. Her work is incredibly demanding; she practically lives in the operating room. Since the child was young, she has been largely raised by nannies and my client. Now that Doctor To has suffered a severe injury, we have every reason to question her emotional stability and mental state. Whether she can provide a healthy environment for the child’s growth remains a valid question."

Every word felt like a poisoned needle piercing my heart. They were twisting my sacrifices for our family and my commitment to my profession into evidence that I was neglectful and unloving. He had destroyed my hand, and now he was turning that mangled limb into a weapon to assault me. When it was Lawyer Vuong’s turn to speak, she did not bother with a direct rebuttal. Instead, she presented the judge with a series of documents.

"Your Honor, these records from the past five years demonstrate that the defendant, Tran Da, stayed out late or remained away from home on one hundred and thirty-two nights, citing 'training,' 'missions,' or 'meetings.' Conversely, these records show that during the same period, the plaintiff, To Hoan, requested forty-five days of leave specifically to care for her sick child."