Chapter 6 — Behind the Ladder is a Life of Atonement

"I'm Mrs. Trinh's biological son. Didn't she tell you? She told me that she was a cash machine left behind by her dead daughter. I feel guilty, it's easy to manipulate." Outside the door, Aunt Trinh was helped by someone else, her face immediately changed. "What are you talking about?" The man directly opened the recording. Aunt Trinh's voice rang out from the phone: "Luc Can Chau is very stupid. I only need to cough once and he will give me the money. His current wife is too annoying, sooner or later I will force him to leave." The recording ended, the living room was as silent as death. Luc Can Chau stood in place, as if someone had stripped off the last layer of his face right in front of everyone. Aunt Trinh rushed forward to steal the phone. "Can Chau, listen to my explanation. I was angered by it so I spoke nonsense." Luc Can Chau raised his hand to stop her. The movements were very slow, but carried with complete hatred. He turned his head to look at me, his eyes red and scary. "Hua Le, I really didn't know she was always lying to me." I looked at him, laughing out loud. "She lied to you, so you're pitiful. What about my mother? When I begged you, did I lie to you?" His throat seemed to be blocked, unable to say a word. I went upstairs and put clothes, a box of cigarettes, and my mother's old scarf into my suitcase one by one. When going downstairs, Luc Can Chau blocked the stairs. "I'll take you." I walked around him. "No need. I've taken Aunt Trinh there many times, I'm busy enough." Before the door closed, the sound of Aunt Trinh and her biological son arguing, the sound of Luc's mother collapsing and the sound of cups and dishes being broken could be heard from behind. Luc Can Chau stood alone among broken porcelain pieces all over the ground, bending down to pick up a bent crutch. The bottom of the crutches was still covered in dried mud. He used his sleeve to wipe for a long time, but the more he wiped, the dirtier it became. I pulled my suitcase and left the residential area. The night wind blew through the thin coat. The phone screen lights up. I didn't read the lengthy confession sent by Luc Can Chau, but directly called lawyer Ha. "He refuses to agree to a divorce, so please file a lawsuit directly with the court." The cold light of the screen shined on my palm. I didn't turn around and walked straight into the night. Three months later, the court ruling was issued. Because Luc Can Chau made a serious mistake in transferring the marital property, the court forcibly granted a divorce and at the same time required him to repay half of the loss related to the expenses for Aunt Trinh. The day I received the verdict, I went directly to the cemetery. I placed thin pieces of paper in front of my mother's grave and said softly: "Mom, I'm divorced." The wind blew through the small chrysanthemums next to the tombstone, the petals touching my fingertips. The night I returned from the cemetery, I had a high fever of nearly forty degrees. There was no one in the room. I grabbed the edge of the bed looking for medicine, the bottle of medicine rolled to the ground, white pills scattered everywhere. I crawled on the floor, picking up each pill. Luc Can Chau's voice seemed to ring in his ears again. 【Don't overdo it.】 I swallowed the fever-reducing medicine, used a cold towel to cover my forehead, and tried to endure until morning. When the dawn light shone in, I saw my mother's old scarf placed next to the bed. I suddenly understood that, from now on, I may be in pain, I may be sick, but I will never wait for anyone to save me again. Two years later, I opened a senior-friendly interior design office called "Twilight". Based on my architectural knowledge from previous years, I specialize in renovating barrier-free spaces for elderly people with difficulty moving. The first customer was an elderly man who lived alone and had knee surgery. His daughter stood at the door and asked me: “Director Hua, the road is really steep

Do you need to make it that comfortable?" I squatted down to measure the height of the threshold. "Need. An old person who falls once is not simply in pain for a few days." After the customer signed the contract, the office's reputation gradually spread. Some people said I was too stubborn, even the sensor range of the night light had to be checked and rechecked. I just smiled, not explaining. Because I once saw a lamp given to someone who should not have received it, and also saw a steep road trapping the death of someone who should have been cared for. Twilight, Miss. The receptionist walked in holding a parcel. "Director Hua, someone sent it from downstairs, said it was an old acquaintance." Inside was a key with the address of the new house, and a card. 【Sorry, I was wrong. The room on the first floor is always empty.】 I went to the window and looked down. Luc Can Chau stood next to the street lamp, wearing an old, faded coat Moreover, his back and shoulders were no longer as straight as before. He raised his head to see me, took a step forward and then stopped. I threw both the key and the card into the trash. "Tell the management that I don't know this person. Don't let him come near the building in the future." The receptionist was stunned, then nodded and went out. Luc Can Chau stood downstairs until late at night.