Chapter 2 — 7 Year Marriage Isn't Real

"If it's not urgent, some assets can still have optimal tax options..."

"One week."

I looked at him.

"Can you do it?"

He nodded.

"Can do it."

Just as I signed the last set of documents, the phone rang. It was Luc Can Nien calling. I picked up the phone and turned on speakerphone.

"Wife, are you awake yet?"

"I left breakfast on the table. The porridge must have cooled down, please warm it up."

His voice was still as gentle as every morning.

"I had too much to socialize last night so I couldn't come home. I'm sorry."

"Today is my wedding anniversary."

"I'll come home early tonight and take you out to eat at your favorite Japanese restaurant."

Wedding anniversary. Today is just seven years since we got married. I only replied with one word. He smiled softly. The call ended. I put my pen and signature on the last file. Tran Tung put away all the documents and asked:

"Miss Phuong, is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Help me investigate someone."

"Tong Dao."

I looked at him.

"I want the entire connection between her and Luc Can Nien."

"Including real estate, bank accounts, travel history..."

"All within the last seven years."

Tran Tung paused for a moment. He didn't ask why.

"I will send it to you in three days."

I picked up my bag and prepared to leave. As soon as I walked to the door, my phone rang again. Still the same strange number.

"At two o'clock this afternoon, Luc Can Nien will go to Cam An Obstetrics Hospital in the south of the city."

"Fourth floor, VIP pregnancy clinic."

I stared at the text message. Then press call to call your personal doctor.

"Doctor Chu, help me find a medical examination report from seven years ago."

"I want to know..."

"What exactly is in that bowl of medicine?"

The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

"Miss Phuong..."

Dr. Chu's voice lowered.

"Could it be that... you already know about it?"

I stood in front of the law office. The sunlight is very beautiful. People on the street are still bustling back and forth. Everyone is living their normal life.

"Doctor Chu."

I said slowly.

"I need a full test report."

"I will send it to you this afternoon."

Half past one in the afternoon. I sat in a cafe opposite Cam An Obstetrics Hospital. Location close to the second floor window. From here you can look straight down at the main gate of the hospital. One fifty. A black car stopped in front of the gate. Luc Can Nien stepped down from the driver's seat. He went around to the passenger seat and opened the car door. Tong Dao walked down. She wore a loose dress. The lower abdomen has clearly protruded. One of his arms wrapped around her waist. The other hand covered the top of the car door frame, afraid she would hit her head. The two walked side by side into the hospital. I took a sip of coffee. At the same time, open the report that Dr. Chu just sent. Test results of the medicine bowl's ingredients... It contains an active ingredient called Gossypol. Dr. Chu's notes clearly state:

"Long-term use may cause irreversible damage to reproductive function."

He fed me for seven years. Starting from the wedding night. Until three years ago, when I started in vitro fertilization. All failed. The doctor then said... It was because my body had a problem. Ovarian function decline is too serious. Perhaps due to innate physical condition. Not innate. Because he himself destroyed it little by little. I put down the phone. Take another sip of coffee. The tip of the tongue is bitter. Bitter like seven's bowl of medicine last year. Exactly ten past two. My phone rang again. Exactly ten past two. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Luc Can Nien. He sent me a photo. In the photo is a diamond necklace nestled in a velvet box. Under the light, the diamond sparkled with brilliant rays of light. Attached is a message:

"Wife, have a happy wedding anniversary. Do you like it? I'll wear it for you myself at night."

I stared at the photo. Then looked up at the hospital on the other side of the glass window. Maybe he was in the VIP pregnancy clinic on the fourth floor, sitting next to Tong Dao, watching the ultrasound with her. One party took his lover to a prenatal checkup. One party sent an anniversary gift to his wife. For seven years. This man acts so well. Never revealed any loopholes. If it weren't for that anonymous message... If it weren't for the legacy my grandmother left behind... If it weren't for the paper proving "never married"... Maybe I would never know the truth in my whole life. I will continue to make Phuong Niem Tri happy. Continue to live in a two hundred and sixty square meter river view apartment. Wear the jewelry he bought. Wear the clothes he chooses. Every day I wait for him to come home to eat. Then naively believed... I was the most loved woman in the world. At that moment, the phone rang again. It's Doctor Chu.

"Miss Phuong, I have sent you the report."

"One more thing..."

Her voice dropped slightly.

"I just reviewed all of your medical records for the past seven years."

"The ovulation stimulating drugs she used had a negative interaction with the Oriental medicine she was taking."

"In other words..."

"Even without that first bowl of medicine, your treatment regimen would not have been successful."

I tightened my grip on the phone.

"Who prescribed it?"

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

"...It's an Oriental medicine clinic appointed by Luc Can Nien himself."

I slowly closed my eyes. It's truly a tight game without any loopholes. First completely ruined my fertility. Then pretend to accompany me everywhere for treatment. But it led me to a place... It was incurable from the beginning. Wait until the time is ripe... He just needs to carry a child home, telling me it's adopted. Maybe for the rest of my life... I will be grateful to him. I will wholeheartedly raise that child. Without knowing... That was the blood of my husband and another woman. Truly thorough. Also disgusting to the extreme. I stood up and left the cafe. Three o'clock this afternoon. I made an appointment to meet someone. Deputy Thinh Lan. Luc Can Nien's cousin. Also the only person in this city... That I can still trust. Not because he is a good person. He and Luc Can Nien are enemies. Ten years ago, during the Luc family's power struggle, Luc Can Nien's father kicked Pho Thinh Lan's entire family out of the center of power. Enemy of the enemy...