Chapter 3 — From the day I reported losing my card, I started a new life

Luu Ngoc Mai's greed. Chu Kha Han's naturalness. No one understands better than me. Holding that card is like a hungry wolf seeing meat - how can you bear it? I turned off the group chat and opened Chu Minh Hien's message. It's all voice messages. I didn't listen, just turned to the text to skim.

“An Nhien, answer the phone quickly!”

“Mom has trouble in the sales department, come over now!”

"You reported your card lost, right? Why did you do that?"

"Do you know how embarrassed my mother is? Everyone is laughing at our house!"

“Transfer money quickly, deposit the apartment first!”

“Hua An Nhien, I order you — immediately!”

From worry... to questioning... then to command. There's no question why I did it. Not a word acknowledging how outrageous his mother's behavior was. In his heart, his mother's reputation is more important than my property and self-esteem. I smiled coldly and exited the chat box. The phone rang again. This time it's Chu Kha Han. I listened, turned on the speaker, and placed it on the table. As soon as they connected, a high-pitched scream tore through the air.

"Hua An Nhien! You cruel woman!"

“You did it on purpose, right?”

"You knew we were going to buy a house, so you reported your card lost, right?"

“You can't bear to see me living well!”

“My mother was so angry that you were about to have a heart attack!”

“Get out here and pay immediately!”

“Otherwise I won't leave it alone!”

I quietly listened to her storm. Waiting until the other party was out of breath from screaming for so long — I slowly spoke up. The voice is light, but each word is clear.

“Chu Kha Han.

First, that card is mine. The money in there is also mine. If I want to report it, then report it — you have no right to interfere. Second, you guys are buying a house, I don't know. There is even no obligation to pay for her vanity. Third, whether or not her mother has heart disease is her family's business. If you're really sick, call an ambulance — don't call me, I'm not a doctor. I paused for a moment, then spoke clearly.

“Tell me to go away and pay?”

“Are you… worthy?”

The other end of the line immediately went silent. Perhaps Chu Kha Han did not expect that her patient sister-in-law would one day say these words. A few seconds later, she screamed even more shrilly.

“You dare talk to me like that?!”

“Hua An Nhien, just wait! I told my brother to divorce you!”

“You will leave empty-handed!”

"Okay."

I smiled softly. Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. The world immediately became quiet again. I finished my work, turned off the computer, grabbed my bag and got ready to leave work. As soon as I walked out of the building, I saw Chu Minh Hien waiting in front of the company door. His face was pale and his eyes were bloodshot. As soon as he saw me, he rushed forward and grabbed my arm tightly.

“Hua An Nhien, you finally appeared!”

"Go! Follow me to the sales room!”

The force of my hand was so strong that my wrist hurt. I frowned and yanked it out.

“Chu Minh Hien, what are you crazy about?”

Colleagues around started looking over and whispering. He also realized, so he lowered his voice but his anger still burned brightly.

“Am I crazy? The crazy one is you!”

“Quickly follow me to solve this matter!”

“Why do I have to go?”

I looked at him, my eyes cold as water.

“Your mother and sister are making fun of themselves — why would you ask me to clean up?”

“Isn't that your card? If I hadn't reported it, what would have happened today would not have happened!

He still tried to argue. I looked at that once familiar face — the first time I felt so strange. Ten five spouses. It turns out I never really understood this man.

“Chu Minh Hien.”

I looked straight into his eyes, my voice was calm and scary.

“Let's… get a divorce.”

His body stiffened. His pupils widened, his face looked like he couldn't believe it.

“What…what did you say?”

I looked at that shock but my heart did not waver. Then slowly, clearly again — we are divorced.” Chu Minh Hien stood frozen on the spot. The anger on his face froze for a split second, giving way to absolute shock and confusion — as if he had just heard a wild story. He muttered those two words over and over again, his voice trembling slightly. The surrounding suddenly became quiet. Dismissed colleagues slowed their steps, curious eyes flickering back and forth between us. I don't want to turn this place into a stage for a bad family drama.

“Let's change places to talk.”

I walked ahead, towards the coffee shop on the corner of the street. Chu Minh Hien seemed lost and quietly followed behind. We chose a seat next to the window. No one said a word. The waiter came to ask for drinks. I ordered a glass of ice water. He didn't call anything — just stared at me. Those eyes were confused: anger, confusion, self-pity... and an unconcealed fear. The glass of water is placed down. Tiny drops of water stick to the glass. I grabbed the glass, feeling the cold air spread from my fingertips to my heart, keeping me absolutely awake. Finally he spoke, his voice hoarse.

“Hua An Nhien, tell me — why?”

“Just for a card?”

“Just because your mother wants to buy your sister a house?”

"In your heart, ten years of love... isn't it worth an apartment?"

The questions came pouring in like bullets. Unfortunately — they all missed the mark. My heart is now armored. I looked up at him.

“Chu Minh Hien.”

“Do you really think… it's just for a card, a house?”

The back question made him choke up. His lips moved slightly, but he couldn't say a word. I laughed - a smile mixed with a bit of coldness.

“It's been ten years.”

“We have been married for ten years.”

“For those ten years, I woke up every day at six in the morning, cooked breakfast for you and your mother, and then went to work.”

"After work at seven o'clock at night, I go to the market again, cook, wash dishes, clean the house, clean up all the mess."

“Your mother just needs to be a little tired, the first person to take her to the hospital and stay up all night waiting in line to register — is me.”

“Your sister had an argument with her boyfriend and called her crying in the middle of the night — that's why I went to the bar to drag her back.”

"You were stuck at work. I stayed up several nights to help you come up with a plan and find a relationship."

"You failed to start a business and had a lot of debt - the person who used all your savings to pay for it was still me."

“Inside and out, up and down, the size of that house — is there anything that is not up to me?”

My voice was not high, but each word fell as heavy as a stone. Chu Minh Hien's face turned pale little by little. Eyes began to avoid.

“I used to think… what I gave would be in return for respect and recognition from your family.”

“I used to believe that we were equal partners, family members who could rely on each other.”

“But I was wrong.”

“Ridiculously wrong.”