Chapter 3 - THE COLD WALL

The days that followed were filled with a heavy, suffocating silence. The house had become divided into two hostile camps. Mrs. Lisa kept to her part of the home, emerging only to glare, to slam doors, to mutter curses loud enough to be heard. Khai moved his family to the farthest room, and he rose early, worked late, yet never once left them alone with his mother.

Linda remained quiet, gentle, careful not to give offense. But she flinched whenever Mrs. Lisa walked past. She kept the baby close, her eyes always watchful, her hands always resting protectively upon her daughter’s blanket.

Mrs. Lisa found new ways to make them suffer. She locked the kitchen early. She removed clean water. She spoke loudly of ungrateful children and wicked daughters-in-law, hoping to provoke a fight. But Khai had given Linda strict instructions: Say nothing. Do not engage. I will provide for you both.

And he did. He brought food home each evening. He carried buckets of water. He built a small shelf inside their room and stocked it with everything they needed. He created a little world within four walls — safe, warm, and entirely separate.

One afternoon, Khai returned home to find Linda sitting on the edge of the bed, eyes red from crying, the baby sleeping fitfully beside her.

"What happened?" he asked, his heart sinking.

Linda hesitated, then whispered: "She came to the door. She said... that one day when you are gone... she will finish what she started. She said... a girl like this cannot survive."

Khai’s hands clenched into fists. He strode to the door and threw it open. Mrs. Lisa stood not far away, pretending to sweep the floor.

"Come here, Mother," Khai said. His voice was calm — terrifyingly calm.

Mrs. Lisa hesitated, then approached slowly.

"If you ever again speak a single threatening word to my wife or near my child..." Khai said, meeting her eyes steadily, "...I will have the locks changed. I will have this house divided. I will live elsewhere and leave you entirely alone. Do not think I cannot do it. Do not think I will not do it. Choose your behavior — or choose solitude."

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Mrs. Lisa paled. She realized with sudden clarity that her son meant every word. He loved his family now more than he feared her. And she had lost all power to bend him to her will.

She turned without a word and walked away. But as she went, a dark, bitter thought took root in her heart. She would not fight openly anymore. She would wait. And she would find another way.