Chapter 14 — From the day I reported losing my card, I started a new life

Lam Man snapped her fingers.

“My investigators are top-notch.”

“If they ever do it — it will definitely leave a mark.”

“Wait for my trust.”

Saying goodbye to Lam Man, I didn't go back to the hotel. But drove straight to my parents' house. About the divorce — I haven't talked about it yet. Pushing the door open, mother was busy in the kitchen. Seeing me, she stopped.

"An Nhien? Isn't today a working day? Why are you home?"

“I miss mom...so let's stop by.”

I smiled and hugged her from behind. Dad also came out of the study room.

"An Nhien is back? That's great - you two will have a few drinks tonight."

Looking at their gentle faces, my nose stung. For the past ten years... because of that fake "family", I have owed them too much. During dinner, I told the story of my divorce. Try to speak softly. But parents still hear the storm behind. My mother's eyes immediately turned red.

“That guy Chu Minh Hien deserves to die!”

"In the past, we were truly blind to marry our children to him!"

"Very good divorce! Very good!"

Dad was silent for a long time. Finally, he patted my hand hard.

“It's good to be back.”

“This place — forever is my home.”

"Whoever bullies you, just tell dad. Dad has your back."

That night, I slept in my childhood room. The smell of sunshine on the blanket made my heart feel peaceful like never before. The next day, I returned to the company to handle the backlog. The way my colleagues looked at me was somewhat strange. I know — the riot the day Chu Minh Hien blocked the gate must have spread everywhere. But I don't mind. A righteous person is not afraid of slanting shadows. In the afternoon, Lam Man called.

“An Nhien, come to my office.”

“I have something interesting for you to see.”

I immediately abandoned my work and ran over. In the office, she gave me a thick envelope. A series of photos fell down. In the photo — Chu Minh Hien and Lieu Y Y. At the restaurant, he gently cut a steak for her. In the park, he smiled, wiping the cream off the corner of her lips. At the shopping center, he carried large and small bags and followed behind. Hand in hand. Brilliant smile. Just like a couple in passionate love. Shooting period — lasted for two years. Those two years... were when I stayed awake because of the project. That's when I cried because I was oppressed by my mother-in-law. That's when I saved every penny to build that house. As for my husband — enjoying it all with another woman. My hand tightened around the stack of photos. Nails dug deep into palms.

“And this.”

Lam Man gave another set of documents. Rental contract. Address — a luxury apartment right in the center. Tenant — Lease term — two years. Rent per month — fifteen thousand yuan.

“We have checked the cash flow from Chu Minh Hien's secret account.”

Lam Man spoke, her voice steady and sharp as a knife.

“Every month he transfers thirty thousand to Lieu Y Y.”

“Fifteen thousand to pay the rent.

The remaining fifteen thousand — is her living expenses.”

“Two years combined… seven hundred and twenty thousand.”

“And that's not all — he also bought her a bag for two hundred thousand, and a watch for three hundred thousand.”

“All have clear card swipe receipts.”

Lam Man's voice was still calm and coldly professional.

“This amount of money — according to the law — is the common property of husband and wife.”

“An Nhien, we now have a hundred percent basis to force him to give up every penny.”

I looked at those emotionless numbers. Look at the address on the rental contract. One thought madness — but extreme sanity — quietly sprouted in my heart. I took the car keys and stood up.

“Senior sister, do me a favor.”

“Confirm whether… Lieu Y Y is at this address.”

Lam Man paused slightly, then immediately understood. She picked up the phone and called. A few minutes later, she hung up and nodded.

“The investigator said — she didn't go out this afternoon.”

“That's good.”

The corner of my lips curled up into a cold line.

“Let's go see her.”

“It's time for… the remaining heroine of this play to come into the light.”

I looked through the glass window — the city was still as noisy as usual. Only this time, there is no longer a storm in my heart. There was only calm before the opening hour. A ten-year drama has come to an end. But the retribution — has only just begun. This luxury apartment complex has an extremely strict security system. Lam Man and I were stopped right at the gate - without a resident card, we were exempted from entering. But that... has never been an obstacle for me. I opened my phone and sent Chu Minh Hien a text message:

“I'm standing under the building where you rented a house for Lieu Y Y.”

“Give me ten minutes.”

“If you don't come down to pick me up — I'll print a thousand photos of you two and give them to everyone who comes in and out here.”

The message was sent less than a minute ago — the phone rang. Chu Minh Hien's voice burst out, distorted in panic.

"An Nhien! You... how do you know this place?!"

“It doesn't matter what I know.”

My voice was flat.

“The important thing is — I arrived.”

“You have nine minutes left now.”

I hung up. Look up at the building entrance. Silently counting down in my heart. In less than five minutes — Chu Minh Hien rushed out as if being chased by a ghost. Messy hair. Face turned white. When he saw me — and Lam Man standing next to him — he almost turned to stone.

“An Nhien… why did you… bring a lawyer here?”

“Aren't we already… divorced?”

“Yes, divorced.”

I smiled.

“But the accounts between us — are still not settled.”

“Lead me up.”

My voice doesn't allow for refusal.

“No… no!”

He blurted out instinctively.

“Up there… there's no one.”

I gently held up the envelope in my hand.

“That's even better — go up there and we'll look at the pictures and talk.”

His body trembled visibly. Eyes full of despair. He understood — the retreat was completely blocked. Finally, he gritted his teeth, turned around and led us inside. In the elevator — the air was so thick it could be crushed with your hands. Chu Minh Hien's back was soaked with sweat. He trembled as he opened the door to apartment 1808. As soon as the door opened — a delicate perfume smell filled the air. The apartment is decorated in the popular “milk cream” style — warm, soft… and expensive. On the living room sofa, a woman wearing a silk robe is applying a face mask and leisurely watching TV. Hearing the noise, she turned her head. The moment he saw me — the mask almost fell off his face. Compared to when she was in college — she's more beautiful. More refined. She looked at me, then looked at Chu Minh Hien and Lam Man behind her. A flash of panic flashed... but disappeared quickly. Even — she smiled.

"An Nhien? Long time no see."

“Why did you come here?”

The tone was so natural — as if receiving an old friend. As if she were the female owner of this house. As for me — just a passerby. I have to admit... her mentality is really strong.

“I came to get my things back.”

I Step in, slowly observe. Her eyes stopped on the three hundred thousand watch on her wrist. The bag of two hundred thousand was placed next to the sofa. Then go through every expensive piece of furniture in this house rented for fifteen thousand per month. I gently pointed.

“These…”

Pause for a beat. My voice was light — but sharp as a knife blade just unsheathed.

“They were all bought with my money.”

“It was all… bought with my money.”

“Now — I want everything back one by one.”

The smile on Lieu Y Y's lips finally stiffened. She looked at Chu Minh Hien, her eyes flickering for help. But he just bowed his head, not daring to say a word.

“An Nhien, what do you mean by this?”

Lieu Y Y stood up and ripped the mask off her face.

“I don't understand what you're talking about.”

“These things were all given to me by Minh Hien.”

“He volunteered.”

"Oh? Really?"

Lam Man stepped up and placed a stack of documents firmly on the coffee table.

“Miss Lieu, then let's talk about the law.”

"According to the regulations, during the marriage period, if one party arbitrarily gives common property to another without serving daily needs, that act violates the rights of the other."

“The person who has been violated has the right to request a refund.”

“In the past two years, the total value of assets Chu Minh Hien transferred to you has exceeded one million yuan.”

"This money is the joint property of him and Ms. Hua An Nhien."

“Currently, my client requests a full refund.”

Lam Man's words were like a hammer blow straight down. Lieu Y Y's face immediately turned pale.

“No… no way!”

"I didn't know! I didn't know he wasn't divorced yet!"

She started to deny it.

"He said his feelings for her had long since ended, and the two of them were still going through divorce proceedings!"

“He tricked me!”

In just one sentence, she pushed all responsibility onto Chu Minh Hien. His body staggered slightly. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with disbelief. The woman he used his money to build, was the place he sought to hide from - when the storm came, she was the one who stabbed the knife first.

“Y Y…” he said hoarsely.

“Shut up!”