Stephen, an American citizen residing in New Hampshire, USA, works as an engineering consultant for a U.S.-based company.

In 2015, following a decision by the board of directors, his company initiated plans to establish a manufacturing facility in Vietnam. During his assignment in Ho Chi Minh City, Stephen, who disliked being alone, frequently visited a nightclub popular among expatriates. This venue became a refuge for Stephen, where he could meet fellow Americans and avoid loneliness.

Stephen had a penchant for trying various exotic cocktails and often sat at the bar engaging in conversations with the bartenders. However, the nightclub did not employ professional mixologists; the female waitstaff handled all customer services, including table-side assistance.

Stephen developed a particular fondness for Fran (Nguyen Thi Tieu Hai), one of the waitresses, often requesting her service specifically. A fellow American expatriate, Luke (though from Oregon, he counted as a compatriot in a foreign land), noticed Stephen’s interest in Fran and discreetly informed him of the nightclub’s unique offerings. Luke’s hints revealed a special service available from the waitresses, fueling Stephen’s interest. Observing Fran’s periodic disappearances during her shifts, Stephen realized many customers sought her attention.

What began as a transactional relationship gradually blossomed into a romantic connection. Stephen, recognizing Fran as his girlfriend, demanded she quit her job and no longer provide services to other men. Their relationship lasted nearly two years before Stephen returned to the U.S. to resume his career, at which point the relationship ended, and he ceased financial support for Fran.

Later, Fran informed Stephen she was pregnant with his child. Initially skeptical, Stephen doubted her claims, especially as he was preparing to marry Kaily. Fran provided evidence of her pregnancy, but Stephen chose to wait for the child’s birth for confirmation. To avoid further complications, he provided financial assistance during her pregnancy.

Upon receiving a photo of the child via WhatsApp, Stephen recognized her resemblance to him. After confessing the situation to Kaily, they invited Fran and her daughter to the U.S. Kaily assured Fran of their willingness to accept the child as Stephen’s daughter but emphasized the need for legal and administrative procedures since Stephen and Fran were never married. After obtaining Fran’s agreement, a DNA paternity test confirmed the child’s parentage, and Stephen completed the adoption process, securing U.S. citizenship for the child.

Fran, harboring dreams of living in America, saw her daughter’s citizenship as an opportunity to fulfill her aspirations. However, she returned to Vietnam to pursue other plans, including entering a matchmaking agency, where she met a Taiwanese man, Chen Ting-Nan. Chen sympathized with Fran’s struggles as a single mother and agreed to marry her, accepting her daughter as part of their family.

When their daughter turned five, Fran contacted Stephen, claiming Chen had divorced her and left her in financial hardship. She asked for financial assistance, stating she was temporarily staying with friends and planned to remain in Taiwan to seek another marriage and eventual citizenship. Stephen and Kaily grew suspicious of Fran’s credibility, especially since she failed to provide a clear address or divorce documents. Reviewing past information, Stephen found inconsistencies and sought further investigation.

Stephen enlisted Lex Solution Investigations, a private detective agency, providing only Chen Ting-Nan’s name and a Taiwanese mobile phone number. Despite limited information, the investigators utilized extensive networks to identify several potential addresses. Surveillance operations uncovered Fran and her daughter’s location and even identified the child’s kindergarten. Further observation revealed Fran was still residing with Chen Ting-Nan, indicating she had fabricated her divorce claims.

Armed with this information, Stephen concluded Fran was attempting to deceive him. Kaily expressed concerns about the potential negative influence Fran might have on their daughter’s upbringing, fearing she might develop dishonest tendencies. She encouraged Stephen to pursue full custody.

Determined, Stephen continued working with Lex Solution Investigations to gather evidence for a custody modification lawsuit. Simultaneously, his attorney evaluated the evidence collected by the private investigators to ensure its admissibility in court.