Chapter 16 — Half a Life Lost, Half a Life in Peace

This time, he said softly:

"If she were still alive..."

"Perhaps she will like you very much."

My eye sockets immediately became hot.

"I'm also very grateful to her."

Tham Nghien nodded. Then suddenly said:

"I want to take the nursing exam."

I was stunned. He was a bit shy.

"Your company will probably need someone with expertise in the future."

I looked at him for a long time. Then burst out laughing. That moment. For the first time I felt... Fate doesn't just take away from people. It will also leave in the ruins a seed for a new beginning. Half a year later. My mother-in-law appeared again in front of me. The person who brought her here was Co Minh Xuyen. But not to visit me. It's asking me to accept her into a care center. Co Minh Xuyen stood at the door. His face was full of fatigue.

"There's no one left to take care of mom now."

"Isn't your company providing nursing services?"

"Can you arrange a slightly cheaper package for her?"

I looked at the woman in the wheelchair. She lost a lot of weight. My hair is more than half gray. The old arrogance has almost disappeared. But when he saw me. There were still many complicated emotions in those eyes. And also exploration. I opened the service price list. Co Minh Xuyen immediately breathed a sigh of relief. But I continue:

"Calculated according to market price."

The smile on his face immediately disappeared.

"Sister-in-law..."

"After all, we are all family..."

I raised my eyes to look at him.

"I'm divorced."

Right at that moment. Trieu Lam walked out of the office. Holding a file in his hand. She smiled coldly.

"Co Minh Xuyen."

"Stop playing this game."

"How does your mother treat your sister-in-law? Don't you know in your heart?"

Co Minh Xuyen's face turned red.

"Trieu Lam."

"Whose side are you on anyway?"

Trieu Lam shrugged.

"I'm on the side of the payer."

I almost burst out laughing. Mother-in-law suddenly spoke up. Her voice was much lower than before.

"Do you really not care about me anymore?"

I slowly walked in front of her. Looking at the woman who once cost me my entire life. Then calmly say:

"I'm in charge."

"Just this time..."

"I manage according to the contract."

"I'm taking care of you."

"It's just contracted care."

Tears immediately fell from the mother-in-law's eyes.

"My mother treated me poorly before."

I don't deny it. She choked up and said:

"At that time, my mother was confused."

"It's not nonsense."

I calmly replied.

"Which is sober to bully me."

Her face immediately turned gray. I gave the contract to Co Minh Xuyen.

"If you want to use the service, sign up."

"If you don't want it, take her home."

In the end, Co Minh Xuyen still had to sign. Because no one wants to take care of their mother-in-law for a long time anymore. Even though she is the biological mother. After that, she was placed in a rehabilitation center cooperating with the company. Professional nursing staff. Work according to the process. She finally got the old age she wanted in her previous life. Only this time... It's no longer me using my life in exchange. That evening. She asked the nurse to call me. I picked up the phone. She cried on the phone.

"To Van..."

"I dreamed that in my previous life, you wiped my body for me."

My finger stopped.

"Previous life?"

Her voice trembled.

"I dreamed that you were so skinny that you were just skin and bones..."

"Still changing the bed sheets for mom."

"I dreamed that after I died..."

"I vomited blood."

My heart suddenly sank. Do you also remember your past life? Cry her voice interrupted.

"Mom is wrong."

"Mom shouldn't leave money to Minh Xuyen."

"That money was originally mine."

I said nothing. She really remembered. But so what? Regret comes late... Can't erase the knives that once cut into someone else's heart. Even though in this life those things haven't happened yet. I still remember that painful feeling. Mother-in-law choked up.

"Can I come see mom once?"

I looked out the window. The night sky is very deep. Downstairs company. Tham Nghien is helping Trieu Lam transfer documents. The yellow light fell on his shoulder. Strangely peaceful. I replied softly:

"Impossible."

The other end of the line immediately went silent. I calmly continued:

"You can rest assured that you will be treated."

"The costs will be paid by Co Minh Vien and Co Minh Xuyen."

"And I..."

"I am no longer your daughter-in-law."

"Also no longer her caregiver."

After hanging up. I sat for a long time. Don't cry. I don't feel happy either. Just feel... A debt that lasts for a long, long time. It's finally over. Not long after. Hua Tinh's case had results. Because she participated in swapping babies, hiding and falsifying evidence, she was prosecuted for criminal liability. Tran Le was also sentenced. The day the news was announced. Co Minh Vien came to me again. He was standing downstairs at the company. Just like a stranger.