Chapter 26 — Marriage Is A Trap

Editor-in-Chief Trieu almost dropped his chopsticks.

“This—”

“Don't panic.”

I picked up a piece of vegetable and put it in a bowl.

“After I get the copyright back, I will transfer it all to the Kien Hoa Foundation.”

“Later on royalties from those books…”

“All are used to operate the fund.”

Editor-in-Chief Trieu opened his mouth a few times before speaking.

“Do you know what this means?”

“Your yearly royalties are at least more than 3,000,000 yuan.”

“Are you going to give it all?”

“Not for.”

I smiled faintly.

“It's an investment.”

“Investing in something is more important than making money.”

Tan Loc sat next to him and listened silently. Then she put down the glass.

“Have you thought about it carefully?”

“I thought it was a long time ago.”

“So what will you live on in the future?”

“I will still write books.”

“New books are not within the scope of transfer.”

“What's more…”

I laughed.

“I have more than 20,000,000 yuan in savings.”

“Enough to live on.”

Tan Loc raised his glass.

“Dear you.”

“A person with money…”

“But he views money more lightly than anyone else.”

Editor-in-Chief Trieu's face felt as painful as if he had lost a rice book, and reluctantly toasted.

“I feel really sad.”

“Four books…”

“When copyright says it's gone, it's gone.”

“Editor-in-Chief Trieu.”

I looked at him.

“Don't worry.”

“In the future, I will still publish books at your place.”

“The topic of the next book will probably be different.”

“How different?”

“Writing about a woman…”

“How to get up from a failed marriage.”

“True story.”

“It's me.”

Two days later... Kien Hoa Foundation was officially established. The registered capital comes from To Thi Van Hoa's liquidated assets... Along with my personal donation of 5,000,000 yuan. The fund's first project is named:

“Her Second Life.”

Specializes in providing free legal assistance and psychological counseling to women who have experienced domestic violence or marital betrayal. Tan Loc holds the position of legal advisor. Ngo Man Chi became the honorary council. Lam Kha is in charge of operations. In just the first week… The Foundation received one hundred and twenty applications for help. Behind every application... Is a woman stuck in her own marriage. I sat down and read each one. There are people worse than me. Some people are more thrilling than me. But they all have one thing in common. They used to think that... Patience is the answer. And the first answer I sent to all of them… Was exactly the same.

“You've had enough.”

“It's your turn to choose.”

One month after the fund went into operation… We received an anonymous donation. 10,000,000 yuan. Lam Kha searched for half a day and still couldn't find the source. I know who it is. But I don't say it. The phone appears with another message.

“The fund does very well.”

“—— Reader Co Dien.”

I answered in four words.

“Thank you readers.”

Two months after the Kien Hoa Foundation was established... To Hoa Anh's case had new developments. The prosecutor's office officially prosecuted To Hoa Anh for misappropriation of company assets. After audit… The amount involved was confirmed to be 12,000,000 yuan. To Hoa Anh's lawyer team tried to use the reason:

“Coordinating internal family finances.”

To ask for reduced responsibility. But the prosecution directly presented all the transfer records between To Hoa Anh and Vuong Chi Cuong... Along with Phuong Dao's testimony. Complete chain of evidence. All objections fail. The first instance verdict: To Hoa Anh committed the crime of misappropriating company assets. Sentenced to four years in prison. The day of the verdict… I didn't go to court. Tan Loc went instead of me. After she went out, she sent me a text message.

“To Hoa Anh cried in court.”

“Her lawyer said she would appeal.”

“Let her appeal.”

“Aren't you afraid of overturning the case?”

“The evidence is there.”

“Can't turn over.”

Also on that day... Phuong Dao's case was sentenced. Phuong Dao for being an accomplice to crime and extortion... Sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Vuong Chi Cuong's sentence was even more severe. Appropriation of company assets plus bribery. Many crimes combined... Sentenced to seven years in prison. Three people. An affair that started in my bedroom... Finally ended in a criminal sentence. In all those cases... Luc Canh Tham appeared as a witness. His coordinated attitude made the prosecution exempt from prosecution. But the price he had to pay was not small. After Vuong Chi Cuong was arrested... Hang Vien Real Estate entered the liquidation phase. Luc Canh Tham lost his job. He sent me a text message.

“Now I don't have a job anymore.”

I don't answer. Not long after… The second message came again.

“Can you help me?”

I thought for a few seconds and then replied.

“The Kien Hoa Foundation is recruiting an administrative assistant.”

“Monthly salary 6,000 yuan.”

“If you want…”

“You can come for an interview.”

Maybe he didn't expect me to answer like that. It took a long time to text back two words.

“That's it.”

I put down the phone. That was the last conversation between me and Luc Canh Tham. My life is completely back on track. The new book was released under editor-in-chief Trieu's publishing house. The book's title is:

“Start Again.”

“The Real Life of a Divorced Woman.”

First printing: 200,000 copies. Three days sold out. Reprinted an additional 500,000 copies. One week continued to sell out. One month later… Total sales exceeded 2,000,000 copies. This book is completely different from the previous four books. Previous books... It's about teaching others how to do things. And this book... Is to tell everyone how I did it. Where did I go wrong? And finally… How I stood up for myself.