Chapter 3 — From the Ruins, I Rise Brightly

I reconnected the app. The signal is a bit flickering, but the image is still clear enough. In the screen, Chu Khai is restlessly walking in front of the door. Occasionally he looked at his phone, his face full of confidence as if waiting for prey to fall into a trap. He had no idea. What was waiting for him… was not prey. It's the muzzle of a hunter's gun. I leaned back on the sofa and poured another cup of tea. Quietly waiting. About ten minutes later. The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the hallway. Two uniformed policemen appear at the bottom of the frame. Chu Khai also heard it and turned around. When he saw the person coming clearly, the expression on his face immediately froze.

"Police?"

The two quickly approached, their faces serious.

“We received a report of someone causing trouble and intending to enter illegally.”

“Is that you?”

Chu Khai's mind seemed to explode. Report to the police? He looked around, the hallway was empty, just him and two policemen.

"No! It's just a misunderstanding! This is a misunderstanding!"

Chu Khai quickly waved his hand, trying to force a smile that was more unsightly than crying.

"Comrade police officer, I... I just came to find my ex-wife to talk for a bit."

“This is her parents' house.”

The older police officer frowned, his voice even more serious.

"The owner of the On family reported the case, saying he used her parents' safety as a threat, and also intended to pry open the door and set fire."

“You call that ‘a little chat’?”

Pry open the door? Arson? Chu Khai was completely stunned. He never said those words! Wen Qing... that woman... dares to lie like that!

"I don't have it! Absolutely not!"

He frantically explained, sweat pouring down his head.

"This is slander! She said nonsense!"

“We just had a bit of a property dispute after the divorce, I want to find her to clarify!”

“Property dispute?”

The young police officer laughed coldly.

“Miss Wen sent us a copy of the divorce agreement.”

"It's clearly written on there that the two sides have no common property, so I voluntarily left empty-handed."

“There is also your signature and fingerprints underneath.”

“What do you mean by running here to cause trouble now?”

Chu Khai's face immediately turned red like pig liver. He felt like he was being stripped naked in front of the crowd. Every lie, every excuse... was crushed to nothing by the agreement he signed. In the hallway, a few neighbors poked their heads out to watch, pointing and chatting. Those eyes were like needles, making him not know where to go to escape his humiliation.

“Follow us back to the station.”

The older police officer took out handcuffs.

“We need to investigate the matter clearly.”

Cold metal. Chu Khai trembled, the last line of defense completely collapsed.

“No no no, police officer, I was wrong, I was really wrong!”

He almost burst into tears.

“I was just confused for a moment, I don't dare anymore!”

“I'll go now, I'll go immediately!”

He didn't want to go into the station. Cannot leave a criminal record. If not... his life is truly over. Looking at his miserable struggling appearance, I turned off the camera screen. This is just an appetizer. The main party… is still behind. It was already afternoon when Chu Khai left the police station. Even though he was only criticized, educated, signed a commitment and then sent home, that feeling of humiliation... was like a scar carved directly into his heart. He lost his house. Now he almost got thrown into the police station. In just one day, his life fell from above straight into the mud. He staggered down the street, with only a few hundred cash left in his pocket. All his bank cards... have been frozen by me. Those are all joint accounts after marriage. As soon as the divorce agreement took effect, I went through a lawyer to carry out asset preservation procedures. Currently, he is empty-handed and has no home to return to. He took out his phone, instinctively wanting to call me. But even he knew… it was useless. I blocked him a long time ago. He sat down on a roadside bench and lit a cigarette. In the mist, he suddenly thought of someone. The woman who made him do everything to throw me away. The one carrying his “son.” She is hope... also the only way out right now. He pressed call. The bell rang for a long time before anyone heard it.

“Hello, A Khai, are you done yet?”

Lam Vy's voice is still as sweet as before.

“When are we moving into the villa?”

"My parents can't wait anymore. They even said they would invite relatives over for a housewarming dinner tomorrow!"

“Villa”, “new house”.

Those two words were like a knife, cutting straight into Chu Khai's heart. His throat was dry and he couldn't say a word.

"A Khai? Why didn't you say anything?"

Lam Vy began to feel that something was wrong.

“Is something wrong?”

Chu Khai took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

“Vy Vy… something unexpected happened.”

“That villa… we probably… can't live in it anymore.”

The other end of the line was silent. Scary silence. A few seconds later, Lam Vy's voice suddenly turned cold.

“What do you mean you can't move in?”

"Chu Khai! Tell me clearly!"

Chu Khai had to tell everything, but cut out the unfavorable parts and add the beneficial parts. In his words, I became a scheming, cunning person, for the purpose without any tricks. And he... is the one who was deceived and harmed.

“On the red book from beginning to end, there is only her name.”

“She tricked you, she was planning on you from the beginning!”

“Vy Vy, I believe in you, I will definitely get the house back!”

“Give me a little more time!”

He thought that Lam Vy would be like before, gently comforting and standing by his side. But he was wrong.

"Take it back? How do you take it back?"

Lam Vy's voice was cold as ice.

“Chu Khai, are you stupid?”

"I don't know whose name the house is in. You dare to divorce?"

“And even signed the paper empty-handed?”

“I must be blind to see you!”

“I tell you, you can explain things in my house!”

"As for the pregnancy in my belly, before giving birth, I didn't see the villa key... take care of it yourself!"

“Tut… tut… tut…”

The call was cut off. Chu Khai held the phone and stood dumbfounded. Is this... still the same Lam Vy who used to be gentle and pamper him? He feels his world is falling apart piece by piece. After ending the call, confirm from the police. Slowly sent another email. An anonymous email. The recipient is the internal inspection department of Chu Khai company. Title: Accusing sales manager Chu Khai of abusing his position, accepting large amounts of bribes, and appropriating company assets. The content inside clearly lists each problematic project over the past three years. Time, place, partner, amount. Every single item, detailed to the point of being undeniable. The evidence is the recordings I secretly saved... every time he received money and proudly showed it off to me. There was also a "black" income record book that he hid in a secret compartment in the office. I took the photo a long time ago. I understand him too well. A greedy but skeptical person. He doesn't trust electronic devices, only paper and pen. And that... became fatal evidence. This email… is my second gift to him. The house only made him homeless. And this denunciation letter... will destroy his career, his source of income, and everything he has. After finishing everything, I turned off the computer and prepared to take a shower. The phone rings. I picked up the phone and turned it on speaker. The other end of the phone immediately heard the shrill screams of Chu Khai's mother.

"On Tinh! Cruel woman! You rotten heart!"

“You have harmed our Chu family so miserably!”

"Quickly give us back our house! Otherwise I won't leave it alone!"

I didn't say anything, just quietly listened to her curse. Wait until she is tired and panting. I just slowly spoke up.

“Who are you asking?”

“Did you call the wrong number?”

My voice was polite, distant. It's like listening to a meaningless advertising call. The other side was silent. Obviously she didn't expect me to react like that.

"Me! I'm your mother!"

She screamed. I smiled softly.

“Ah, it turns out to be Chu Khai's mother.”

“Sorry, maybe you're wrong.”

“We are divorced, she is no longer my mother.”

“By the way, let me remind you something.”

“If you continue calling to harass and curse, I will immediately report to the police.”

"According to regulations, her behavior constitutes insulting others in public."

“There may be administrative sanctions, even temporary detention.”

Having finished speaking, I didn't wait for her to react and directly hung up. At the same time, drag that number to the block list. With this type of person, reasoning is useless. The more they pay attention, the more momentum they gain. Only when they use the law to threaten them in return will they be afraid and keep their mouths shut. My world… is finally quiet.