Chapter 17 — After Seeing Through It, I No Longer Love You

"Okay." He suddenly emphasized each word, "If you want it like that... then do as you say. I will have the bride price transferred to my family, the things your father gave... I will find a way to pay. As for the wedding... tell your father yourself, I have no face."

“I will say.”

“And that whole house.” His voice was cold, "Don't worry, I won't mention another word. If you regret it later... don't come looking for me."

“I won't.” I said.

“Can you really bear it?”

“I can't bear it.” I admitted frankly, "But I can't bear to... turn myself into someone I don't even recognize."

The other end of the line was silent. A few seconds later, the call was disconnected. The ending tone rang out in the quiet room, so clearly that it made people's hearts sink. I looked at the screen and suddenly had a very strange feeling. It's like there's a door, always ajar... that finally closes. The cold wind is blocked outside. But I... was also kept inside. But at the same time, somewhere far away... there was another door slowly opening. Not flashy, not noisy. Just… enough to see a streak of light. In the days that followed, I felt like I was caught in a vortex. The news of an annulment was like a stone thrown into a lake, quickly creating waves that spread throughout the two families. My father, Lam Kien Quoc, after knowing what happened, remained silent for a long time, only asking one question.

“Have you thought it through?”

“I've thought about it carefully.” I replied.

He nodded, went into the study, and made two phone calls. One for the wedding organizer, canceling the entire schedule, trying to get the refundable amount back. A call to the Tham family's parents, saying very briefly that the marriage was not successful, and from now on, both parties went their separate ways. On the other end, Ngo Que Lan was crying and making a fuss, scolding me for being selfish and saying that the Lam family oppresses honest people. My father only replied with a very light sentence.

"Whether my daughter is selfish or doesn't understand things... that's the Lam family's business. If you want to scold me, scold me."

After that, the Tham family also returned the bride price and part of the congratulatory money as agreed. As for gossip among relatives... it cannot be avoided. Some people say I'm "a fake person", some people say I have a "good fate but not a good heart". There were also people who whispered that... five hundred thousand yuan as a dowry was too big, so it was understandable that the groom's family had an idea. I heard it all. And gradually learned... no longer lose sleep over those words. What bothers me the most... is not what outsiders say. But those unintentional moments on the street, when I saw a silhouette that looked similar to him... my heart skipped a beat. Three years… not three days. It is not to say that letting go is letting go. It's just that I no longer pick up the phone... call that familiar number. Emotions, in the end... still have to be given time to dry. Han Tinh is one of the few people who knows the whole story. After listening to me, she was silent for a long time.

“You did very well.” she said.

“Where is good?” I smiled faintly, "I feel like I just crawled out of an accident... I'm covered in wounds."

“But you're still alive.” She looked at me, “You didn't tie yourself into an out-of-control car and plummet off a cliff.”

After that, almost every weekend Han Tinh came to Tien Duong Cong Quan to stay with me. The two of us measured the house together, chose the furniture, and researched the decoration style.

“After this, you really plan to stay alone?” Han Tinh leaned on the balcony railing, the wind blew her hair, "The house is this big, I think you should find more people to live with."

“Are you moving here?” I asked.

“Me?” Her eyes lit up, “Your father doesn't object?”

“He still wants someone to look after me.” I laughed, "So I don't fall in love like Tu Ngang again."

Han Tinh laughed and patted my shoulder hard.

"Don't worry, the next time you see that kind of product, I will be the first person to wake you up."

Finally, she actually moved in. Two people, one room each, sharing the living room and kitchen. The initially empty house... gradually filled up. From the floor, ceiling lights, to the sofa, curtains, and even the small potted plants on the balcony... everything was chosen by the two of us together. The apartment in Tien Duong Cong Quan... finally has the appearance of "a home". Not the traditional "wedding home" type. But again… the space truly belongs to us. My dad sometimes stops by, stands in the middle of the living room and looks around.

“That's okay.” He nodded, "Are you used to living here?"

“It's okay.” I replied, "At least no one is fighting over the name on the house book with me."

He snorted softly, didn't say anything else, just patted my shoulder.

“When something happens in the future... remember to ask yourself first, is it worth it?” He said, his voice was low, "If you lose money, you can earn it back... but if your heart is hurt, it won't necessarily heal."

I nodded. Outside the window, sunlight poured in, soft but warm.