Chapter 17 — After Doctor Diep Disappeared

“Passengers going to Vancouver, please note that check-in for your flight CA991 has now begun…”

The sun shines from the east, dragging her shadow across the ground.

—

Chapter 11 Diep Nam Sanh lowered his head to look at the phone sim card in his hand. The sim card still had faint marks on it from the phone case pressing on it. Ten years. This sim card has been used for ten years. She used two fingers to bend it hard, the sim broke in half, making a crisp cracking sound. When passing by the trash can in the boarding room, she conveniently threw the broken pieces into it. … Co Han Chau's car parked in front of the villa. In his hand he carried a gift box tied with ribbon, black box, gold foil logo. It's a limited edition beach dress and had to be shipped from Milan. There are only three pieces globally. He imagined Diep Nam Sanh wearing this dress. When he entered the door, the corner of his mouth still had a hint of a smile. The lights at the entrance are not on. He pressed the switch twice, and the living room light turned on. Then he was stunned. The pair of white flat-soled shoes that Diep Nam Sanh often wore placed on the shoe cabinet had disappeared. The dressing room door was ajar, the inside was half empty. He threw the gift box on the sofa and strode up to the second floor. The dressing table in the bedroom was cleaned and shiny, with nothing left on top. There was no foundation, no lipstick, no perfume she had used for three years. Not even a single fingerprint was left on the mirror. Co Han Chau's throat slid up and down. He turned and walked towards the study room, his steps becoming faster and faster. The study door is locked tightly. He raised his foot and kicked it, the lock core came straight out of the door frame, wood chips flying. The safe is recessed into the wall, the indicator light of the password lock is still glowing blue. He entered the password and pulled open the heavy steel door. A signed divorce agreement. A commitment to relinquish all common property of the couple. And a letter. Co Han Chau pulled out that piece of paper, there was only one line of writing on it.

“From now on, you and I will no longer have any relationship.”

His pupils constricted violently. His fingers tightened on the paper, his fingertips turned white. Then, he tore up the divorce agreement from top to bottom, shredded pieces of paper falling to the ground. The pledge was also torn. The letter was also torn. Shreds of paper fell onto his handmade leather shoes, which he kicked off.

‘Trieu Minh”

His voice echoed in the empty mansion. The phone called out, there were two beeps, then the other end of the line picked up.

“Freeze all bank cards in Diep Nam Sanh's name, all of them, don't miss a single card.”

The voice of special assistant Trieu Minh carried a trembling reserve: "Mr. Co, do it now?"

“Right now, immediately.”

Co Han Chau slammed the safe door shut, the sound of the steel door hitting the wall was so loud that the wall vibrated.

“Check the entire passenger list of flights leaving the city today, each airline, each flight, check for me without missing anyone.”

Trieu Minh on the other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

"Mr. Gu, there's one more thing, I don't know if I should say it now."

“Speak.”

“Your mother By the way, at 6:17 this morning, the hospital had already removed the breathing tube."

Co Han Chau's hand stopped in midair. Trieu Minh's voice was very soft, each word seemed to be forced out of his teeth: "It was the lady who signed the papers, the main treating doctor confirmed brain death, following the procedure."

“Before leaving, the lady paid all medical expenses, paid out of her own pocket, and never touched any card you gave her. The balance on the card is not missing a penny.”