Chapter 7 — Mother Died, Father Repented

“What does pretending make up for now?”

His face suddenly turned pale. But I absolutely don't want to hear him say another word:

“What else do you want to take away from me?”

“My mother is gone, my job is gone, my life is almost gone.”

“Don't you think it's enough?”

He lowered his eyes, and after half a day spoke:

“I went to check your mother's past medical records.”

“Dad before... always thought that you two were tricking him.”

“I didn't know she was really that sick.”

“I don't know how she ended up…”

*Pop!* I swung my hand and slapped him straight in the face.

“You don't know?”

“Checking medical records, is it that difficult for you?”

“Just make a phone call, move a finger, have you ever done it?”

“It's not that you don't know, it's that you don't care!”

"You basically don't care whether my mother and I die or not!"

"She died five years ago, have you ever looked for her? Have you visited her grave?"

“Not at all!”

“What are you pretending to do now!”

Dad's shoulders trembled. A long time later, he was able to squeeze out a sentence:

“I'm sorry…”

I glared at him, tears finally flowing out:

“You know what? Just five hundred thousand yuan.”

“Just five hundred thousand yuan, and my mother can live on.”

“If you just buy one less dress for Tuong Vi and give her one less gift, my mother can go to the operating table.”

“But you didn't.”

“You personally forced my mother to death.”

His whole body seemed to be nailed to the spot. After a long time, he muttered and asked:

“Didn't dad already give you a card with five hundred thousand?”

I completely collapsed, grabbed the glass of water on the bedside table and threw it straight at him:

“That card is empty!”

“Not a single penny!”

The hospital room suddenly fell silent. He stood there, the corner of his forehead bleeding. A few seconds later, his trembling hands took out the phone, dialed Tuong Vi's number, and turned on the speakerphone.

—

Chapter 8 From the other end of the line came Tuong Vi's languid voice:

“Why do you suddenly ask this?”

“What right do people like them have to spend your money?”

“I just want them to clearly recognize my identity.”

“A poor woman who always pretends to be pitiful, and an illegitimate child who gets in the way, is she still worthy of taking your money?”

Dad's expression became increasingly gloomy:

“Did you touch that card?”

Tuong Vi burst into laughter:

"That's right, I sent someone to transfer all the money."

“What?”

"Doesn't Ta Tinh Mien always like to look miserable? I just want to see, without those five hundred thousand, how long can she pretend."

"I have to say it again, it's just a matter of giving a little less money, right? She herself was in poor health, couldn't stand it and died. Is that your fault?"

Dad's breathing suddenly became heavy:

“Do you know, she died a long time ago?”

“Do you know, you killed someone's life!”

The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then the voice became cold:

“Lam Xuyen, why are you mad at me?”

“She deserved to die.”

“Plus, you're just now coming to settle the accounts, don't you think it's too late?”

"In the past, didn't you say a word and always stand by my side?"

“In the end, those who force him die her, it's not just me."

Dad immediately hung up. The hospital room was eerily quiet. He stood there for a long time, then finally looked up at me:

“I will give you an explanation.”

The following days, I never saw him again. But on TV and on the phone, there was a lot of news about the Huo family in the military region and the military affairs of the Chiang family. The Huo family accused the Chiang family of embezzlement, colluding with enemy spies, and leaking military secrets. In just a few short days, the Chiang family went bankrupt.