Chapter 10 — Divorced and Reborn: My New Beginning

Make it clear to everyone here that Lu Tranh and I have not remarried. The So Ky Warehouse has absolutely no affiliation with the Lu family. Whoever lent her money should go find her and demand it back.

Hua Que Lan panicked.

So Hoa, are you really trying to drive me to my death?

I replied calmly, I am not forcing you; you are the one who chose to deceive people.

The faces of the relatives turned unsightly. Someone spoke up, Que Lan, didn't you say that Lu Tranh personally agreed to this?

Hua Que Lan stammered, unable to provide an answer. Lu Phuong stood nearby, her voice dripping with sarcasm, Who really knows if you have remarried or not? My brother runs over to see you every single day; why pretend to be so high and mighty?

I turned my gaze toward her. Having spent three days in detention, have you still not learned your lesson?

Lu Phuong turned deathly pale and immediately clamped her mouth shut. Suddenly, Hua Que Lan lunged at me, intent on tearing up my agreement. I stepped back, causing her to lunge at thin air and collapse onto the ground. She immediately began to wail, A daughter-in-law is beating her mother-in-law!

The courtyard entrance was already packed with spectators. My palms were buzzing with suppressed anger. Just then, Lu Tranh stepped into the courtyard. His clothes were covered in road dust, clearly having hurried back from the military camp. Upon seeing him, Hua Que Lan began to cry even louder, Son, look at what she is doing! She is trying to drive your mother to her death!

Lu Tranh did not move to help her up. Instead, he picked up the agreement from the ground and glanced at it. Then, he spoke clearly in front of everyone present: I have not remarried So Hoa. The So Ky Warehouse belongs solely to her. If anyone continues to use my name to defraud others, I will personally escort them to the police station.

Hua Que Lan was stunned, I am your own mother!

Lu Tranh's voice dropped, cold and firm. You are also an adult.

As soon as he finished speaking, an eerie silence fell over the courtyard. Finally, Hua Que Lan completely broke down. She pointed at me and shrieked, This is all your fault! If it weren't for you, my son would never treat me this way!

I looked at her distorted, furious face and felt remarkably calm. In the past, she had relied on her status as a mother-in-law to bully my predecessor, and her status as a mother to manipulate Lu Tranh. But now, no one would allow her to continue her parasitic ways. Her arrogance had finally crumbled into pure desperation. I turned to leave, but Lu Tranh followed me.

So Hoa.

I stopped in my tracks. He said, I will handle the matters regarding the Lu family properly; I will not let them disturb you ever again.

I replied, That is something you should have done a long time ago.

He nodded, Yes, you are right.

His admission was so blunt that it left me at a loss for words. After a long silence, he took a photograph from his pocket. In the picture, Duong Duong was performing at a school event, her hair tied with red ribbons, a sweet, radiant smile on her face. The teacher gave it to me. I had an extra copy printed.

I accepted the photo, Thank you.

He looked at me, his eyes filled with words he seemed to be holding back. In the end, he only said, Don't work yourself to exhaustion.

I did not answer, but this time, I did not return the photo.

A year later, the third So Ky Warehouse branch opened in the city. I no longer had to manage the counter myself. I established a processing facility, signed supply contracts, and taught Phung Tieu Mai and the other workers how to read and calculate. Phung Tieu Mai became the store manager. When she received her first monthly bonus, she wept until she was speechless.

Sister, I used to think this was all there was to life.

I told her, Who told you that? A life is built by one's own hands.

She wiped away her tears and nodded firmly. Duong Duong had grown taller, her personality becoming more cheerful and outgoing. She would often bring her friends to the store, proudly introducing it to them, This is my mother's shop.

Lu Tranh still visited the child every month. Sometimes he would help her with her homework; other times, he would take her to the stadium to go for a run.