Chapter 12 — I Overturned My Own Sentence

“But I don't need to be sure.”

“What I need…”

“It's a stage.”

That afternoon, I went to Co Tham's office. I will tell you everything Ton Minh investigated. After listening... Co Tham didn't say anything for a long time. The office was silent for three minutes. After that, Co Tham stood up and walked to the ground-level glass door.

“I know my grandfather left a will.”

“But Tien Vinh Xuong told me that there was no mention of second aunt in the will.”

“He tricked you.”

He turned around.

“Lin Van… no, it should be called Co Van.”

“Just call me Lam Van.”

I calmly replied.

“If my mother chose to leave the Co family, she certainly had her reasons.”

“What is your mother's reason?”

"I do not know."

“You never mentioned it until now.”

Co Tham was silent for a moment.

“When my aunt left, I wasn't even born yet.”

“My father never mentioned her either.”

“Only grandpa will say sometimes…”

He smiled softly.

“‘I have an aunt, very stubborn.’”

He looked at me.

“You are also very stubborn.”

“Like her.”

The corners of his lips curled up very slightly.

“In nine days it will be the Chamber of Commerce banquet.”

“I will arrange everything.”

“I don't need you to arrange it.”

I raised my head to look at him.

“I just need a spot in the door.”

“You want to do it yourself?”

“My enmity…”

“I reported myself.”

For the next nine days, I prepared extremely carefully. Ton Minh helped me organize all the evidence into a complete set of documents. Money laundering chain. Recording by Truong Vy. Records of civil status sealing. Same dual identity of Tien Vinh Xuong. On Friday, Truong Vy called me.

“I agree to testify.”

“You think it through?”

“For three years now I've been having nightmares.”

Her voice trembled.

“Dreaming of you.”

“Dreaming about the trial.”

“Dreaming of your mother kneeling down and burying her head…”

“I don't want to keep hiding anymore.”

Ton Minh immediately arranged for her to sign a written statement. After notarization, the entire thing is sealed and preserved. On the eighth day, Co Tham gave me something. It's a necklace. The silver thread is very thin, the pendant is a piece of blue jade.

“This is what my grandfather left me.”

"In the will appendix there is a photo. On it, grandfather is wearing this necklace."

“After he passed away, I kept it in a safe and never touched it.”

I placed the necklace in my palm. Cool piece of jade. My mother has never worn jewelry in her entire life. She sold vegetables at the market, her hands were full of cold cracks and knife scars. Who has the right to carry things like this? But she was originally... the young lady of the Co family.

“I won't wear it.”

“Wait until everything is over and then talk.”

Co Tham did not force me. On the evening of the ninth day, I stood in front of a small mirror in a cramped rented room. The mirror is too small, only shows the upper half of the body. I wear a black women's suit. It was Ly Nhuoc Lam who lent it to me. When giving the things, she just said:

"Don't ask why I lent it to you. Consider it pleasing to your eyes."

I let my hair down. Her hair, once shaved short in prison, is now past her shoulders. The person in the mirror... is no longer the eighteen-year-old Lam Van anymore. Lam Van that year was naive, weak, and did not understand life. As for Lam Van now... There is only one thing left in her eyes. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Ton Minh.

"Tomorrow's Chamber of Commerce party, your admission papers are ready."

“Position: Analyst of Bang's Strategic Investment department Vien.”

I replied with two words: Then, I sent a text message to another phone number. The recipient is Phuong Tieu Linh. My old roommate. The same person who helped Tran Duyet steal my exam admission notice and identification card. The content of the message is only one sentence:

“Tieu Linh, tomorrow at the Hac Thanh Chamber of Commerce banquet, I have a surprise gift to give to Tran Duyet.”

“Do you want to come see?”

Three minutes later, Phuong Tieu Linh called back. I didn't pick up the phone. She called again. I still don't listen. Very quickly, a message was sent to:

“What do you want to do anyway?”

I replied:

“You'll know when you come.”

Then I turned off the phone. Phuong Tieu Linh will definitely report this to Tran Duyet. But Tran Duyet... will definitely react. Her reaction… It was part of my plan.