Chapter 11 — I Don't Need This Family Anymore

Standing in front of the door that was splashed with red paint, the strong chemical smell rushed straight into my nose. I inserted the key and turned it slightly. Inside... devastated. Furniture was overturned, clothes, books, and papers were thrown everywhere, as if they had just been robbed. My heart is getting colder. I walked into the bedroom. The drawer where I hid the notebook... was broken open and was empty. That notebook, my only weapon... disappeared. I stood in the middle of a chaotic room. Not angry. All that remained was... tiredness and disgust to the bone. That so-called "family", like a festering wound, wanted to pull me back into the mud over and over again. It's really enough. I took the phone. Opened a number that had been saved for a long time, but never thought of calling. I pressed call. The bell rang three times. Someone picked up the phone.

“Hello, is it lawyer Luu?”

“I am Hua Tham.”

“I have decided.”

“I will sue my entire family.”

20 Judgments Lawyer Luu is someone I was introduced to during a previous consultation, a famous family lawyer in the city, famous for his sharp working style and extremely rigorous thinking. After listening to my entire story, along with all the evidence I presented — bank statements, call recordings, company front camera videos, police records — the other side was silent for a long time.

“Hua Tham.”

Finally he spoke, his voice unable to hide his excitement, like a hunter who had just spotted the perfect prey.

“This case, if done correctly…”

“It will become an extremely exemplary case law.”

“I only have one request.”

“I want them…”

“For everything they did to me.”

“At the heaviest price.”

"I get it."

Lawyer Luu replied.

“You don't need money.”

“You need a verdict.”

A verdict. A trial... public. I want to strip away everything they hide behind the word "family". Expose it all to light. One month later. I left the motel room. Move into serviced apartment. All the time... spent on work and collecting evidence. First step. Is to break the alliance. The first card... hits Duong Le. A lawyer's envelope. Send it straight to their home. The content is very simple. Request Tu Duong to return the seven hundred thousand illegally transferred. If not... will sue. In the name of representing Luu Ngoc Tran. One move. Enough to make them bite each other. Duong Le collapsed. Had a fierce argument with Tu Duong. When I learned that he relapsed into gambling addiction. Debt three hundred thousand. Even brought debt collectors to find me. Her dream... shattered.

“Study aristocrats”… is just an illusion.

So many years of investment... to nothing. She chooses. Bring along Tu Tinh. Find lawyer Luu. Volunteer to be a witness. Hand over all transfer documents of seventy thousand. And… something even more dangerous. A recording pen. Something she secretly kept for her own protection. It has it all. Luu Ngoc Tran cursed me. My penny-pinching personality. Tu Duong plans to destroy his family. Blame your parents but still take advantage. Even grandma... When she was still awake. Give clear orders. Money... must be left to the nephew. No one else. That recording. It's the final slash. Date of opening of trial. I sit in the plaintiff's seat. Defendant. A line of people. From Ve Quoc. Luu Ngoc Tran. No one has any life left. Lawyer Luu stood up. Calm voice. Make a request. Terminate all family obligations. I present proof. When I was seriously ill. Surname refuse to pay for treatment. Failure to fulfill the duty of care. So I... don't need any duty of care. Request compensation from Tu Duong. Both money and mental damage. For inciting debt collection. Personal threats. Destruction of property. Police and full testimony. Request Luu Ngoc Tran to refund all the money I gave. Two hundred and forty thousand. For five years. In the name of "living expenses". But actually... It was forced. Recording by Duong Le. It's key evidence. The trial… almost crushed one side. Lawyer Luu has strict logic. Complete evidence. The other side… doesn't have a lawyer. There's nothing left to say. When the judge asked. Tu Ve Quoc bowed his head.

“I accept.”

Tu Duong sat down. Face turned white. Only Luu Ngoc Tran... still tried to struggle one last time. She pointed straight at me, screaming wildly, her voice cracking with panic.

"Judge! You can't trust him! He's my child! I raised him for more than twenty years!"

"He sued me, it's unfilial! He will be punished by heaven!"

The wooden hammer knocked down. A cold, dry sound rang out. The judge looked at her. His eyes were devoid of any emotion.