Chapter 8 — I Just Take Back What Belongs To Me

Tran Lo stopped for a few seconds. I asked softly:

"What else?"

She bit her lip.

"He also said..."

"...you are an honest person, very easy to fool."

"Once the house is transferred, I will divorce you. Until then, I won't be able to do anything."

I was silent for a long time. Very easy to fool... In his eyes... I'm just an "easy to fool" woman. Tran Lo held my hand.

"Miss Lam Niem... I'm sorry."

"I should have told you sooner."

I shook my head slightly.

"Thank you."

Tran Lo nodded.

"I will testify."

"What I know... I will tell everything in court."

I looked at her. Then nodded slightly. The final trial... Tran Lo stepped onto the witness stand. The judge said:

"Invite witnesses to present what they know."

Tran Lo took a deep breath.

"I am Tran Hao's cousin."

"A year ago, I saw him and Chu Nha walking together in the shopping center."

"At that time they held hands and acted very intimately."

She told it all. From seeing the two of them go shopping for handbags, jewelry... To the phone call they accidentally overheard... And then Tran Hao's calculations.

"He once said..."

Tran Lo looked straight at the Trial Council.

"'Sister Lam Niem is very easy to fool.'"

"'If you wait until the house is transferred, you will get a divorce.'"

Tran Hao sat in the defendant's chair. His face was ashen as if he had lost all vitality. He looked at Tran Lo. Lips moved slightly. But couldn't say a single sentence. The judge asked:

"Does the witness confirm that the entire statement just now is true?"

Tran Lo nodded.

"I promise."

"I am willing to accept all legal responsibility for my testimony."

Having finished speaking... She turned to look at Tran Hao. The voice was calm but full of disappointment.

"I won't cover for you anymore."

"What you do..."

"...has crossed the line."

Tran Hao bowed his head. My shoulders trembled every now and then. Chu Nha sat in the audience, her face free of blood. She looked at Tran Lo. Then looked at Tran Hao. In his eyes, there was only hatred left. Finally... She couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Tran Hao!"

"You lied to me!"

"You lied to me for two years!"

The judge immediately knocked his gavel hard.

"Keep order!"

Chu Nha was pulled down by the person next to her. But his mouth still kept muttering.

"You scammer..."

"He's just a scammer..."

Tran Hao still bowed his head. He knows. Everything... It's over. The day of sentencing... It was a beautiful sunny day. I sat in the plaintiff's row. Next to her is Khuong Vy. On the opposite side, Tran Hao sat motionless on the defendant's chair. He was noticeably thinner, his eyes were gray, as if all his strength had been drained. Chu Nha did not come. The judge began reading the sentence.

"Through the trial process, the Court determined that defendant Tran Hao committed adultery during the marriage, a case of serious error."

"At the same time, knowing clearly that a divorce lawsuit was about to take place, the defendant arbitrarily transferred the couple's common property, the house at number XX, XX Street, XX District, to the third person, Chu Nha, without compensation."

"This is an intentional act of dispersing common property, seriously violating the legitimate rights and interests of plaintiff Lam Niem."

"Therefore, the above name transfer is declared invalid and must be cancelled."

Tran Hao's body swayed slightly. The judge continued reading.

"About the division of assets..."

"The deposit of 1,200,000 yuan is determined to be financial Plaintiff's private property before marriage after selling the house left by his father."

"The home loan of nearly 500,000 yuan during the marriage was also mainly paid by the plaintiff."

"The court determined that the plaintiff's contribution to the house exceeded 70%."

The judge paused for a few seconds. Then look straight down at the courtroom.

"Based on the defendant's level of fault as well as the intentional transfer of assets..."

"The court declares as follows."

The entire courtroom was silent.

"The house in dispute is owned by the plaintiff, Ms. Lam Niem."

I gently took a deep breath.

"Defendant Tran Hao has the obligation to coordinate in completing the procedure to transfer the name of the house to the plaintiff."

"Defendant Tran Hao must compensate the plaintiff for mental damage in the amount of 50,000 yuan."

"Reject all remaining claims of the defendant."

The hammer knocked down. The judge said clearly:

"If they do not agree with this judgment, the parties have the right to appeal within 15 days from the date of receipt of the judgment."

The courtroom was silent for a few seconds. Then I heard Tran Hao's voice.

"No way..."

He muttered.

"No way..."

Suddenly, he jumped up.