Chapter 14 — 6 Days to Clean Up Your Estate Then Divorce

He was just about to speak. I didn't give him a chance. I looked straight at him, my voice even and clear.

"After selling the house, I will not touch your money. All remaining assets after liquidating the company also belong to you."

"There's still twenty thousand left in the joint account, and I won't take even a penny."

“I left empty-handed.”

“Just bring Niem Niem.”

The whole room was silent. His lawyer looked surprised, perhaps not expecting me to concede to this extent. And he just stared at me, his eyes gradually turning red.

“Hua Tinh…”

His voice was hoarse.

"In my heart, you, this family, our ten years... are only worth that much."

A slightly tired smile.

“You are wrong.”

“Between us, money is the cheapest thing.”

“You yourself have lost the most precious things.”

“Now you are no longer qualified to talk about love with me.”

I took out the divorce agreement from my pocket and pushed it towards him.

“If you agree, sign now.”

“This is the last bit of dignity I have for you.”

He didn't move. Just look at me. Tears silently flowed from his bloodshot eyes. I know he's not crying because of me. He is crying for what he has lost. He was silent for a long time. It took so long that I thought he would refuse. Finally he took up the pen. Sign your name on the paper. Familiar handwriting. Like the date of signing the marriage certificate. Just that time a story opened up. And this time it all ends. After signing, he seemed to have lost all his strength and sat down on the chair. His lawyer took the agreement to review and confirmed there was no problem. The room fell into heavy silence. I stood up. Prepare to leave.

“Tieu Tinh.”

He called. I stopped, but didn't turn around.

“That child… Tu Ang…”

His voice was tired.

“My parents brought him home.”

There are no waves in my heart.

“It's your business.”

“It has nothing to do with me.”

“I just wanted to say…”

His voice grew quieter.

"After the police left, my parents regretted it. They said they shouldn't have destroyed this family because of an outsider. They wanted to apologize to me."

"It's late."

Just two words. But enough to end it all. Not every apology can earn forgiveness. Especially when trust is broken. He smiled bitterly.

"It's late."

“I take care of my health.”

That was the last thing I said to him. I opened the door and walked out. Don't turn around. Not even one step. The sunlight outside in the hallway was a bit dazzling. I squinted my eyes and took a deep breath. The air is no longer stuffy. Only relief and freedom remain. Ly Tuyet followed.

“It's over.”

I looked up at the clear blue sky.

“It's over.”

“What do you plan to do next?”

“Get out of here.”

“I will go to Shanghai.”

“I have already completed the admission procedures for Niem Niem.”

"Waiting for the money from selling the house to be transferred, you and I will leave."

“That's the best.”

Ly Tuyet nodded, her smile was light but warm.

“If you need anything, just call me.”

I hugged her tightly. The one who pulled me out of my own darkness. The following days, I was busy cleaning everything up. I left most of my belongings behind. Only kept a few boxes of books and photos. Things that are enough to remind me of how I once lived, loved, hurt... and then stood up. I took Niem Niem to the mother and daughter's most familiar restaurant, had their last meal, then took her to the old park, where We went for a walk and fed the birds one more time. I didn't tell my children that we were leaving, I just quietly used the most peaceful way to say goodbye to this city. The procedure for transferring the house name went so quickly that it surprised everyone. On the day the money was transferred in full, I sat in my pre-marital apartment, looking at the long series of numbers in my bank account. Not happy, not sad. That amount of money was exchanged for ten years of youth and a failed marriage, both a wound and proof. I called his lawyer, informed him that the money had come in, told him to check his portion, the other end of the line was silent for a long time then only said one sentence wishing me peace. I replied, simply, decisively. From that moment, there was really nothing left between me and him.