Chapter 23 — Marriage Is A Trap

I stopped.

“Your ex-wife?”

“Waiting for the trial to end.”

I looked at the screen for a few seconds. This man always only says half the words. But strangely... I'm not impatient at all. Because I know, every sentence you say has been considered for a long time. The other half he hasn't said yet... Surely it's because the time hasn't come yet. This feeling of "being waited for"... Completely different from the feeling of "being overlooked" that Luc Canh Tham once gave me. Being waited for... It means that in the other person's heart, you are in a position worth waiting for. Date of opening of trial. Outside the court was filled with reporters. Tan Loc had already arranged security and let me in through the side door. In the courtroom, To Hoa Anh sat in the defendant's chair. Her legal team has four people. Everyone wore neat suits and looked serious. There is only Tan Loc alone. After the judge read the reason for the lawsuit, Tan Loc spoke first. The presentation is brief but sharp. Three core requirements. Confirmation of invalid inheritance rights waiver document. Request a refund of the inheritance I should have received. Prosecute To Hoa Anh's legal liability for misappropriation of company assets. To Hoa Anh's lawyer began to object.

“Dear jury.”

“Plaintiff To Niem voluntarily signed a document renouncing his inheritance rights in 2012…”

Tan Loc immediately stood up.

“Our side doubts the legality of this document.”

“When signing…”

“The plaintiff is only eighteen years old.”

“Just lost both parents.”

“In a period of serious psychological damage.”

“Defendant To Hoa Anh as legal guardian…”

“There weren't any third witnesses.”

“Did not undergo legal notarization.”

“Just in my living room…”

“Allowed a minor to sign papers relinquishing assets worth millions of yuan.”

“But at that time the plaintiff was eighteen years old…”

“There are still two months left.”

Tan Loc directly interrupted.

“Signing date is August 14, 2012.”

“Plaintiff's date of birth is October 3, 2012.”

The opposing lawyer's expression immediately changed. The judge bowed his head to look at the documents.

“Defendant side.”

“The plaintiff was indeed under eighteen years old at the time of signing the document.”

“Please explain this matter.”

To Hoa Anh's team of lawyers immediately came together to discuss. After a while, someone stood up.

“Dear jury…”

“Our side believes that this is just a procedural shortcoming…”

Tan Loc coldly interrupted.

“In inheritance cases…”

“The handling of minors' rights should be strictly supervised by legal representatives and notaries.”

“But the defendant is both the guardian…”

“And also a person with related interests.”

“Because she is also one of the heirs.”

“In a situation where such a conflict of interest exists…”

“She still let the plaintiff sign the papers renouncing his inheritance rights.”

“Not notarized.”

“No witnesses.”

“Not giving the plaintiff the opportunity to get legal advice.”

“This is not a procedural omission.”

“It's a violation of rights.”

The courtroom was silent for a few seconds. The judge turned to look at To Hoa Anh.

“Why didn't you carry out the notarization procedure that year?”

To Hoa Anh slowly stood up.

“Dear jury…”

To Hoa Anh stood in the middle of the courtroom, her voice hoarse.

“The situation that year was…”

“After To Niem's parents passed away, the company met serious financial crisis.”

“I have to handle the company alone…”

“Take care of To Niem…”

“Worry about the consequences…”

“I really don't have the energy to do more notarization procedures.”

“So where do you get the strength…”

Tan Loc raised his head and looked straight at her.

“To force a seventeen-year-old to sign a waiver of inheritance rights?”

“That wasn't me—”

“Defendant side.”

The judge coldly reminded.

“Please speak through the jury.”

The trial lasted for two hours. Tan Loc submitted each piece of evidence in turn. Financial transactions between To Hoa Anh and Vuong Chi Cuong. Financial statements of To Thi Van Hoa. Phuong Dao's testimony. The declaration of renunciation of that invalid inheritance right. To Hoa Anh's team of lawyers tried to bring the focus of the case back to the thesis:

"To Niem now has a huge copyright asset, absolutely no need for inheritance."

Tan Loc only responded with one sentence.