Chapter 7 — Love After Ruin

I used to hate her to the core. But now, when I see her so pathetic, I don't feel any pleasure from revenge. "Try to live well." I left a sentence and turned to leave. Luc Tram walked up to me: "Are you angry yet?" I shook my head: "No." "So what does it feel like?" "Just... boring." He laughed. "Congratulations, you've graduated." "Graduated?" "You've graduated from me." I looked at him, suddenly understanding what he wanted to say. Letting go of hatred is not about forgiving others. It's about forgiving yourself. Co Hoai Canh's case began to go to trial. Because of the large amount of money involved, he was sentenced to fifteen years in prison. When the news reached New York, I was in a meeting. The assistant brought the news to me to see. I just glanced over, then folded the paper. "Continue the meeting." Everyone looked at me, with surprise and curiosity in their eyes. Luc Tram sat next to me, quietly holding my hand under the table. His palm was very warm. At that moment, my heart was extremely calm. Everything... is really over. At the end of the meeting, Luc Tram and I returned to the office. "Are you free tonight?" "Yes." "Let's go to an auction with me." "Okay." That evening, we went to the auction. The items for sale are mainly goods and art. I'm not interested at all. Until the last item appears. It's a guitar. The host introduced: This guitar was crafted by a famous Italian artisan, with a history of three hundred years. Starting price: ten million. I looked at that guitar and suddenly remembered my dad. He used to love playing the piano. Before the On family went bankrupt, there were many precious guitars hanging in his study. He said, when I grow up, he will give me his most beloved tree. But then... those guitars were also auctioned according to the On family's fortune. I never saw it again. “You like it?” – Luc Tram asked. I nodded. He held up the auction board. Prices are continuously pushed up. In the end, Luc Tram won the guitar for thirty million. Leaving the auction hall, he handed me the guitar case. "For you." "Too expensive." "Not expensive." - he looked at me, his eyes serious - "Nien Nhien, I once said... I will take back everything that belongs to you." "Not just money, or courage." "But also your joy of life." I hugged the guitar case, my hands shaking slightly. Over the past five years, I've forgotten how to smile, and forgotten what it feels like to be happy. I live like a soulless corpse. It was Luc Tram... who little by little pulled me out of the dark abyss. He gave me a new life. "Luc Tram..." "Nhuan Nhien," - he interrupted me - "I don't want to be just your boss, nor just a comrade." He stepped closer, very close. So close that I could smell the faint scent of cigarettes on him: "I want to be your lover." "I want to give you a home." "Do you agree?" Tears immediately welled up in my eyes. I nodded vigorously.