Chapter 3 — Marriage Book

"Oh right, the reminder to pay the management fee is on the shoe cabinet. If it's convenient, I'll pay it for you. Also, my mother said she wants to come over for the weekend. Remember to buy some food, she likes seafood."

I was putting my shoes on with my head down. Hearing that, I stopped a bit and looked up at him with a calm expression. Chu Khai Hang breathed a sigh of relief, his smile was much more natural.

"I'll come home early tonight, let's go out for a meal, consider starting a new life."

The corner of my lips moved slightly, almost imperceptibly.

“What are you celebrating?”

"Celebrating our family officially entering the stage of modernized management, economic independence, river water does not violate well water."

He spoke while gesticulating excitedly. I nodded, pulled the door. The door closed behind him, blocking his proud face from outside. The elevator went down, I looked in the mirror, my makeup was delicate, my clothes were neat, only I knew how cold it was inside. Leaving the building, the morning wind brought a bit of cold, I went straight to the basement, driving the white hatchback I bought with my own money. Sitting in the driver's seat, I didn't start it right away, but took out my phone and made the first call.

"Hello, we are moving Thuan Thong house, right? I want to book a car this afternoon at two o'clock, the address is Tinh Ha Loan area, building twelve..."

“Yes, there are quite a lot of items, mainly personal clothes, books and a few small electrical items… yes, it is mandatory to finish moving this afternoon.”

Hang up, I make a second call.

“Hello, is it An Dun? I need to replace the door lock core, the address is Tinh Ha Loan building twelve... can it be done before four o'clock?”

The third call, I called Chu Nhiem.

"Chu Nhiem, please prepare the agreement for me. Don't forget. See you at noon."

"Don't worry, it's almost done. I'm sure you'll feel comfortable after reading it." Her voice carried a bit of coldness mixed with sarcasm.

“Yes, also, help me carefully check the legal validity of that 'financial independence agreement', especially the part related to future children.”

“Understood, I will bring the documents with me, this kind of lopsided agreement is very difficult to fully recognize in reality, especially the clause on dividing child support costs in half, which is a joke.”

“Okay, see you at noon.”

I ended the call and started the car. I didn't go toward the company, but changed lanes at the turn and drove toward my small apartment in the south of the city. Passing by a 24-hour convenience store, I stopped on the side of the road and went in to buy mineral water, paper towels, disposable gloves and a few rolls of large black garbage bags. While paying, the cashier saw my pale face and dark eye circles and couldn't help but ask.

“Little sister, are you not feeling well? Why do you look so tired?”

I shook my head, paid, and quietly said thank you. The car rejoined the traffic flow, about twenty minutes later stopping in front of the gate of an old apartment complex named "Cam Tu Nhan Gia." There is no elevator here, my house is on the sixth floor. When buying this house, Chu Khai Hang once commented that climbing six floors was too tiring, and told him to sell it to raise money to buy a bigger house. And now, this sixth floor apartment has become the first place for me to escape all calculations. I carried my things, went up step by step, reached the sixth floor, opened the door, the smell of new furniture mixed with the smell of dust rushed in. The house is not big, but the lighting is very good, sunlight floods in, making the living room bright. I put down my things, rolled up my sleeves, Start thoroughly cleaning the place that will soon belong entirely to you. At twelve o'clock in the afternoon, Chu Nhiem punctually knocked on the door of the sixth floor apartment in Cam Tu Nhan Gia, carrying a bulging document bag and two takeout meals.

"I brought you porridge and some side dishes. Eat for now. Your face looks terrible."

Chu Nhiem placed the food box on the small tea table that she had just cleaned, then comfortably sat cross-legged on the cushion. I really didn't have an appetite, but I still accepted the spoon she gave me and slowly drank a few sips of the warm seafood porridge.

"I have prepared the divorce petition, please look at it." Chu Nhiem pulled out a few pieces of paper from the document bag and handed them over, "The terms I have written clearly, very decisively, the two of you are newlyweds, there is almost no common property to divide, whoever owns the pre-marital assets, that person keeps, whoever owes the debt in their name, that person bears it, clean and tidy."

I received the agreement, my eyes scanned each cold line, finally stopping at the signature part. Without hesitation, I took a pen from Chu Nhiem's bag, signed my name in the wife's section, and then pressed my fingerprint. Bright red fingerprints printed on the paper, dazzling like an end mark.

"Are you really determined? Don't give him or yourself a way out." Chu Nhiem watched me do it immediately, but still couldn't help but ask.

“The way out.” I put down the pen, the corner of my lips curled up into a faint smile, "When he offered that agreement and let his mother pressure him over the phone, there was no way back between us."

I raised my head and looked at the bright winter sunlight outside the window.

“I'm just sorry I realized it too late.”

Chu Nhiem sighed, did not advise further, changed to another topic.

"The 'financial independence agreement' you asked me to check, I have already asked the office. This type of agreement drafted by one party, clearly increases the obligations of one party and deprives the other party of their rights. In the marital relationship, especially related to future children, there is a high possibility that it will be considered invalid or can be annulled, because it is contrary to the principles of fairness and the spirit of marriage and family."

“But,” Chu Nhiem changed his tone, “if we really get to that step, we still have to collect evidence and go to court, which takes a lot of time and effort, and a marriage lawsuit is not just about money, it's also about love, can you stand it?”

"I can't stand it, I don't want to stand it either." I shook my head, my eyes were determined, "So I chose the simplest way, divorce, let him keep the agreement to think about it, I don't care how the court decides, what I care about is ending this wrong marriage quickly."

At 1:50 p.m., Chu Nhiem and I returned to Tinh Ha Loan area. The moving company's white truck was parked downstairs, three workers wearing blue uniforms were preparing.

“Miss To, what needs to be transferred.” The chief worker took the list to confirm.

"In the wardrobe in the master bedroom, all my items include clothes, shoes, bags, the dressing table is the skin care products and cosmetics I use, the office is my books, documents and electronic devices, in the kitchen are the dishes, pots and pans and small electrical appliances I bought, the living room and balcony are plants, decorative paintings, carpets, pillows, the bathroom are my personal items and towels." I clearly state each item, “Simply put, anything I buy with my own money is familiar Personally, I pass it all on.”

The worker nodded and called his colleagues to start working immediately. The packaging process is quick and professional, the workers are proficient in the operations, clothes are placed in hanging boxes, books are placed in sturdy cartons, fragile items are covered with thick foam. The wardrobe in the bedroom quickly became half empty, the dressing table had only a plain wooden surface left, the bookshelf in the office had large gaps exposed, the expensive imported coffee maker, the built-in oven and the oil-free fryer in the kitchen were carefully boxed up. The neighbor opposite was attracted by the noise. He opened the door and poked his head out to look. Seeing people moving in and out of the house continuously, he couldn't help but ask.

“Tieu To, are you moving away?”

I turned around, smiling politely.

“No, just moving house.”

“Moving house, you two just got married, this…” She was full of surprise and curiosity.

“There are some things that cannot continue anymore.” I replied very lightly, without any emotions.

She paused, said "oh", then closed the door, a soft conversation echoed inside. I pretended not to hear and continued to instruct the movers to carry each box downstairs. On the wall above the living room TV shelf, there is still an enlarged wedding photo. In the photo, Chu Khai Hang and I pose intimately at the photographer's request, smiling perfectly. I walked over and tiptoed to take down the heavy photo frame. Looking down at the girl in the photo who was smiling brightly, I just felt strange. I didn't hesitate and let go.