Chapter 3 — I Tear Up The Script They Wrote For My Life

The person walked in... She was wearing a very neat dress, carrying a basket of food in her hand. The appearance was so familiar that it was like returning to my daughter's home. As soon as she entered, she naturally changed her slippers. I hid in the closet, not even daring to breathe. Why are you here? Chu Minh once said that his parents lived in the countryside, and my mother had never been to this rented apartment. My mother sang softly and put food in the refrigerator. She conveniently picked up Chu Minh's shirt from the chair and folded it neatly. The movements were so proficient that it looked like he had done them hundreds of times. My heart sank little by little. Then, she took out her phone to call someone.

“Hello, Tieu Chu.”

That tone... It's a kind of intimacy and gentleness that I've never heard before.

"Um, I'm home, I've finished cleaning everything for you."

“How are you and Dinh Dinh?”

"What? Has Hua Dien locked her card?"

My mother's voice immediately rose, carrying a harsh tone.

“That useless girl really screwed up!”

“I told you I couldn't raise him!”

“Don't worry, Tieu Chu, listen to what I have to say.”

She lowered her voice and began to comfort Chu Minh on the other end of the line.

"Let Dinh Dinh figure out how to pay the bill first. Swiping a credit card is fine, borrowing from a friend is fine."

"At this point, we can't ruin big things because of a small amount of money."

"Don't worry, let me handle Hua Dien's side."

“That girl listens to her aunt the most.”

"Auntie told him to take out the money, he didn't dare not give it."

"The old house his father left him, the red book is still in my aunt's hand."

"Wait until the transfer of names is over. Isn't the deposit for the two of you enough to buy a house?"

"In the future, you two will get married and live well together, I can rest assured."

In the closet, my whole body was cold. It's like being submerged in an ice hole. My mother also participated in this. Maybe she was one of the people behind it all.

The “big thing” she said…

That's cheating and taking away the only house my father left me. Then they forced me to leave empty-handed, paving the way for their so-called "true love". Whose daughter am I anyway? On the other end of the line, Chu Minh seemed to say something. My mother laughed.

"Tieu Chu still understands things, a hundred times better than that girl."

“Okay, you two should deal with the matter in Haidilao first.”

“I will talk frankly with him tonight.”

“It won't work.”

After hanging up the phone, my mother was clearly in a good mood and went straight to the bedroom. She pulled out a chair in front of the dressing table and sat down, looking at herself in the mirror. Then I suddenly picked up my most expensive bottle of skin care essence and applied it to my face. While rubbing and muttering.

“This damn brat only knows how to buy expensive things.”

"I also don't know how to save money to later pay for my brother's marriage."

I don't have a younger brother. My parents only gave birth to me.

The “little brother” she was talking about…

He's my uncle's parasitic son. It turns out she planned my house... Not just for Chu Minh. But also for the so-called "continuing the family line" for her mother's family. I clenched my fist. Nails dug deep into the skin until it hurt. I pushed the closet door open a small crack. My mother was still looking at herself in the mirror, completely unaware. I looked at her back. The person I called "mother" for more than twenty years. This moment... It's so strange and scary that it makes me cold. She is still calculating. Figure out how to wring the last drop of blood from me. She didn't know that all her plans... I heard every word clearly. She didn't even know. The daughter she said "couldn't escape"... was now standing right behind her. In my hand... I still hold a notebook that is strong enough to drag them all to hell. I walked out of the closet. Not making a single sound. My mother was still lost in her own calculations.

“Hua Dien.”

I called out softly. Her whole body immediately stiffened. Through the mirror, she saw me standing behind her. Her face instantly turned pale. Panic. Panic. Can't believe it.

“You… why are you here?”

She stuttered and asked, even the bottle of essence in her hand almost dropped.

“This is your home, why can't you stay here?”

I walked towards her step by step.

“Mom, who did you call just now?”

“No… don't call anyone.”

Her eyes avoided, not daring to look at me.

“Just friends.”

I pulled out the chair next to me and sat down.

“I thought it was Chu Minh.”

My mother's face turned a little whiter.

“You… you heard everything?”

“I heard it all.”

I calmly looked at her.

“I heard mom say you're an adopted child who doesn't know you well.”

"I heard mom wants to cheat me of the house dad left me."

"I heard mom wants to take your money to marry her useless grandchild."

Every sentence I said was like a hammer hitting her straight in the body. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain.

“Dien Dien, please listen to what I say…”

“Explain?”

I interrupted.

“Explain why you teamed up with outsiders to plot against your own daughter?”

"I'm not planning on you! I'm doing it for your own good!"

She finally found a reason for herself and her voice became much louder.

"Chu Minh is a good kid! He understands much more than me!"

"I did this to help you keep your happiness! You won't have to regret it later!"

"The money is in your hand, and the house your father left behind, you're so young, can you keep it?"

“Mom, help me manage it, that's the best way!”

Her reasoning is truly airtight. So shameless that it makes people laugh. I was so angry that I burst out laughing.

“Help me manage?”

"How about helping mom turn all of your things into mom's, and then grandma's?"

“You talk nonsense!”

When I spoke to her heart, she immediately became angry.

"I'm your mother! Can you still harm me?!"

“Mom, I'm not harming you.”

I looked at her coldly.

“Mom is selling me.”

"Sell me for a good price, to fill the bottomless hole next to my mother's house."

She was so angry that she trembled and raised her hand to slap me. I don't dodge. Just slowly took out that black notebook from his pocket. Then gently place it on the dressing table.

“Do you recognize this, Mom?”

Her arm raised in mid-air immediately stopped. Her eyes were glued to the notebook. The expression on his face changed from anger to extreme fear.

“What… why is this at my place?”

“I found it in Chu Minh's 'treasure'.”

I said leisurely:

“It's clearly written inside.”

"Mom, Trieu Dinh and Chu Minh gradually 'harvested' me."

“I didn't expect…”

“Mom is the one behind the planning.”

My mother completely panicked. She rushed forward and wanted to steal the notebook. I took a step back, letting her miss me.

"Dian Dien! Give it to mom!"

“This is the degree proof."

I put the notebook back in my bag.

“It's proof that you guys are cheating and scheming together.”

“Hua Dien! You dare?!”

She screamed until she was hoarse.

“Mom, just try and see if I dare.”

I stood up, preparing to leave this dirty place.

“Not just dare.”

“I still want to report to the police.”

“I want everyone to see your true colors clearly.”

I walked to the door, my hand just on the doorknob. Behind me, my mother's voice was both desperate and full of resentment.

“Do you think getting that notebook is a win?”

“Mom, tell me, Hua Dien…”

“Don't be complacent too soon!”

"There's still something in Chu Minh's hand!"

“Something enough to make you unable to lift your head for the rest of your life…”

“Reputation completely destroyed!”