Chapter 10 — After My Cousin Moved In, My Family Almost Destroyed

I thought my mother would believe me. No matter what, you will believe me. I am your daughter. We have lived together for sixteen years. The moment she said the words:

“Bring your school bag here.”

My world seemed to collapse. That tone... Just like the time she asked to check Trieu Tieu Nha's room. Objective. Doesn't carry any emotion. It's like she's no longer my mother... But a judge holding a trial. A suspect awaiting sentencing. My voice trembled.

“Bring it here.”

She repeated again, no resistance allowed. My father gently pulled her hand.

"To Tinh, what are you doing? Are you suspicious of Van Van?"

“I don't suspect anyone.”

My mother pushed his hand away.

“I only believe in evidence.”

What a cold word. I looked at her, tears filling my eyes. I slowly turned around and went into the room to bring out my schoolbag. The blue briefcase I've used for three years. I placed it on the coffee table in the living room. A heavy sound rang out. Trieu Tieu Nha stood next to her with her head bowed, her shoulders shaking, crying even harder than before, as if the person who suffered the greatest injustice was her. My mother unzipped her bag. Inside are my textbooks, exercise books and pencil case. She took each dish out and placed it neatly on the table. Very neat. She reached into the innermost compartment of the briefcase. The movement stopped a bit. Then she slowly... Slowly withdrew her hand. In her hand... was a blue jade bracelet. Under the bright lights in the living room, that blue color became terrifyingly dazzling. Also ironic to the extreme. Time seemed to stop at that moment. My father took a deep breath and looked at me in disbelief. Trieu Tieu Nha's crying also stopped at the right time. She covered her mouth, showing an expression of both surprise and pain. Just stared blankly at that bracelet. I don't feel angry. Nor do I feel unjust. I just feel cold. A bone-chilling cold spread from the soles of my feet to my heart. This is her true purpose. Wanting to pin me to a humiliating pole.

“Not you.”

I heard my voice dry and hoarse.

“I didn't put it in.”

“Trieu Van Van!”

My father finally exploded. He pointed straight at me, so angry that his whole body trembled.

“The evidence is so clear and obvious that you still want to deny it?!”

“How did I give birth to a shameless child like you?!”

“You have ruined my face!”

“I don't have it!”

I screamed hoarsely. A resounding slap hit my face hard. I was beaten so much that I staggered and crashed hard into the sofa behind me. I covered my face, looking at my father in disbelief. He hit me. Because of an outsider... You beat me. Even my mother was stunned. She rushed in front of me and screamed at her father:

“Are you crazy?!”

“Am I crazy?”

“I think the crazy one is you!”

“Look what you're protecting!”

“It's a thief!”

My father pointed at me, his eyes bloodshot.

“The Trieu family's face was completely ruined by it!”

“It's not stealing!”

My mother's voice had a sharp tremble for the first time.

“She is my daughter!”

“I believe it!”

“What do you believe?!”

“The bracelet is right in his bag!”

“Witnesses and material evidence are all complete!”

“I trust my daughter, I don't need proof!”

Two people stood in front of me and argued fiercely. And the one who started it all This person - Trieu Tieu Nha - quietly retreated into the corner, trying to reduce her sense of existence. But in her eyes... A smug light flashed again. I looked at her. She also felt my gaze and turned her head to look back. The corners of his lips curled up into an extremely small smile of victory. That smile... Like a basin of ice water thrown straight down from above my head. Made me instantly fully awake. Crying is useless. Arguing back is useless. In this carefully calculated trap… The more I talk, the more I get wrong. My father was completely fascinated by her. As for my mother... Even though she believes me, she has no proof. Wanting to save myself... I can only prove my innocence. I wiped my tears and walked out from behind my mother. I walked to the tea table and picked up the jade bracelet. The cold feeling on my fingertips made my mind even more alert. I spoke up. The voice is not loud. But it was enough to make the arguing parents simultaneously fall silent. I looked at them. Then looked at Trieu Tieu Nha.

“I admit it.”

“It's me who took it.”