Chapter 14 — Final Record

I returned home, back to my mother's side, where the small kitchen always smelled of rice and soup, the only place in this world that made me feel like I was still fully embraced. Mom looked at me, didn't ask a single question, just pulled me into her arms, comforting me over and over again, as if as long as I was still standing here, everything wasn't the end.

“It's good to come back... it's good to come back…”

I told my mother about An An, about everything that had happened, every detail, leaving nothing out, like exposing my own pain. I thought my mother would collapse, wouldn't be able to bear it, but no, she just quietly stroked the baby's cheek, her eyes were red but her voice remained steady.

"It's okay, mom is here, no matter what happens to An An in the future, we will all go with you."

“We will raise our children, little by little.”

At that moment, all the tough shell I had been trying to build all this time, collapsed. I hugged my mother, cried like a child, cried until I no longer had the strength to hold myself together anymore. In the days that followed, my life was quiet, flat like water without any ripples, but it was no longer emptiness, but peace after the storm. I sold the house that was once filled with rotten memories, used part of the money to set up a recovery fund for An An, and gave the rest to my mother to keep. Liu Zhenbang kept his promise, Chu changed her name to Truong Phong, and my father's shares and the portion he pledged were transferred to my and mother's names. I became the third largest shareholder, but did not step foot in the company, all voting rights were entrusted to him, because I was tired of the endless fights. What I want is just to be with my child, in the most peaceful way. An An's recovery process began, every day was repeated training sessions, from awareness to movement, from reflexes to emotions. It's hard, monotonous, and sometimes exhausting for adults, but An An is more resilient than I thought. My child learns very quickly, each small progress is enough to make me happy all day, as if finding light in the midst of darkness. The doctor said that because of early intervention, the damage is gradually being compensated for by new nerve connections, and in the future... you have the opportunity to live like normal children. As I listened, tears fell, but this time they were tears of hope. My daughter… is my greatest pride. News about the Chu family still appears from time to time, like fragments of a collapsed past. Chu Duc Hai was rescued, but was left paralyzed, could only use a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and was completely excluded from Truong Phong. After the double shock, Chu Van Ban self-destructed, got involved in gambling, wandering in underground casinos, even the last amount of Vuong Thuc Lan's fund was lost. Vuong Thuc Lan was determined to be mentally unstable, taken to the hospital, and every day he only hugged a pillow, muttering "nephew, great grandchild" like a lost shadow. Chu Van Phong was sentenced for illegal detention and intentional injury, while Ly Mai's family continued to litigate endlessly. A family that once stood at the top, eventually fell apart, with no one escaping their own fate. Evil is rewarded with evil, perhaps this is the fairest cycle in human life. I no longer have feelings for them, they are all just like an old calendar page that was just torn off, dirty and smelly. My life... has entered a new chapter. One day, I pushed An An's stroller for a walk inside The park, the sunlight is warm enough, the wind is gentle enough, everything is so peaceful that people want to keep it forever. An An sat in the car, her big round eyes curiously looking at the world, as if she had never known the darkness that once surrounded her. A ball rolled to my feet, a boy ran over, panting, politely asking me to help him pick it up. I smiled and handed it back to the boy, heard a clear "thank you" and watched him run away. Not far away, a man wearing a white shirt stood looking, his eyes gentle and warm. He nodded at me, I also responded with a polite smile. He is the director of the recent rehabilitation center, surnamed Co, whom we have met several times for An An's treatment. He walked closer and gently called her name.

“Co An An… her name also has the letter ‘An’ like mine.”

I paused for a moment, then burst out laughing.

“Yes, I just want my child to have a peaceful and happy life.”

He looked at me, his eyes calm but certain.

“She will be able to do it, because she has a very good mother.”

I smiled, this time a real smile, no longer defensive, no longer forced. The sunlight fell on my shoulder, fell on An An's tiny face, and her clear smile. Everything… is finally okay.