Chapter 22 — I Have Conceded Enough

It stared at me.

“Sister.”

“You promised.”

“What promise?”

“Bless you.”

His voice trembled.

“You still have to say it in front of everyone.”

"That you never loved Mr. Tram Le."

The whole hall was silent. Yet he dared not to perform the closing ceremony properly. Or perhaps it did. Luc Tram Le did not actually turn towards it. Only the fact that I personally denied the past gave him peace of mind. Mother quickly advised:

“Tinh Mien, let's do the ceremony first.”

“No.”

Hua Tinh Mien's tears fell.

“If you don't say it, I won't get married.”

The eldest brother frowned.

“Don't make trouble.”

“I'm not causing trouble.”

It looked at me.

“Sister, you promised me.”

“You won't go back on your word, right?”

The eyes of all the guests turned to me. Dad lowered his voice.

“Tri Vi.”

“Do as he says.”

“Don't waste any more time.”

I nodded.

“Okay.”

Hua Tinh Mien finally smiled. The staff gave me the microphone. I take it. Step onto the platform. Luc Tram Le stood to the side, his eyes dark and scary. I looked down at the radio. The Ta family was all there. They finally succeeded again, forcing me into a position where I had to yield. I raised the microphone.

“Hua Tinh Mien wants me to speak.”

"I have never loved Luc Tram Le."

His smile became even brighter. I stopped for a beat.

“But it's a pity.”

“This sentence is fake.”

The entire ceremony hall was silent. The smile on Hua Tinh Mien's face froze. Dad was the first to react.

“Tri Vi.”

His voice was deep.

“Don't talk nonsense.”

I looked at him.

“I don't talk nonsense.”

"I once loved Luc Tram Le."

“I also loved the Ta family.”

Luc Tram Le stood under the stage, the fake calm deep in the bottom of his eyes finally cracked. Hua Tinh Mien clutched the wedding bouquet.

“Sister.”

“I promised you.”

“I promise to bless you.”

“Don't promise to lie.”

Tears fell from her eyes.

"But clearly you promised you would say it in front of everyone."

“I promise to speak my true thoughts.”

“Not the lie you want.”

The eldest brother's face darkened.

“Ta Tri Vi.”

“Today is Tinh Mien's wedding.”

"If there's anything wrong, come down here and talk."

I grabbed the microphone.

“I want to go down too.”

“It's because she refuses to get married.”

“Insist that I speak clearly first.”

The guests' eyes turned to Hua Tinh Mien. His face became increasingly pale. Mother panicked and ran to the radio.

“Tri Vi, I know you have suffered a lot.”

“But today there are so many people.”

“Let the wedding go smoothly first, okay?”

It's "is it okay" again? It sounded like he was asking my opinion. But reality has never given me a second choice. I lowered my head to look at the sapphire bracelet on my wrist. Half of the pearl was cut into a shiny circle. The original feather-shaped body is no longer visible.

“Okay.”

Mom breathed a sigh of relief. I raised my hand. Unlatch the bracelet. Put it in mom's hands.

“Wishing Hua Tinh Mien a happy wedding.”

“I hope you can get whatever you want in the future.”

Hua Tinh Mien's lips trembled.

“Sister, what do you mean?”

“Bless you.”

“Don't you want to hear it?”

“Not like this.”

It struggled to take a step forward.

“You should have said it, sister never loved Tram Le."

"Tell me you're willing to give him to me."

“Say you won't regret it.”

I looked at it.

“Hua Tinh Mien.”

“In the end, she wanted to marry him.”

“Or do you want to hear me admit I lost?”

It was stunned.

“I don't have it.”

“Then get married.”

I put the microphone back on the stand.

“The groom is here.”

“The ring is also on your hand.”

“The wedding dress, the wedding ceremony, the guests, it's all yours.”

“What are you waiting for?”

Hua Tinh Mien did not answer. It turned to look at Luc Tram Le. Luc Tram Le always stared at me.