Chapter 10 — Last Hope

I picked up the phone. There are two messages. The first news, from lawyer Ly:

"Tran Hi and Tran Loi agreed to give up guardianship of Luu Van, and signed an agreement to divide assets, leaving empty-handed. The procedure will be completed this afternoon."

Second news, from an unknown number. It's a photo. In the photo, Tran Loi and Lam Na hold a red marriage certificate. The two people's faces... were even more unsightly than going to a funeral. I laughed. Tran Loi, do you think that's the end? The game… has just begun. I opened my computer and logged into my social network account. Edited yesterday's presentation file, deleting the most important parts about the poisoning story, keeping only evidence of adultery, money transfers, and intimate scenes in the hospital room. Then I write a paragraph.

"My sister-in-law is bedridden, and her husband... and his 'cousin' act out a deep love role."

“In this world, why are there people so brazen?”

I clicked post. Then use the money my sister-in-law left behind... to buy a prominent position for a whole day. I want this to be as loud as possible. Let Tran Loi and Lam Na... die socially. After finishing everything, I turned off the computer and left the house. I have a place to go. An Khang Mental Hospital. I stood in front of the hospital gate. White wall, iron fence. Feeling of pressure to the point of suffocation. This is the place— yesterday Tran Loi tried to lock me in. Just one step missing… this place has become my hell. I'm back today. Not as a patient. the one who sends demons to hell. I walked in and went straight to the principal's room. No appointment needed. Push the door and step in. The director's family is Vuong. A middle-aged man with bald hair is calling. Seeing me, he frowned.

"Who are you? Who let you in?"

I did not answer. Go straight and sit down opposite. Place the laptop on the table. On the screen— was the post that had just exploded online. The number of shares and comments increased at a breakneck speed.

“Director Vuong.”

I spoke up.

“My name is Tran Hi.”

“The plant woman betrayed by her husband and best friend in this post... is my sister-in-law.”

"And that man... is my brother, Tran Loi."

His face changed slightly. he knew about it.

“So what? What do you want to say?”

He leaned back in his chair, pretending to be calm.

“Yesterday, Tran Loi called your hospital, right?”

I looked straight into his eyes.

“Say that I have mental problems, ask you to come arrest me.”

"You really sent someone. Two strong men, also carrying ropes."

His eyes began to avoid.

"That is a normal process. The family requests it, we are responsible for handling it."

“Normal?”

I burst out laughing.

“No diagnosis, never met the patient, brought a rope to arrest him.”

“An Khang's process... is truly 'special'.”

“What do you really want?”

He began to lose patience.

“I want to ask.”

I speak slowly.

“Your hospital… and Tran Loi, are there any shady transactions?”

“Let me give you an example.”

“He gave you money... so that you could cooperate in performing a play.”

“Locking a completely normal person in a mental hospital.”

“So that no one... exposes him anymore.”

“You… you slander!”

The director stood up and pointed at me.

"We are a legal hospital! We can't do anything wrong there!"

“Really?”

I gently touched the touchpad. Transition screen. A video. In the video— Principal Vuong sits in a private room of a luxurious clubhouse. The person opposite— was Tran Loi. A thick envelope was passed. He received it, opened it, glanced at it, then smiled with satisfaction.

“Don't worry.”

The voice in the video is clear to every word.

“The matter of your sister... leave it to me.”

“Already in An Khang, crazy or not, isn't that up to us to say?”

“It's guaranteed... it won't come out in its entire life.”

The dean's face... turned white. He seemed to have been drained of all strength and sat down on the chair.

“Where… where did you get this…”

“You don't need to know.”

I turned off the video.

“Let's talk now... about the 'normal process'.”

“If this paragraph falls into the hands of the press and authorities…”

"How many days do you think... your dean's chair will last?"

“And this An Khang sign... does it still exist?”

He was trembling. Sweat soaked my shirt.

“Miss... Ms. Tran... please forgive me!”

He changed his tone and bent down to get water.

“I was wrong! It was Tran Loi who gave me ten thousand and asked me to help with this matter.”

"I'm greedy for money!"

“I will return it! I guarantee I won't do it again!”

“Pay?”

I smiled coldly.

“You think this... is all about paying and it's over?”

“So… what do you want?”

His voice sounded almost like crying.

“I need you to help me with something.”

“You say it! I did it all!”

“There is no need for you to risk your life.”

I looked at him. His eyes were cold as ice.

“I want you to… use yesterday's 'normal procedure' again.”

“But this time…”

“change people.”

He was dumbfounded. I said that name, every word clearly.

“It's the woman in the post.”

“I want you to prepare a VIP room for her.”

“The care… was ‘good’.”

The director opened his mouth. took his stick and hit him on the back.

“This… is illegal…”

He stammered. I smiled softly. But the eyes— there was no heat at all.

“It's illegal?”

“So that video… is it legal?”

“Breaking the law?”

I burst out laughing.