Chapter 5 — Let Go of the Past, Embrace Happiness

15 In the general director's room of Giang Thi Group, Giang Chinh Han threw a stack of documents on the table. “This is already the third bank in a month to refuse a loan!” He snatched his tie, his voice hoarse: "The Finance Department just reported back that if we can't find a new source of capital, next month we won't even be able to pay staff salaries!" Tham Le nonchalantly sat and played with her newly manicured nails: "Let's lay off less people, it's just a waste of money to support so many idle people." “Fired?” Giang Chinh Han looked at her in disbelief: "Tham Le, do you know the consequences of cutting staff now? Our stock price will——" "Stocks, stocks, only knowing about stocks all day long!" Tham Le suddenly spoke loudly: "My best friend's husband's company just fired people, are they still living well now? You're the only one who keeps worrying for nothing!" Giang Chinh Han took a deep breath and tried to suppress his anger: "What is the payment of five hundred thousand yesterday? The finance department said you withdrew it?" Tham Le's eyes flashed a bit: "Ah, that's it, I bought a few handbags, and by the way, a new car. Why? Do I still have to report to you how much money I spend in my house?" “Money in the house?” Giang Chinh Han slammed his fist on the table: "Don't you know what the company's situation is now? And yet you still spend so wastefully!" “Giang Chinh Han!” Tham Le suddenly stood up, his carefully made-up face distorted with anger: "Don't forget who suffered with you in a foreign land that year! Now that you have money, do you criticize me? I tell you, I deserve this money!" After speaking, she picked up the limited edition Hermes bag, angrily slammed the door and left. Giang Chinh Han slumped down on the chair, holding his head in both hands. The phone screen on the table lit up, a reminder to pay the debt. He smiled bitterly, opened the photo album, his finger stopped on an old, faded photo. In the photo is Ta An Tam in high school, smiling and looking straight at the camera, the afternoon sunlight covering her hair. 16 On the weekend, I took Niem An to the park to play. On the way home, Niem An suddenly pointed to the ice cream shop on the side of the road: "Mom, I want to eat that!" “Only eat one small pill, otherwise your stomach will hurt.” I smiled as I held her hand and walked over. While we were lining up, a familiar black Mercedes-Benz slowly stopped on the side of the road. The car window rolled down, revealing Giang Chinh Han's haggard face. “An Tam.” He got out of the car and walked over, his eyes stopping on Niem An for a moment. I reflexively pulled Niem An back, shielding her: "What's going on?" "I..." Giang Chinh Han faltered, and finally just smiled bitterly: "Just happened to pass by. Your daughter is so adorable." Niem An poked her head out from behind me, carefully observing Giang Chinh Han. "Thank." I nodded nonchalantly: "We have to go home." “Wait!” Giang Chinh Han suddenly grabbed my wrist: "An Tam, can I invite you for a cup of coffee? Just for a moment, I have something to tell you." I shook his hand away: "Giang Chinh Han, we have nothing more to say." “It's about Tham Le!” He lowered his voice: "I realized she seemed to be hiding something from me." “That's your business.” I picked up Niem An: "Goodbye." When I was far away, I turned around and looked back. Giang Chinh Han still stood in place, his shadow caught in the lingering sunset, it looked especially lonely. 17 That evening, I received a text message from an unknown number: "An Tam, if I could do it all over again, I would not make the same choice as before. — Giang Chinh Han" I immediately replied: "If you bother me again, I will report to the police." Then immediately block the number. Pho Dinh came out of the bathroom and saw my face was not good: "What's wrong?" I showed him the phone. Pho Dinh immediately frowned: "Is he bothering you again?" “It's okay…” I forced a smile: “I already blocked it.” Pho Dinh pulled me into his arms, his chin resting on the top of my head: "Don't worry, I'm here." 18 Three days later, in the morning, after taking Niem An to kindergarten, I walked to the company. While crossing the street, a black car suddenly accelerated and headed straight towards me. The bright sunlight made it impossible for me to clearly see the people in the car, I could only hear the roar of the engine getting closer and closer. Instinctively, I jumped back, but my arm was still hit by the rearview mirror, causing me to fall hard to the ground. "Miss Ta! Are you okay?" The owner of a nearby grocery store ran over to help me up. The other car turned sharply and disappeared around the corner. I still haven't recovered. Trying to stand up, my right arm hurts intensely. “I'm fine, thank you.” I trembled as I took out my phone. The first person I thought of was Pho Dinh. At the hospital emergency room, Pho Dinh's face was as dark as a storm cloud. The doctor is bandaging the scratch on my arm. “Mild concussion, right arm soft tissue bruising, need overnight monitoring.” The doctor told Pho Dinh. Pho Dinh nodded slightly, waiting for the doctor to leave before gently holding my hand: "Can you see the license plate clearly?" I shook my head: "It was so fast, I couldn't see in time." Pho Dinh's eyes immediately became cold: "I know." He took out his phone and called: "Secretary Ly, immediately investigate the camera at the intersection between Tinh Ha and Phong Lam streets, around nine o'clock this morning." 19 Three days later, Pho Dinh took me to a private club. When I pushed open the private room door, I saw Giang Chinh Han sitting inside, opposite Tham Le's father, his hands handcuffed to a chair. “What is this?” I looked at Pho Dinh suspiciously. Pho Dinh laughed coldly: "Let Mr. Giang hear the truth clearly." Under Pho Dinh's cold, coercive gaze, Father Tham Le trembled and confessed everything. That year he cooperated with Tham Le to create a story, how to use this story to threaten her over the years, and three days ago Tham Le ordered him to "educate" me. “She gave me fifty thousand, saying all she had to do was stab and wound Ta An Tam.” The man's voice became increasingly softer: "I... I really don't intend to kill anyone." Giang Chinh Han's face became more and more ugly: "So the abuse that year was——" "It was all because of your wife's tricks!" Tham Le's father snorted coldly: "He's been cunning since he was little. He dares to do anything because he can climb high!" Giang Chinh Han suddenly stood up, the chair behind him crashed to the ground. His eyes were bloodshot, like a wounded wild animal: "So this car accident?!" “It's also what she ordered me to do!” The man quickly said: "She said Ta An Tam knew our secret and had to get rid of it!" "Enough!" Giang Chinh Han punched the wall hard and turned around to rush out. Pho Dinh stopped him: "What's the hurry? The good drama has just begun." Next scene in the act Pictured is Giang Chinh Han wearing a neat black suit, holding hands with Tham Le wearing a beaded evening dress, receiving guests together. Interspersed are images of Tham Le frantically shopping in luxury stores, accompanied by her voice clearly heard in the recording: "Giang Group is about to go bankrupt? What does it have to do with me? I have already prepared a way out, divorce can also divide the money." Giang Chinh Han seemed to have been drained of all his strength and sat down on the chair. 20 A week later, the news reported that Giang Group officially declared bankruptcy, and Tham Le was arrested for inciting a failed assassination attempt. Father Tham Le was sentenced to a heavy sentence for many different crimes. “Are you satisfied?” Pho Dinh hugged me from behind while I was watching the news. I turned around and hugged his neck: "Mr. Pho took action because I'm so handsome." He laughed, bowed his head and kissed me. That kiss was gentle and deep, as if it wanted to pour all its love into me. "Mom! Dad! Look at my picture!" Niem An ran in holding a drawing paper, on the paper were three figures holding hands. Pho Dinh picked up his daughter and I nestled on his shoulder. The sunlight shines through the window, warm and radiant. At that moment, I knew, the future... could only get better and better.