Chapter 2 — Final Record

I said: "My caregiver must have arrived. Please open the door." He stared at me, motionless. The doorbell still rings patiently.

“Open the door.” I repeated, my voice firm.

Finally he gave in, turned around and left. Outside the door are two women wearing professional uniforms, carrying thermo boxes.

"Is this Ms. Tinh's house? We are the postpartum care team you hired."

Vuong Thuc Lan and father-in-law Chu Duc Hai stood in the living room, looking at this scene, each of their faces looked ugly. The caregiver took turns placing the meal on the table, and the fragrance immediately spread throughout the room. Chicken soup stewed with fish maw, steamed sea bass, pork liver stir-fried with sesame oil. Compared to that, the bowl of white porridge with pickles that Vuong Thuc Lan presented... looked like a joke. The caretaker politely told me:

“Miss Tinh, your breakfast is ready.”

I nodded, went to the main chair, and sat down. Chu Van Ban, Vuong Thuc Lan, Chu Duc Hai — all three stood like statues, looking at me. I picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful of chicken soup, and slowly drank it. Tastes very good. This was my most comforting meal in the seven days postpartum. After eating, in front of all of them, I took out my phone.

"Lawyer Truong, I have sent you the evidence. Regarding the issue of ownership of the house in my name, and the enforcement of the pre-marital property agreement, please send the first lawyer's letter to the Chu family today."

Chu Van Ban's face turned pale... pale. Vuong Thuc Lan shouted:

"What house? This house was bought by the Chu family! What does it have to do with you!"

I put down the phone and used a napkin to wipe my mouth.

"Mom, maybe you forgot. The deposit for this house... was my mother selling the house in the countryside and gathering it together as a dowry for me. On the certificate of ownership... there's only me."

I looked at Chu Van Ban, whose face was as gray as ash, and smiled slightly.

"As for the pre-marital property agreement... Chu Van Ban probably knows better than me what is written on it."

“Anyway, the person who forced me to sign the clause ‘if there is betrayal, leave empty-handed’… was also him.”

As soon as my words ended, the atmosphere in the living room seemed to freeze. Vuong Thuc Lan's face immediately turned from anger to horror and panic. She turned sharply to Chu Van Ban, her voice high-pitched:

"What deal? Leaving empty-handed? What nonsense is he talking about!"

Chu Van Ban's lips trembled, unable to utter a word. My father-in-law, Chu Duc Hai - who has always held an authoritative role in the family - at this time also had a scary gloomy face.

“Van Ban, what exactly is going on?”

Chu Van Ban seemed to have been drained of all his strength and sat down on the sofa. I leisurely looked at him. Before getting married, the Chu family was afraid that I would target their money, so Vuong Thuc Lan forced me to sign an extremely harsh prenuptial agreement. It clearly states that all shares and profits of the Chu family company have nothing to do with me. The cruelest provision is: if in a marriage any party is unfaithful, the guilty party will leave empty-handed, giving up all rights to divide common property. At that time, Chu Van Ban held my hand and said firmly:

"Tinh Tinh, this is just a formality, so our parents can rest assured. How can problems arise with our feelings?"

Because of so-called love... I signed. And now, that agreement... is the first gift I give to their entire family.

“Don't remember?” I looked at Chu Van Ban, my voice full of sarcasm. “Do you need me to ask lawyer Truong to send a copy to help you remember?”

"Miss!" Vuong Thuc Lan pointed at me, trembling with anger. "You cruel woman! It turns out you've been planning this for a long time, right?"

“What do I calculate?” I asked back. "Are you planning on giving birth to a child who almost died of bleeding? Or are you planning on giving something that saved my life to someone else?"

“I…” Vuong Thuc Lan's throat was blocked and he couldn't speak anymore.

Chu Duc Hai coughed, trying to stay calm.

"Tinh Tinh, we're all family, there's no need to be so tense. If there's any misunderstanding, please clarify."

“Dad, now there is no misunderstanding.” I looked straight at him. “It's payment.”

Pay. Those two words made Chu Duc Hai's eyes change. He finally realized… I wasn't kidding.

“What do you want anyway?” He asked in a low voice.

“Very simple.” I held up three fingers.

“First, this house, immediately, right now, please everyone move out.”

"Second, the right to raise An An belongs to me. The Chu family must support the child until the age of 18. My lawyer will work with you on the specific level."

“Third…” I stopped, my eyes fell on Chu Van Ban. “Make the deal, leave empty-handed.”

“No way!” Vuong Thuc Lan screamed again. "We paid to repair the house! I am blood of the Chu family! Don't you dare take it away!"

“I can exchange money for house repairs.” I said calmly. “As for you… the law will decide who is the best choice.”

I stood up, not looking at them anymore. The caregiver helped me and prepared to take me back to my room to rest. Chu Van Ban suddenly rushed forward and grabbed my arm tightly.

“Tinh Tinh, do you have to be so cruel?” His eyes were bloodshot. "That photo... you released it, not only me, but the entire Chu family is dead! Do you understand?"

"I get it." I looked at him, every word clear. "I just want everyone... to end their lives."

His hands shook violently. I gently removed his hand.

“Ah yes.” I walked to the door of the room, as if I just remembered something, turned around and smiled. "Forgot to tell you, lawyer Truong has obtained Chu Van Ban's entire rental history and money transfer statements for the last two years. I think... the evidence is enough."

Having finished speaking, I closed the door. Outside, it was dead silent. Immediately after that was Vuong Thuc Lan's angry cry, Chu Duc Hai's angry shout... And the sound of furniture breaking. A family storm... officially begins. The caregiver brought me a cup of warm water and looked at me worriedly.

“Miss Tinh, are you okay?”

“I'm fine.” I received the glass of water. “It's never been this good.”

Once all the rotten, stinky things are flipped up... although the process is ugly, at least the air will become clean. In the afternoon, lawyer Truong called.

"Miss Tinh, the lawyer's letter has been sent. From the Chu family, Chu Duc Hai wants to meet you privately."

"Okay." I replied. “The time and place are for him to decide.”

“Also, the photo you sent, I asked an expert to do a preliminary analysis.” Lawyer Truong's voice became serious. "Miss Tinh, the severity of this matter... may be beyond your expectations. This is no longer a property dispute during divorce, but involves a serious criminal offense."

"I know."

“Are you sure you want to continue? Once started move, there will be no way back. The Chu family… could completely collapse.”

I looked out the window. Downstairs, Chu Duc Hai and Chu Van Ban were hurrying to get in the car. Who do they go see? Looking for a relationship? I smiled softly and said into the phone:

“Lawyer Truong, you don't need to worry about me.”

“What I've been waiting for... is this day.”

“Ah, there is one more thing, please help me investigate.”

“You say it.”

“Help me see if my sister-in-law — Ly Mai — is preparing to get pregnant recently.”

Lawyer Truong paused, clearly not understanding what I meant.

“Okay, I will have the results for you soon.”

I looked at the photo on my phone. In the photo is an old notebook, filled with names, dates and amounts of money. The first line... It is the name of the sister-in-law "weak body, needs ginseng to nourish".