Chapter 21 — Marriage Is A Trap

“About love.”

“Those beautiful moral words…”

“Every word is reminding her that…”

“The daughter of a traitor is teaching the whole country how to run a marriage.”

“Don't you find it funny?”

My hands trembled. Not because of what she said. It's because of dad's expression in that photo.

“To Hoa Anh.”

I looked at her.

“You hate me… just because I look like my father?”

“You are scarier than your father.”

Her voice suddenly turned cold.

“At least my dad still feels guilty when he does something wrong.”

“What about you?”

“I consider other people's marriages a research topic.”

“Consider your husband as a test subject.”

“The morals you wrote in the book…”

“I myself don't believe a word of it.”

“You don't understand me.”

“I don't need to understand you.”

To Hoa Anh's eyes were cold and scary.

“What I need… is just to make you disappear from this industry.”

I picked up the photo and turned it over. On the back is a handwritten note.

"Kien Hoa, I'm waiting for you. —— Phuong Le Hoa."

Phuong Le Hoa. The blood in my body turned cold in an instant.

“What is Phuong Dao's mother's name?”

To Hoa Anh did not answer. But her silence... was the answer. Phuong Dao's mother's name is Phuong Le Hoa. My father's lover that year. Phuong Dao was never a woman who "coincidentally" appeared in Luc Canh Tham's life. She brought with her the resentment of the previous generation.

“To Hoa Anh.”

I stared at her.

“You brought Phuong Dao to Luc Canh Tham's side not just to deal with me.”

“She is always in contact with the Phuong family.”

“Phuong Dao is your chess piece…”

“Also Phuong Le Hoa's daughter.”

“You guys have joined forces.”

To Hoa Anh sat down on the chair and slowly smiled.

“You are so smart.”

“So smart that it scares people.”

I put the photo back on the table.

“What you did… has already touched the law.”

“Vuong Chi Cuong was arrested.”

“Phuong Dao was also arrested.”

“It's only a matter of time before we get to you.”

“I came here today…”

“Not to bargain with you.”

“So what did you come for?”

“Come to tell you something.”

“What?”

“What kind of father do I have…”

“Not deciding what kind of person I will become.”

“You bring the resentment of the previous generation onto the next generation.”

“That is not justice.”

“It's venting anger.”

I turned around and walked out the door.

“To Thi Van Hoa's inheritance…”

“I will follow the legal process.”

“Not because I want this company.”

“But that's because…”

I stopped for a moment.

“I want to take my father's name back from you.”

I stopped walking.

“You will regret it.”

I laughed very softly.

“I've heard this sentence a lot.”

“Tu Luc Canh Tham.”

“Tu Phuong Dao.”

“Now it's you again.”

“In the end, who is the one who has to regret…”

“Time will tell.”

I walked out of To Thi Van Hoa's office. In the elevator, I closed my eyes. Adultery. Mom's car accident. Phuong Dao's mother. Piece by piece of memory and truth kept hitting me. Each piece is very heavy. But I didn't fall. The elevator door opens. Co Dien is standing in the lobby on the first floor.

“Why are you here?”

“You didn't notice…”

He looked at me.

“Am I always waiting downstairs?”

“I didn't tell you to come.”

"I know."

His voice was very light.

“But leaving you alone in a place like this…”

“I don't feel secure.”

I looked at him for a few seconds.

“I do know Is Phuong Dao's mother's name Phuong Le Hoa?"

He nodded.

“Only investigated this morning.”

“The relationship between your father and Phuong Le Hoa…”

“Along with the connection between To Hoa Anh and the Phuong family…”

“It's all in here.”

He took a set of documents from his briefcase and gave it to me.

“A copy has also been sent to Tan Loc.”

“You helped me to this extent…”

“Why in the end?”

Co Dien looked at me for a long time. Then spoke softly.

“You've carried too much by yourself.”