Chapter 2

It took a lot of effort to finally calm Barbara down.

I showed her the bank transfers and the screenshots of the WhatsApp messages I sent her mother after every transaction.

"No... this can't be real! You must have faked these documents to trick me!"

"I have never seen a single cent of this $5,000. All I saw was Mom working three jobs, crying, and sighing in stress every single day."

"I only believe what my own eyes see. You can't fool me!"

Looking at the stubborn Barbara, I felt a mix of frustration and heartbreak.

I could still vaguely remember how she used to cling to my leg when she was little, sweetly calling me "Daddy."

But after Michelle became a stay-at-home mom, Barbara changed.

She stopped being affectionate. Instead, she grew to despise me, disrespect me, and take all my sacrifices for granted.

When we divorced, Barbara chose Michelle without a single second of hesitation.

I didn't blame her back then. As her father, it was my job to be patient with her.

So even though I was being publicly humiliated and slandered in front of a crowd, I kept my voice gentle.

"Barbara, everything I'm saying is the absolute truth. If you still don't believe me, we can walk right into that Chase bank branch over there and print out the official statements. The bank wouldn't lie for me."

"I don't know what happened at home while I was away, but there is absolutely no reason for your mother to work three jobs just to feed you."

"When we divorced, I left with absolutely nothing just to ensure you'd have a comfortable life."

"I left the house, the car, and over $400,000 in savings to her. Even if she didn't work a single day, that money was more than enough to raise you until you graduated from college."

My explanation only made Barbara explode further.

"Bullshit! Mom told me you ran off with all the savings and left her with a house that still has twenty years of mortgage! We only just finished paying off the car loan this year!"

"Are you trying to say Mom is a liar? I've lived with her through thick and thin all these years. I know our financial situation better than anyone!"

"If we really had $400,000 in savings, why couldn't we even afford to buy fresh meat for dinner most nights?"

"Why should I believe a father who abandoned his duties over the mother who gave birth to me and raised me?"

Barbara kept calling me "Robert" with zero respect.

I knew this was the result of Michelle’s brainwashing.

Barbara was a victim too. Once she grew older, she would understand.

I forced myself to swallow my anger and keep talking to her.

"Barbara, calm down. I only took $5,000 for my travel expenses. You can verify this in the bank statements."

"The mortgage and car loans were paid off years ago. I have the official release documents on my USB drive. I can show you."

Barbara shook her head violently, refusing to look at my phone.

"Mom told me a long time ago that you're a liar! These must be fake documents you prepared in advance."

"I don't care about your files! Just give me my child support!"

The onlookers around us had stopped mocking me. Instead, they were looking at me with sympathy.

They weren't stupid.

If I was confident enough to offer to go to the bank to check the records, I couldn't be lying.

Everyone knew where the truth lay.

I let out a long sigh.

"Fine, Barbara. I will pay the child support. But first, you're coming with me to the bank to open your own account. From now on, I will only transfer the money directly to you."