Chapter 2 — From the Ruins, I Rise Brightly

“Third, it is also the most important thing.”

"The divorce agreement that you signed yesterday clearly stated: between us there are no common assets, no common real estate, and no common debt."

Those four words... were like a bolt of lightning across the sky. Beating the three members of the Chu family, they stood frozen on the spot. Chu Khai's eyes were bloodshot, blue veins bulging out, looking like a cornered animal. He took out his phone, his hands shaking with anger. He wants to call me. Want to question me. Want to scold me. The call is connected. On the phone, a cold, mechanical female voice rang out:

“Sorry, the subscriber you called is currently switched off.”

He was not willing and called back again and again. The result… is still only one.

“Sorry, the subscriber you called is currently switched off.”

Chu Khai roared like a wild beast. He wants to destroy. But looking around... there was only a small wooden table left in the whole house. He rushed forward and kicked hard. The table crashed to the ground. The red book and letter were scattered. The bright red notebook lay there, as if silently mocking his stupidity and helplessness. His mother sat down on the floor and began to cry loudly, crying and banging her hands on the ground.

“Where is my villa!”

“Where is my new home!”

"That girl, Wen Qing! She's playing with us!"

"Chu Khai, you're such a useless thing! Being turned around like a pinwheel by a woman!"

Chu Le also burst into tears.

“Brother, what should I do now?”

“The house in my hometown has also been sold!”

At that moment, Chu Khai's phone suddenly rang. He thought I was calling back and quickly picked up the phone. On the other end of the line came a polite, cold male voice:

“Hello, are you Mr. Chu Khai?”

“We are the security center of the villa area.”

"We received a notice from the homeowner, Ms. On Tinh, and at the same time the system also issued a warning about someone illegally entering apartment A7."

“The camera recorded that you guys have been in the house for fourteen minutes.”

“Please leave within a minute.”

“If not, we will report to the police according to regulations.”

The call from management... became the last straw that crushed everything. Report to the police. Those two words were like a curse, tightly wrapped around Chu Khai's mind. He may lose face. But it is absolutely unacceptable to be "invited" out of this place by the police. If that happens... it will be a stain that will follow him for the rest of his life. Chu Khai gritted his teeth and blurted out one word. His voice was hoarse, filled with resentment and unwillingness. His mother was still lying on the floor, crying and screaming.

“I'm not going!”

“This is my son's house!”

“I won't go even if I die!”

"Just call the police! Let them judge!"

Chu Khai immediately grabbed her and pulled her up.

"Mom! Do you really want to be arrested?"

The strength of his hands was terrifyingly strong, his eyes were blood red, looking like he wanted to devour someone. His mother was so scared that she choked on her tears. Chu Le was also so scared that she didn't dare open her mouth, so she quickly pulled her suitcase and ran out. The family of three staggered, jostled, and struggled to escape the villa. The moment they walked out the door. Smart locks automatically lock. The door slammed shut behind them. They… were blocked outside. Ten minutes ago, they boldly walked in, thinking they were the owners of this place. Ten minutes later, they were kicked out again like people with no place to live. The fall was too strong, causing Chu Khai almost crazy. He turned his head and stared at the closed door, his eyes as if he wanted to burn everything. He gritted his teeth and called my name.

“I will not forgive you!”

And now. I'm sitting in a bright, tidy apartment. Not big, but the windows are wide, sunlight pouring in is warm and strangely peaceful. On the table is a steaming cup of Long Tinh tea. Next to it, the tablet is broadcasting clear images from the camera in front of the villa's door. I watched the Chu family flee in panic. Slowly raise the tea cup. Every word they said, every expression, every greed and stupidity... I heard it clearly. It's all within my expectations. Three years of marriage. Enough for me to see through the nature of that entire family. I took a sip of tea. The cool taste of tea spreads on the tip of the tongue. In the past three years… this is the first time I've felt the air breathe so easily. Life... also becomes so gentle. On the screen, Chu Khai was still unwilling, banging on the door like a lunatic. I put down my cup of tea and picked up my phone. Make a call.

“Lawyer Tran, it's me.”

On the other end of the line, a deep male voice rang out.

“Hello Miss On, good morning.”

“Is everything going well?”

Lawyer Tran is someone I have prepared in advance. All issues related to property are handled by him. Making sure my plan… doesn't have any loopholes.

“Very convenient.”

“I have already solved it.”

“The remaining things, please continue to monitor for me.”

“That is my responsibility.”

He paused for a moment, then reminded:

“But I still have to say it first.”

“With Zhou Kai's personality, he won't let it go easily.”

“You should be on guard… in case he's reckless.”

I smiled softly.

“Rest assured, lawyer Tran.”

“I'm waiting for him to take that risk.”

I hung up. Turn off the camera screen. I don't want to see those dirty faces anymore. I stood up, stretched, and walked to the window. Downstairs, traffic is busy. A whole new world… is opening up before my eyes. The world belongs to me alone. But that peace... didn't last long. The phone rang once. A message. On the screen is a photo. The scene was so familiar that it made my heart ache slightly. The old house where my parents used to live. In the photo, in front of the house that has been uninhabited for a long time... there is a figure standing there. Below is a message.

“I can escape, what about them?”

He thought my parents were still there. He wanted to come and harass them. Even though they are gone... that place is still my last memory. It's the last piece of peace I keep. He was reaching my final limit. I tightened my grip on the phone. Finger joints turn white. A fire... smoldering in my heart suddenly flared up violently. Chu Khai's threat was like a poisoned knife, piercing straight into the softest place in my heart. My parents. That is my weakness... also my final limit. He thought he had grasped the fatal point. I thought I would panic and kneel down to beg. Thought we could finally turn the tables. He miscalculated one thing. The lost weakness... will become the toughest armor. And the fool who dares to touch that limit... can only receive the cruelest retaliation. I looked at the phone screen, where he stood in front of the old, patchy door. On the face is a provocative, cruel smile. The blood in my body grew cold little by little. But the anger in my heart... burned more fiercely than ever. I don't reply to messages. Didn't call him back either. I just calmly opened my contacts and found a phone number. Huong Duong Street Police Station, South of the city. The call was quickly connected.

“Hello, Huong Duong police station please listen.”

I adjusted my breathing, letting my voice carry just enough panic and trepidation.

“Hello police officer, I want to report a case.”

“My last name is On, On is warm.”

“The thing is… I just received a threatening text message from my ex-husband.”

“He is currently standing in front of my parents' house.”

“Address is Huong Duong area, building 3, unit 2, room 401.”

“He said… if I didn't show up, he would hurt my parents.”

The other end of the line immediately became serious.

“Miss On, please calm down and explain the situation clearly.”

“Are your parents at home now?”

"Do not have."

My voice trembled so much that I almost believed it to be true.

"My parents are old and not in good health. I welcomed them to stay with me a long time ago."

“That old house has been vacant for a long time.”

“My ex-husband knows this… but right now he is very agitated.”

“We just got divorced today, maybe he's excited.”

“In the photo he sent, I saw that he seemed to be prying open the door.”

“I'm afraid… I'm afraid he'll do something out of control, like start a fire.”

"That house is very old, the neighbors are all elderly people, I'm really worried."

I brought out all the worst possibilities and said them in the weakest tone. Dealing with people like him... must use even more cruel methods. Does he want to harass me? So I will directly label him as a "threat to public safety".

“Okay, Miss Wen, we have a clear understanding of the situation.”

“Don't worry, we will send someone over immediately.”

“Please stay on the phone, we may need further verification.”

“Thank you, thank you police officer!”

I hung up the phone and let out a long breath. Then open an old album in your phone. That's a mini camera I used to install on the door of my old house, pretending to be a doorbell. After my parents passed away, I still haven't taken it down.