Chapter 3 — Married 8 days, I bought a house in my own name

I continued slowly.

“In your logic, what does that so-called guarantee ultimately guarantee?”

"If something happens to me in the future, can I still pay that money back to you?"

"Or when it comes time for divorce, you have to take that notarized paper with me and my father to sue in court?"

He couldn't say a word.

“Really well thought out.”

I smiled faintly.

“Thank you all for thinking so carefully.”

His expression changed:

“Thieu Hoa, don't talk so harshly…”

“Harsh?”

I repeat those two words.

“Did I say something wrong?”

He turned away. After a long time, he lowered his voice:

“I really don't know what to do anymore.”

I could hear real fatigue in those words. But fatigue is not a shield.

“I don't know what to do.”

I looked at him.

“But I know.”

The next day, I went to Duyet Uyen Bay alone. In the sales center there are still several groups of customers looking at the project model. I stood in front of the sand table, first looking for building number 22. Then my eyes slowly moved to the side. A building with the words "apartment" written on it. A salesperson wearing a white uniform walked over:

“Do you want to see a house or an apartment?”

“Is there a finished house available?”

"Yes. Fully furnished, move in immediately. Smallest area fifty square meters, largest ninety meters."

“Let me see the apartment ninety meters away.”

The model apartment is located on the nineteenth floor. Ground-level glass windows. From here you can see the Cam River. I stood on the balcony, looking to the left. We can vaguely see the silhouette of building number 22 in the distance. I asked the salesperson:

“This building… is the same building as housing complex number 22?”

"That's right. Shared gate, shared real estate management."

“What is the total amount if paid in one go?”

She quoted the price. I quickly calculated in my heart. 880,000 yuan.

“Is it okay to sign the contract today?”

The employee was stunned for a second, then her eyes lit up:

"Of course! You can sign at any time."

In the home buyer section on the contract, I wrote down three words: Tong Thieu Hoa. Clear and decisive. After signing the contract, the sun turned to the west. I walked out of the sales center, turned on my phone and saw six unread messages. All belong to Tran Chi Vien. The first three messages asked where I was. Wednesday news:

“I'm downstairs at your house.”

Thursday news:

“Let's go talk.”

Final news:

“Thieu Hoa, don't be like that anymore.”

I answered one question correctly:

“Let's go to Duyet Uyen Bay.”

Maybe he didn't expect me to be here. Silence for nearly two minutes before texting back:

“I'll be right there.”

I stood in front of the sales center door waiting for him. Tran Chi Vien drove over. The car stopped at the visitor area. As soon as he walked closer, he saw me from afar and his steps immediately stopped.

“What are you doing here today?”

I don't answer. Just took a copy of the contract out of my pocket and gave it to him. He took it and opened it. My eyes glanced over the first few lines. I saw his eyebrows slowly furrow. Saw him flip to the home buyer information page. Seeing his eyes stop on my name. A long time later.

“You bought it and paid it all?”

“Where does the money come from?”

“880,000 yuan my parents gave me.”

He slowly closed the contract and then looked up at me:

"Tong Thieu Hoa, are you crazy? That's the down payment for our wedding house!"

“Not anymore.”

I take it Return the contract and put it in your pocket.

“Now it's money to buy my own apartment.”

“What do you mean by that?”

His voice started to rise. A few people walking around turned their heads to look over, and he tried to keep his voice down.

“You intentionally caused trouble, right?”

“I don't cause trouble.”

I calmly looked at him.

“The house belongs to the Hua family, write down the names of the Hua family members, that's your business.”

“It's my money, I bought the house myself, just put my name on it... that's my business.”

“But we are husband and wife!”

"The relationship between husband and wife is not shown on the house book."

I looked straight into his eyes.

“My father said this, not you.”

His face immediately turned pale. After a while, a sentence popped out:

“What do you call that?”

“Retaliation?”

“It's called self-protection.”

“You guys don't give me a feeling of safety, so I'll find it myself.”

He stood still. It seems like there are so many things I want to say, but in the end I can't open my mouth. A long time later he said:

“If my father finds out about this… he will be angry.”

“Aren't you afraid?”

I thought for a moment then nodded: His eyes moved slightly.

“But whether to be afraid or not… and whether to do it or not are two different things.”

I picked up my bag.

“Chi Vien, I give you a choice.”

"I went back and told my father that the house on Building 22 must add your name to it. The money my parents spent was a down payment, not money to repair the house."

“If you say yes, we can continue to live together.”

“What if your father doesn't agree?”

“Then live separately for now.”

I looked at him.

"Each person thinks carefully whether this marriage should continue or not."

He stood there for a long time. Finally, he lowered his voice:

“Give me a few days.”

“I have a week.”

That week, I officially moved into a new apartment. The sales staff helped me complete the house check-in procedures and then delivered the keys to me. In the elevator, the mirror reflected my face. A bit haggard. But his eyes were more alert than ever. I opened the door and walked in. Sunlight immediately flooded the room. The house was empty and strangely quiet. I stood on the balcony, looking to the left. From here you can see the slanted shadow of building number 22. The wedding house the Hua family bought is located on the fifteenth floor. Currently, there are workers coming in to measure and prepare for renovation. The phone vibrates. It's my mother-in-law, Mrs. Phuong Tu Tran calling.

“Thieu Hoa, I heard you moved into the apartment?”

Her voice was still gentle as before.

"This girl, you're so hot-tempered. Is there anything you can't sit down and talk about properly? Our Hua family has never mistreated you before?"

I calmly replied.

“I don't feel like I've been mistreated.”

“I just feel like my rights are not respected.”

“Those are two different things.”

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.