Chapter 16 — Final Record

I found Chu Van Ban in a dark underground casino, where the air was thick with the smell of cigarettes and despair, where people seemed to have lost themselves. He was huddled in a corner, his hair was greasy, his beard was stubbled, his eyes were cloudy and no longer had any light from the past. When he saw me, he froze for a second, then gave a pitiful, distorted smile.

“Are you here… to see how pathetic I am?”

I didn't answer, just threw the notebook down in front of him, my cold eyes were like a knife that didn't need to be cut to still hurt.

“This… is yours, right?”

When he saw the notebook, his whole body stopped, his hands trembled as if he wanted to touch it, but he withdrew as if he had been electrocuted. I looked straight at him, every word seemed to be forced from my throat.

“If you liked me since high school… then after getting married, why did you treat me like that?”

“Why when I needed you the most… you never stood by my side?”

Chu Van Ban bowed his head and was silent for a long time, so long that I thought he would never answer again. Finally, he spoke, his voice hoarse, as if gradually worn away by time.

“Because… I don't dare.”

“I don't dare love you.”

I froze, not understanding.

“Don't dare… what do you mean?”

He looked up, in those cloudy eyes, for the first time a glimmer of consciousness.

“Do you remember the prenuptial agreement my mother made you sign?”

I nodded.

“Actually… there are two copies.”

“One copy for you… and one copy for me.”

My heart skipped a beat.

"Your mother... knew from the beginning that you were not Chu Duc Hai's biological son."

“She used that to control you.”

“If you dare to have true feelings for me… if you dare to go against her…”

“She will expose everything… make you, and the entire Chu family, ruined.”

He smiled bitterly, the bitter smile of someone who never had a choice.

“I'm afraid... afraid of losing everything I have.”

“So I can only be cold towards you, I can only pretend not to care.”

“I think… as long as I show that I don't love you… she will let you go.”

“You are too naive…”

“I didn't expect her to be so cruel that... even her own grandchildren wouldn't forgive her.”

He held his head, his voice cracking.

"The last torn pages... are all the evidence that she threatened you, about her dealings with Ton Nhue, colluding with Ly Mai..."

“I was originally going to find a chance to tell you… but I didn't have time…”

“I made the first move.”

He looked at me, his eyes both desperate and conflicted.

“When I saw you sending photos to the lawyer… I knew it was over.”

“I both hope you win… and fear you win…”

“Because if you win… I'll have nothing left.”

He laughed, mocking himself to the core.

“You are such a coward, selfish… useless.”

"You did the right thing, someone like me... is not worthy of your love, and even more unworthy of being An An's father."

I stood there, listening to everything. There was no longer a storm in my heart, but just a vague silence that was hard to name. Not as dark as before. Still in love? Long gone. In front of me is just a person distorted by the past, by family, by fear... to the point of losing himself. I turned around, intending to leave.

“Tinh Tinh…”

He called me back, his voice trembling slightly as if he was afraid of breaking something.

“An An… is she… okay?”

In that question, for the first time I heard a bit of sincerity. I stopped walking and didn't turn around.

“Little girl Very good."

“It is strong, it strives… and it will have a very bright future.”

“A future… without you, and without the Chu family.”

I finished speaking and walked away without looking back. The sunlight outside the casino was so bright that I had to squint, but it was enough for me to realize... the sky was very wide today. Everything… is finally over. All truths have been revealed, all grievances have ended. My life is like a boat that has just passed through a fierce storm, the hull is full of scratches, but ahead... is the big sea. It's blue sky. And it's the only warm light that I want to keep for the rest of my life. My daughter.