Chapter 13 — 30 Years of Stolen Identity

He opened his mouth, but said no more. To Phan was led out. Passing me, it suddenly stopped.

“To Nghenh…”

That afternoon, Mr. Trieu went to the police station to report. Crime: fraud in romantic relationships, amount of money involved 380,000 yuan. The case was prosecuted and transferred to the criminal investigation department. At seven o'clock in the evening, I was at the police station making a report. In the middle of work, my parents barged in.

"Welcome! You took your brother to the police station?!"

My mother rushed to the table and was stopped by the police.

"To Phan was involved in fraud and was detained criminally."

“I'm his mother!” She screamed. "My daughter was wronged! It was her sister who harmed her!"

My dad pointed straight at me.

"To Nghenh! Do you have to destroy this house to accept it?!"

I put down my pen.

“Dad, this house has long since disappeared.”

“What did you say?!”

"Since you guys stole my ID, forged my signature, and hung To Phan's child in my name - this house has been destroyed."

“Since you guys forced me to sell my house, kneeled in front of me, beat me in front of others — this house has been destroyed.”

“Since the time you guys sacrificed me again and again for To Phan—”

I looked straight into their eyes.

“This house is no longer there.”

My mother knelt down and hugged my legs.

"Ngh Nghenh, I beg you... tell the police that you agree to let To Phan use your identity! As long as you say so, he will be released!"

I pulled her up.

“Mom, I asked you a question.”

“If I were sitting here today, would you go and beg To Phan for me?”

My mother was stunned. She looked at me, her lips moving. Can't say anything. I nodded.

“I understand.”

I turned to the police.

“Are the minutes finished yet?”

“Almost done.”

“I'll go first.”

I picked up my bag and walked out of the room. Behind me, my mother kept calling:

"To Nghenh! Are you just going to leave?! Don't you worry about your younger brother anymore?!"

I don't turn around. Going to the police station lobby, my father chased after me.

“Are you really going to sue your brother?”

"The police have already prosecuted. The amount of fraud is large, the penalty can range from three to ten years."

His face was pale.

“So… what about Tieu Bao?”

“You guys worry.”

“Where will we get the money to worry?!” He panicked. "The injured party demands 1,000,000 yuan in compensation! Where can we get that much money!"

“So why did you steal my ID before?”

“Why are you pushing his problems to me?”

He was speechless. I walked out the door, then stopped.

“Dad, I'm asking one last time.”

"If that year the sick person was me, the person who needed money for surgery was me... would you sell your house to save me?"

He was silent for a long time.

“Yes… of course there is…”

“Is it true?” I smiled faintly. "The day I had surgery, you guys at the hospital took To Phan to be examined. I was in the hospital for a week, and you guys never came to visit me. The day I was discharged from the hospital, you guys were celebrating his birthday."

“Do you think I don't know about those things?”

His face turned from white to red.

“You… you kept it in your heart until now?!”

“Not to keep.” I said. “Just not forgiving.”

I pushed the door. The night wind rushed in. The phone vibrates. It's Tran Mac.

"To Nghenh, the prosecutor's office has approved the arrest of To Phan. In addition, yesterday your parents came to the company to cause trouble and were chased away by security. They are now waiting at the gate of your house."

"I know."

“Need me to handle it?”

"No need. I'll take care of it myself."

I drove home. Sure enough, in front of the residential gate, my parents sat in a flower bed. Seeing my car, they stood up. I stopped the car and didn't turn off the engine. They froze and then got into the back seat.

“Police station.”

“What are you doing there again?!”

"Go sign To Phan's detention notice. You two are direct relatives, you must sign."

My mother burst into tears.

"I won't sign! If I sign, my daughter will go to jail!"

“Don't sign, it's still in there.” I looked through the rearview mirror. “Mom, do you know how much money To Phan cheated on Mr. Trieu?”

“How much…”

"380,000 yuan. Of which 200,000 was cash, 180,000 was jewelry. It's all spent. Renting a car, renting a house, buying bags, beauty treatments."

My mother was dumbfounded.

“It… he said it was a gift from Mr. Trieu…”

“Gift?” I smiled slightly. "There is no such thing as a free gift in this world. Especially gifts from men to women, every gift has its price."

“So… what to do now…”

“Refund.” I said. “Return the 380,000 yuan to Mr. Trieu, please write a letter of dismissal, the crime may be reduced.”

“Where do we get the money…”

“Yes.” I said. "The house the two of you were living in was sold for more than 1,000,000 yuan. After paying it to Mr. Trieu, there was a part left over to compensate Tieu Bao."

My father hit the chair hard.

"To Nghenh! You want us to sell the house?!"

“What if it doesn't?” I turned my head to look at him. “Do you have money?”

“We…”

"The monthly pension is 6,000 yuan. How much money To Phan has taken from you all over the years, you all know."

"Tieu Bao's hospital bill is 50,000 yuan as of today. The victim, not to mention 1,000,000, has to pay 500,000 yuan in the immediate future. Where do you guys get these amounts from?"

He choked on his words for a long time.

“You… you help us…”

"Because you're her aunt! Because you're our daughter!"

“My last name is To.” I said. “But between you and I, we are no longer family.”

The car stopped in front of the police station.