Chapter 9 — Last Hope

I arrived at the hotel. Revolving restaurant on the rooftop. City lights spread out below. I chose a seat near the glass door. Order a glass of the most expensive wine. Less than an hour— Two unsightly faces. Like swallowing something bitter. Tran Loi was still wearing daytime clothes, clearly in a hurry. Lam Na is dressed carefully. But the thick layer of makeup— couldn't hide the panic.

“Tran Hi, what exactly do you want!”

He sat down, lowering his voice.

“Honey, don't be so hot.”

I shook my glass of wine and smiled.

“I invited you two today... because I wanted to talk.”

“We have nothing to say!”

Lam Na shrilled.

“A crazy person like you dares to threaten us!”

“Crazy or not... you'll know later.”

I turned the laptop towards them. a presentation file. photo of them being intimate in the hospital room.

“The moral lesson of a male and female dog couple.”

Lin Na's face turned red.

“Don't rush, the good part is still behind.”

I clicked run. First page— intimate photos, bed photos. I chose the wedding march. Satire to the bone. Second page— The words "my dear", "miss you", "can't stand it anymore"... I enlarged them in red. Like slapping them right in the face. Third page— transfer history. Each amount of money—from his and his sister-in-law's joint account—flowed into Lam Na's account. I also clearly note:

“Buy Hermes bag.”

“Buy a Cartier bracelet.”

“Abortion costs.”

It turns out the baby— was also abandoned. It's true... toxic to the bone. Lam Na started shaking. Tran Loi was sweating profusely.

"Tran Hi! Turn it off!"

He raised his hand to pick up the phone. I pulled back.

“Don't move.”

I picked up the knife on the table. Turn gently in your hand.

“Otherwise... I'm not sure if this knife will 'accidentally' fall... on your thigh or not.”

My eyes— cold as ice. He stopped. Don't dare move anymore.

“Now… the most exciting part.”

I clicked next. The video appears. Clear images. Sound is clear. It was the scene where they discussed in the apartment—how to harm their sister-in-law.

“…this medicine is colorless and odorless, mixed with milk and cannot be detected…”

“…just another half year, she will have ‘organ failure’ and die naturally…”

“…until then, no one could find out…”

The restaurant was silent. Only the voices of the other two echoed in the air, cold and chilling. Tran Loi and Lam Na's faces were pale, their eyes looking at me as if they were looking at something coming out of hell.

“How?” I turned off the video and smiled faintly. “This gift… do you think it's okay?”

"Where... where did you get these..." Tran Loi's voice trembled.

“I don't need to know.” I put down the glass of wine. “Just know, copies of all of this are in the hands of my lawyer.”

I paused for a beat, then continued, each word clear.

"I also set it up to be sent automatically. If I don't contact him before 8 a.m. tomorrow, everything will be sent directly to the police... and the media."

The air seemed to freeze.

"At that time, you two will be famous throughout the city... no, the whole country. Guess what... what will the outcome be?"

Lam Na burst into tears and grabbed Tran Loi's hand.

“A Loi… I don't want to go to jail… I don't want…”

Tran Loi could no longer keep calm. He slid off the chair and knelt down in front of me.

"Tieu Hi... little sister... I was wrong! I was temporarily blind! I'm not human!"

He hugged my leg and cried speak.

"I beg you... respect your brotherly love and forgive me this time. I tell you to do whatever you want!"

Looking at that appearance, I just felt disgusted. Is this the person you used to protect me? For the sake of his life, he can throw away all his pride.

“Forgive me?” I kicked him out. “Go ask the person lying in the hospital bed to see if she will forgive you!”

I looked straight at the two of them, my voice cold.

"I'm going to ask the child you abandoned to see if he will forgive you!"

I stood up and looked at them from above.

“Your retribution... has come.”

I slowly said:

"Now I give you two ways. One is I immediately report to the police, you two are prepared to go to jail. Two is... go register your marriage tomorrow."

Both were stunned.

“What?” Lam Na was bewildered.

“Yes, marriage.” I smiled. “I want you two to be forever tied together.”

I looked at Lam Na.

“I want you to be honest and agreeable with marrying someone who has nothing... and is guilty of it.”

Then looked at Tran Loi.

“I want you to never be able to escape this cruel woman for the rest of your life, the two of you tormenting each other for the rest of your lives.”

I stopped, my eyes cold to the bone.

"Furthermore, the two of you must take the name of Luu Van and donate 500,000 to the children in the mountains. Not even a single penny is missing."

I know well, that money... they have it. Over the years, they have extorted even more from my sister-in-law.

“If I don't see the marriage certificate and donation confirmation before 5pm tomorrow…”

I didn't finish the sentence. But they all understand. I picked up my bag and stood up. Don't look back. Shoe heels clicked on the floor, each step was decisive. At the door, I turned around to look once. The other two people were still kneeling on the ground, struggling like two abandoned dogs. It's also pitiful. I walked out of the hotel. The night air was cold, but my heart felt a little lighter. Sister-in-law… do you see? I have recovered your first debt. But still not enough. What I want… isn't just marriage or donations. What I want... is for them to pay with their lives. The next morning, I slept until I woke up on my own. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, shining on my face, strangely warm.