Chapter 11 — Father Wants to Divide His Estate, But the Whole Group Is in My Name

Lam Tham took a deep breath. He turned and left the office. Sit quietly in front of your desk for nearly three minutes. Not because of hesitation. But because he was digesting a very strange emotion. Not angry. Not disappointed either. A very slight feeling of relief. So light that it's almost not felt. It was like carrying a rock on my shoulders for many years. Until today... Finally decided to put it down. At that moment... The phone rang. The phone rang.

"Tri Du, your father didn't go out this morning."

"He asked mom for a new bank card. Said the old one was locked."

"Mom, won't you give it?"

"That's good."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

"Mom, this afternoon the legal department will submit another set of documents."

"What file?"

"Relating to dad's embezzlement of public funds."

The other side of the phone suddenly went silent for a long time. It took so long that I thought the call had lost signal.

"Mom, I heard."

Her voice was very soft.

"Have you thought it through?"

"I've thought about it carefully."

There was another silence. A long time later, my mother slowly said:

"Let's do it then."

Just four words. No hesitation. No choking. Don't tell me to think more. She has been waiting for this day longer than me. Hanging up the phone, I stood up and walked to the window. The twenty-third floor can see most of the city. The sunlight is very beautiful. Clear blue sky. The stream of cars below moved quietly like a constantly flowing river. I suddenly remembered when I was eighteen years old, the last time my grandfather was in the hospital. He grabbed my hand and said:

"Tri Du, this family will depend on you from now on."

At that time, I still didn't understand how serious that statement was. Only today... I truly understand.

"The whole family depends on you" doesn't mean forcing me to shoulder everything.

Keep what needs to be kept. And cut out what has to be cut out. The person who needs to be cut off is his biological father. Two o'clock in the afternoon. All documents are officially submitted. Half past three. I received an unexpected phone call. It's Tham Quoc Luong. This time it's not WeChat. He called directly. I looked at the screen for three seconds then pressed listen.

"Tri Du..."

His voice was completely different from three days ago. Three days ago, he was angry, stubborn, always thinking he was right. And now... That voice is shaking.

"Tri Du... did you tell your lawyer to send any documents to the Economic Police Team?"

News travels really fast. There was a heavy breath on the other end of the line. It was like someone was strangling me and then suddenly letting go.

"You... how could you do that... I'm your dad..."

My voice remained calm.

"Three days ago you gave me four conditions."

"But dad doesn't agree to a single thing."

"Daddy agrees! Now I agree!"

He suddenly screamed. There was panic in the voice that I had never heard before.

"I'll go to work right away about transferring the house title! I don't need a supplementary card anymore! Hao Vu won't join the company! I agree to everything! Take that file back..."

"There's no time anymore."

"What...what?"

"The application has been submitted."

"Once the process has begun, it's no longer up to you to decide."

The other end of the line immediately fell silent. I heard his breathing very clearly. There was also a very soft sound mixed in between, like something was stuck in my throat. Fifteen seconds. Finally... Tham Quoc Luong spoke. Tone he was so quiet I could barely hear him.

"Tri Du..."

"Dad please."

My whole body stopped slightly. In my entire life... This was the first time he said the word "please." When I was a child, every time I wanted something, he would only say one sentence at most:

"Okay, okay, dad buy it for me."

A little bigger. No matter what I do... He's too lazy to ask. That word "please"... He kept it until today. Saved for the moment he finally realized... Everything was about to fall apart. I calmly spoke up.

"Do you know how much money I've embezzled over the years?"

He didn't answer.

"12.37 million yuan."

Still silent.

"Mother's dowry, grandfather's factory, the company's working capital..."

"Account by account."

"Dad moved out fifteen years ago."

My voice was calm. It's like reading a financial report.

"That money went into Chu Uyen's account, paid Tham Hao Vu's tuition, bought a house in the outer ring, and then paid for your trips abroad three or four times a year."

"It's not..."

He finally spoke.

"You misunderstood..."

I interrupted.

"Dad can fool others."

"But don't lie to me."

"I personally audited all the books."

"Every item."

"Every penny."

"I've seen it all."

A very strange sound suddenly rang out on the other end of the line. Very intermittent. Like... A man in his fifties was trying to suppress his cries into his throat. I listened quietly. Inside... Strangely calm.