Chapter 1 — Fireworks Don't Light the Way Back

I had just had an abortion, got on a flight abroad and received a 52 yuan (about 200,000 VND) red envelope from my tycoon husband.

“Secretary Tong accidentally forgot about your sister's surgery fee, here's some compensation.”

“This time it was your own problem. Next time you spend more than 200 yuan, remember to ask Secretary Tong's permission first.”

"Why don't you reply to the message? Khuong Yen, don't think that since you're pregnant with my child, you can do whatever you want."

“Tomorrow you have to come forward and correct yourself, the matter of your sister going to the emergency room has nothing to do with Secretary Tong, if the surgery is a few days late, no one will die.”

I ignored it, turned off the phone screen and closed my eyes to meditate. A moment later, the phone rang frantically.

"Why aren't you at home? Where are you running to so late?"

“Listen to the phone, Khuong Yen. If you don't listen, I'll have someone kick your sister with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis out of the hospital!”

After countless messages and calls went silent, Chu Kinh Ngoc rushed to the nursing home despite everything. Because he knows, I will absolutely never abandon my seriously ill sister. Looking at the empty hospital room, he randomly grabbed a nurse and urgently asked:

“Where is the patient in this bed?”

The nurse looked at him in surprise:

"Don't you know? She was in critical condition, her family called all night and couldn't raise enough money for emergency treatment, she passed away."

After speaking, Chu Kinh Ngoc was shocked and his face turned pale. Only then did he remember that five days ago, my sister's illness suddenly became worse. I called him to ask him for 300,000 (more than 1 billion VND) for surgery, but secretary Tong Tinh Van hid it and didn't report it. He chose to cover for the female secretary, and I said I wanted a divorce, which was telling the truth. … But at that time, he only coldly responded to me with three words:

“Don't cause trouble.”

When talking to me, Chu Kinh Ngoc's eyes never left the laptop screen. It seems that those dry electronic data are more interesting than talking to your wife. I lowered my eyes and spoke firmly: "I'm seriously talking to you. I want a divorce." Chu Kinh Ngoc took a deep breath, stood up, his expression indifferent:

“Just because of a little matter, you scream loudly demanding a divorce?”

Seeing that I didn't answer, he frowned and continued:

“Your sister's temporary suspension of treatment was with my consent, it has nothing to do with Tinh Van, she was just following orders.”

“If it weren't for you running into the company a few days ago and causing a ruckus, I wouldn't have done it either.”

"Just now, I sent someone to rehab for treatment. I'm very busy, and I don't have time to watch you do things to me."

Not waiting for me to answer, he turned and left. He thought that my request for divorce was just a sulking. I'm sure that soon I will throw away my pride and bow my head to admit my mistakes. If it were three days ago, after hearing Chu Kinh Ngoc say that, maybe I would still be obsequious and humbly trying to please him. Remembering that day in the hospital hallway, I carried my pregnant belly and begged him not to hang up.

“Chu Kinh Ngoc, lend me 300,000. This surgery is very important for my sister. If it is successful, she can walk again.”

But he was still calm and grumpy on the phone:

"How many times have I told you? If you need money urgently, go find Secretary Tong. How dare she not give it to you?"

Get the money from Tong Tinh Van first Nowadays, it's still as difficult as picking stars from the sky.

"300,000 is not a small amount of money, sister. You don't have a receipt, how can I confirm that this money is really used for surgery?"

I explained that it was an advance payment from the hospital, only when you leave the hospital will you have a receipt. She smirked again:

"I don't doubt you, it's just that in the past I've seen people falsifying purposes and falsifying books. President Chu's reputation is very noble, I have to strictly check on behalf of my boss."

"Furthermore, President Zhou stipulates that all personal expenses over 200 yuan must be reported to him. Just add the hospital certificate, then I will report it for you."

Later, when I added all the documents, I waited for a long time and couldn't find any hospital fees so I had to call to urge her, then she acted like she suddenly remembered:

"Ah, sister, I was so busy that I forgot about it. You don't blame me, do you?"

Just like that, my sister missed out on a compatible kidney source. The doctor said that was her last chance to wait for a suitable organ. But because the money didn't arrive in her account, my sister's only hope of restoring her health was shattered. At that moment I finally made a decision: I had to get a divorce. I stood at the study door and called Chu Kinh Ngoc one last time:

“Tomorrow morning at ten o'clock, meet at the civil affairs department.”

Chu Kinh Ngoc's steps stopped, he turned his head to look at me, his eyes cold.

“Khuong Yen, before threatening divorce, think carefully about who you are depending on now.”

“Your sister's future treatment will still cost money, and you're still pregnant with my child.”

“Don't make so much noise that there's no way back.”

After speaking, his phone rang. He picked up the phone, his tone immediately softened:

"Tinh Van, it's not your fault, the rules were set by me. If she wants to blame, blame me."

“Don't cry anymore, I'll take you shopping tomorrow, you can buy whatever you want.”

I heard him gently coaxing her, a dull pain suddenly appeared in her lower abdomen. These past few days, I've been busy taking care of my sister's affairs, so I forgot to go for a prenatal check-up. At this time, the phone screen lit up. It was a message from the hospital: *[Miss Khuong, you are seven weeks pregnant, please come to the prenatal check-up on time.]* The next day, Chu Kinh Ngoc did not go to the civil affairs department. The message was sent, and he didn't reply until twelve o'clock in the afternoon: *[Going for a walk with Tinh Van, very busy.]* *[If you really want a divorce, just apply to court.]* I didn't answer him, went straight to the hospital. My sister lay in the hospital bed, her fingers could barely move anymore. She was clearly only five years older than me, but because of chemotherapy, her head was shaved, and her whole body was emaciated. Seeing me, she tried to smile.

“Yen Yen, I won't treat you anymore.”

The edges of my eyes immediately turned red.

“Sister, don't say such things.”

My parents died early, my sister raised me alone. It's clear that she's just a child, yet she has to work to earn money to pay my tuition and protect me from the rain and wind. The doctor called me into the hallway.

"The situation is not very positive, it cannot last any longer. You must prepare for the costs of further treatment as soon as possible."

I nodded and sold the last wedding ring on my body. After checking the goods, the staff only offered a very low price. As soon as I had the money in my hand, I glanced at Tong Tinh Van's circle of friends. In the photo, she is carrying several bags luxury brand bags, standing in front of a mirror in a shopping mall, smiling sweetly. The status line was: *[President Zhou said, you are his face, so he insisted on buying you these things.]* I stared for a long time, until the screen automatically went black. In the afternoon, Tong Tinh Van arrived at the hospital, smiling proudly:

"Miss Khuong, President Chu told me to come confirm if your sister still needs to continue treatment now."

"Anyway, money has to be spent on people who are worth it. I have to re-evaluate this fee."