Chapter 17 — Eighteen People, One Meal, One Divorce

“Mom, stop talking nonsense.” Trieu Khai scratched his head in frustration, his voice starting to lose patience.

"Mr. Tran's project is very stable. He calls me every month. Last month, I even praised him for being trustworthy."

"I complimented him because he said he wouldn't let his old neighbor suffer. If he knew you took my money to hire people for him, what would he think?" Vuong Tu Lan's voice trembled.

"I'm telling you, of course he knows, otherwise why would he call you every month?"

"I'm telling the truth, he doesn't care about you, but rather he's watching his 'big customers'. In their eyes, you guys are just a piece of meat that can be cut over and over again."

Vuong Tu Lan looked at me stunned and then turned to his son: "What exactly is your company?"

"Don't listen to her nonsense, the official company, Mr. Tran used to work in real estate, is very rich, he doesn't lack any of my mother's money."

I took out my phone and showed him a photo of the warning notice that Lam Tinh sent.

"This is just a warning of risks, not a notice of filing a case, moreover it is in another province," Trieu Khai still tried to keep his mouth shut.

“It's okay on our side.”

“You think the police won't investigate further, are you sure?” I looked straight at him.

"And these words 'illegally raising capital', this is a criminal offense. You take commissions and invite acquaintances to invest, don't you have any responsibility?"

His face slowly turned white. The rag in Vuong Tu Lan's hand fell to the ground with a "pop".

“You pulled me in… if something happens to you, I won't be able to escape,” she trembled.

“If you lose this money, I will break off relations with you.”

"Mom, don't listen to her nonsense, she wants to drag me down to get a divorce to get more money," Trieu Khai started to panic.

“I don't want to take any more money from you,” I said, my voice cold, “I only take my share, the rest is up to you two.”

"That sounds so gentle," Vuong Tu Lan gritted her teeth, "you just brushed your hands off and left, leaving all the trouble for us, your heart is also cold."

"Uncle Wang, if something happens to that company, you will not only lose money but may also be responsible."

“Think about it, my sisters, my card-playing friends, who is the one who makes them invest?”

Her face turned pale, her hands trembled as she opened her phonebook and called a few acquaintances. On the other end of the line, someone said "let's see more," someone cursed her and pulled them into the water, the whole living room was in chaos. I stood to the side, my heart strangely calm, because sooner or later these things would come out.

“Are you satisfied?” Trieu Khai glared at me with red eyes, his voice seemed to explode.

“Just one sentence from you pushed my whole family into the fire pit.”

"I didn't push you, you jumped down yourself. I just pulled the cloth over your eyes a little."

“Shut up!” he seemed to be touched at a weak point.

"You think you're so clean, the money on your card has already been invested, you're also a participant, if something happens you can't run away!"

“I have proof,” I said word for word, “that you used my card, I did not authorize it, I can report it to the police.”

“I dare!” He gritted his teeth, "you dare to make a big deal out of it, I'll drag you to death with me. Don't forget that you've also spent the money I've earned in the past two years. Why are you pretending to be noble now?"

I suddenly felt very tired and didn't want to argue anymore.

“Trieu Khai, we have arrived At this stage, it's useless for you to scream," I said slowly.

"If you still want to save your mother, go to the police with me, otherwise we'll go our separate ways. Your business has nothing to do with me in the future."

As soon as Vuong Tu Lan hung up the phone, her whole body seemed hollow: "If you call the police, I will go to your school and make a fuss, telling your colleagues that you are a divorced woman, no one wants you in this life."

“Go ahead,” I said, my voice so calm that I was surprised.

"You can say I'm a divorced woman, but I won't ignore the person who took my money out of fear of losing face, nor will I watch you continue to drag others down for the sake of dignity."

She was stunned, because before, just the four words "divorced woman" were enough to make me back down.

"Don't pretend to be righteous," Trieu Khai smiled coldly, "you both want money and want to stand in a moral position, it's not that easy."

“Think whatever you want,” I said, no longer wanting to explain.

"I can sign the agreement, but I don't accept the balance terms. I have to take my salary card back immediately. From now on, you can't touch a single penny. If you do, I will report it to the police."

Trieu Khai's chest rose and fell violently. Vuong Tu Lan suddenly said: "Give it to him."

"Mom!" he was startled.

"The money belongs to him," she gritted her teeth, "it was wrong for you to take money from someone, now it's right for him to ask for it back, he's not saying he won't give it back to me."

"Didn't you say the project is stable, then use your part to make up for its card. If you can't do something so small, then don't call me mom."

Trieu Khai stood still and looked at his mother, his eyes frozen for a long moment.

“I raised you in vain,” she said, her voice hoarse, “what you do is your responsibility, don't drag others down.”

She turned to me, her eyes were complicated, both angry and tired, as if exhausted.

"The card is returned to you. I don't care about the divorce. You can leave if you want. I accepted this marriage blindly."

I gently let out a long breath, as if letting go of something that had been weighing me down for the past two years.

“Thank you,” I said, my voice soft but clear.