Chapter 1 — I Have Conceded Enough

My adopted sister wanted my fiance, I nodded and said okay. The day I returned home, my adopted sister, wearing a wedding dress originally designed for me, asked me if I could give her my fiance. Her biological mother stood next to her and advised in a low voice:

“Tri Vi, Tinh Mien's mood has just stabilized, don't provoke it.”

The eldest brother stood in front of Hua Tinh Mien, his eyes lowered:

“It's just a marriage contract, not enough to make a fuss about life and death.”

Luc Tram Le stood by the window, not saying a word. They were all waiting for me to go crazy. I lowered my head to look at the diamond ring on my ring finger, slowly taking it off.

“Okay.”

1

Hua Tinh Mien was stunned. Maybe she didn't expect me to agree so decisively. It was wearing a silver-white fishtail tuxedo, the waist was very tight, and the pleated skirt sparkled like broken water drops. That is a design sketch drawn by myself. Because of today's engagement party, I've fixed it seventeen times. Hua Tinh Mien wears it a little loose. But it's okay. Dress can be repaired. The fiance can also change. I walked in front of her, pulled her cold hand up, and placed the ring in her palm.

“Take it.”

Hua Tinh Mien's fingers trembled, the ring almost fell to the ground. My mother reflexively caught the baby.

“Tinh Mien, be careful.”

Still familiar movements. It was as if what Hua Tinh Mien was holding was not a ring, but a crystal heart that was always about to break. What about me? I sat on a plane for more than ten hours, and before I got off the bus, before I could even drink a sip of water, the driver took me straight to this hotel. No one asked me if I was tired. No one realized that I had only one old toolbox with me. No luggage at all.

“You… you…”

Hua Tinh Mien's eyes were red, her voice trembled pitifully.

“I have no intention of stealing your things.”

I nodded.

“I know.”

The girl bit her lip, tears falling.

"I've been away from home for a year, Mr. Tram Le has always taken good care of me."

"I don't even know when I liked him."

"Perhaps when I have nightmares and wake up in the middle of the night, he is still on duty outside the hospital room."

"It's also possible that when my wrist hurts and I can't sleep, he's there to talk to me."

Saying that, her sleeve slid up a little. On her white wrist, there was a faint scar. A year ago, she used this cut to push me abroad. That day, Hua Tinh Mien held the jade brooch that Luc Tram Le gave me and stood crying at the edge of the terrace. She said she just wanted to borrow it for a day. I refuse. During the struggle, the brooch fell downstairs. I reached out to grab his wrist, but he screamed miserably and fell to the ground. That night, she cut her wrists and committed suicide. In the suicide note, there was only one sentence left. She said she shouldn't dream about owning her sister's things. So everyone thought it was me who forced it. The eldest brother stripped me of my position at the company. My biological mother cried and asked me why I couldn't tolerate a younger sister without parents. My biological father sent me to a foreign branch that night. He said, when will I learn to understand? If you give in to others, then show your face. I was there for a full year. Now, I have learned. Whatever Hua Tinh Mien wants, I give it.

“Tri Vi.”

Luc Tram Le finally spoke up. He walked closer from the window, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

“We can discuss this again.”

I looked at him. After a year of not seeing him, it seemed like nothing had changed. The dark suit and cufflinks are still the pair I gave him for his twenty-third birthday. He didn't take it off. Not necessarily because of nostalgia. Probably just forgot about it.

“Discuss what?” I asked.

Luc Tram Le paused.

“Engagement is not a joke.”

"Tinh Mien was just excited, you don't have to think it's true."

Hua Tinh Mien's face immediately turned pale.

"Mr. Tram Le, I..."

Luc Tram Le glanced at the girl, then turned his eyes back to me.

“Tri Vi, take the ring back first.”

I understand. He didn't want to refuse Hua Tinh Mien. He just felt, I agreed too quickly. So fast that he couldn't feel the satisfaction of having two women fighting over him. Before, when Hua Tinh Mien looked at him a little more, my face darkened. She called him in the middle of the night, I'll block his number immediately. She pretended to be sick and forced him to take her to the hospital. I could stand in front of the emergency room and argue with him all night. At that time, everyone said I was jealous, cruel, petty, and not like an older sister. But now I don't fight anymore. He became unfamiliar again.

“The ring has already been given to him.”

I glanced at Hua Tinh Mien.

“You should go stand there too.”

The resting room fell silent in the blink of an eye. Luc Tram Le's face darkened.

“Ta Tri Vi, do you have to talk like this?”

“What kind?”

“Yin and yang monster, deliberately making everyone here feel awkward.”

I really don't understand.

“Don't you want me to give in?”

My mother finally couldn't listen anymore.

“We just want you to temporarily calm Tinh Mien's mood, not tell you to make things turn into this.”

“So how should it be completed to be satisfied?”

I seriously ask for advice.

“Do I have to cry and beg Luc Tram Le not to choose it?”

“Or should I give him a slap, and then you guys send him abroad for another year?”

My mother's face turned pale.

“Tri Vi!”

The eldest brother took a step forward, blocking his mother's face.

“The past is over, let it go.”

"How many guests are attending today? The elders of the Ta and Luc families are all out there."

“Now you make a fuss, the ones who will lose face are all of us.”

I looked at him. A year ago, he said the same thing. Hua Tinh Mien cut her wrists, the Ta family could not bear this loss of face. So the one who got kicked out was me. Now that Hua Tinh Mien wants my fiance, the Ta family is still afraid of losing face. So the one who has to step back is still me. Very fair. At least it's still fair. I put my handbag on the table and opened it. Inside there was a new phone SIM card that was renewed after returning home, a set of keys, and a signed contract. The eldest brother stared at the corner of the paper.

“What is that?”

I closed my bag.

“Work documents.”

He frowned I was about to ask again when the door opened and the banquet hall manager knocked and walked in.

"Mr. Thank you, the guests are full."

“Did the engagement ceremony start as planned?”

Everyone was silent. The original planned bride was me. But now the ring is in Hua Tinh Mien's hand, and the wedding dress is also on her body. The eldest brother looked at me.

“Tri Vi, go change first.”

“Today's ceremony is canceled, just tell the outside that you are not well.”

Hua Tinh Mien's fingers suddenly tightened. Obviously she didn't expect that she was wearing a wedding dress and had a ring in her hand, but the ceremony was canceled.

“Second brother.”