Chapter 4 — Mother-in-law sold dowry for 320,000 yuan, I reported it to the police and their whole house collapsed

His voice was hoarse, as if his strength had just been drained.

"Lam Hieu Tuyet... are you satisfied? The police said... your mother will be criminally detained!"

Every word seemed to be grinded out by him.

“That was her choice.”

My voice was calm, not revealing any emotion.

"Do I have to force her to the end? After all, she is my mother! She is the one who gave birth and raised me!"

His voice suddenly rose and trembled.

“She is also the one who sold my dowry for 320,000 yuan.”

I spoke slowly, each word seemed to go straight to his heart.

"Money money money! I only have money in my head! Because of that money, I don't need this house anymore? Don't I need the life of an old woman anymore?"

"Luc Triet, you are wrong. It was your mother who first considered this house as a commodity to be calculated. It was also her who first disregarded me."

He choked. For a long time, I couldn't say a word. The other end of the line suddenly became chaotic. There was the sound of objects falling, mixed with Luc Dinh's urgent crying.

"Brother! Please beg your sister-in-law! Mom has high blood pressure and she won't be able to stand it if she goes to prison!"

Then the phone fell silent again. A moment later, Luc Triet picked up the phone again and lowered his voice.

“Hieu Tuyet… no, Lam Hieu Tuyet, I beg you… I can kneel down too, okay?”

The sound of fabric rubbing was heard on the phone. Right after that—a heavy “thud” sound. I can almost imagine him kneeling on the floor.

“As long as you write a complaint… as long as you tell the police this is a misunderstanding, they will release my mother… I beg you… consider me begging you!”

I repeat slowly.

"Yes! As long as you sign, I'll agree to whatever you want! I swear I won't let you suffer any more resentment in the future. Let's go back to how we were before, living well together, okay?"

His voice trembled, almost crying. If it were me three days ago... Maybe my heart would have softened. But now— There are only two words left in my heart. Every "love" sentence he said seemed to be mocking my previous innocence.

“Luc Triet, do you remember… do you owe me an explanation?”

I suddenly changed direction.

“Explain what?”

He paused, his voice immediately alert, as if he had just smelled danger.

“Where did that 320,000 yuan… go?”

I asked every word clearly. The other end of the line was silent. There was only the sound of rapid breathing, sometimes near and then far away.

"No... didn't I tell you? Before, I worked on a project and lost more than 200,000 yuan..."

He replied awkwardly, his voice hollow.

"So what about the rest? What project did you work on, where did you lose money? Where is the contract? Where is the money transfer document? Show me."

"Wife, now is not the time to think about such things, mother's side is the most urgent matter!"

He quickly walked away.

"If you can't say it clearly, don't mention the complaint."

My voice was cold as ice, not giving him any way back. He was speechless and hesitated for a long time, as if he was struggling with whether to tear off the last layer of mask or not.

"Okay... I said. I said everything. But you have to promise that after listening, you will sign the complaint."

“I said it first.”

I did not accept. Just reply with a calm sentence. The other party took a deep breath, as if forcing himself to gain courage.

“That money… was actually not a project loss… but… I lent it to a friend.”

He clearly stopped at the word "you". I immediately continued to press, not letting him breathe.

“A… brother who grew up together since childhood. Your family I have a problem, I need money urgently, I came to you. I was also stuck at that time... so I told my mother."

"She loves you and is afraid that you will be in trouble, so she... thinks of a way to fill that gap."

He tries to make sentences complete. But compared to the so-called "project loss", this story is even more absurd.

“Which friend made me lend 320,000 yuan at once? Where are your savings? Where is your shared money? Why do I have to touch my dowry?”

“I... my money is all invested, I haven't been able to withdraw it yet. And the money in the house... isn't it all in your account..."

His voice grew quieter.

“Luc Triet, how long are you planning to lie to me?”

I couldn't bear it anymore, my voice rose.

“The money in the house, last month you even transferred 150,000 yuan from my account in the name of 'company turnover'. Now you say you don't have even a penny?”

“I… that amount… I also lent it to him!”

He hastily latched onto the new lie.

“Yes, a total of nearly 500,000 yuan! Don't worry, that person has no problem. He said he would pay in half a year and still make a profit... just consider me investing!"

Take my dowry... "invest" it in someone I've never heard of? My hands are cold. My fingers trembled, I could barely hold the phone. Chest tightens each time. I gritted my teeth.

“Luc Triet, I give you the last chance. Send me the name and phone number of that 'friend', along with a photo of the loan document. I'll go ask myself.”

“Everything must match what you say. If it's true, I will immediately sign a revocation."

I set clear conditions. The other end of the line was absolutely silent. So quiet that even the sound of breathing disappeared. I already know the answer. Reasonable-sounding explanations… just different shells of the same lie. Kidney failure is fake. Project losses are fake. Lending to you... is also fake. From beginning to end, not a single sentence was true.

“Luc Triet, my patience… is about to run out.”

My voice is very light. But the pressure seemed to press down. He finally collapsed, his voice breaking.

“I said… I'm telling the truth… don't be angry… that money… I… I brought…”

The later, the smaller. Almost inaudible.

“Take it for what?”

I pressed close. Don't let him go back to the lie.

“I… I gave… to my brother… to pay the deposit for the house.”

It was as if his throat was being strangled, and he had to try very hard to speak. It felt like something exploded in my head. Everything went blank in a second. There was only a buzzing sound. Buy a house... for Luc Nhien? The person who plays games all day and can't hold a stable job? And the money they used… Was it my dowry?

“You… say that again?”

My voice trembled and my breathing was no longer stable.

“Lately, Luc Nhien has a girlfriend. The bride's family requires that before the wedding, they must have a house in the center and pay all the money."

He spoke as if he were memorizing.

“My mother lost her appetite and sleep because of this, and her hair fell out. She discussed it with him... he was suddenly confused... so he agreed..."

His voice was almost pleading. I coldly continued.

"A family of you sat down, went back and forth, and finally decided to use my dowry... to buy a house for your younger brother?"

“It's not my plan! Wife, really not! Luc Nhien is my younger brother, I can't stand by and watch him not be able to get married..."

He was frantic and spoke incoherently.

“Besides, that house is in Luc Nhien's name and is also the property of the Luc family. Either way, it's an addition to our small house... Consider your dowry... let my family turn around for a while, later on we will have enough to compensate you, okay?"

I laughed. But my eye sockets were stinging. That smile seemed to be forced from my throat, cold to the bone. They took my things. But you can still say it's helping me "invest". The argument sounds more plausible than mine.

“Luc Triet, you really have the ability. Being a husband to this level... is considered an eye-opener for me."

I smiled, but my eyes didn't have any heat.

“Wife, don't say that. I know I'm wrong, really wrong! I'll give you one more chance. Let's immediately return that house and think of a way to compensate you, okay?"

“Just sign the complaint first, save your mother first. After that, the whole family sat down slowly to discuss, it was still possible to save it."

He was so frightened that his speech became confused.

“It's late.”

I only say two words. Like slamming a door.

“From the moment you started targeting my dowry… the so-called ‘family’ between us, on legal documents, was no longer there.”

I say every word clearly.

“What… what are you going to do? Lam Hieu Tuyet, don't be impulsive, don't do foolish things!

His voice immediately rose, clearly panicked.

“I'm not impulsive. I will step by step, according to the law, take back everything that belongs to me.”

I said slowly.

“Including the property I deserve… and an explanation.”

I added. Then immediately hung up the phone. Don't give him another chance to beg. In my heart, it was so clear for the first time. I opened WeChat and went to lawyer Vuong Du. Just type one line.

“Lawyer Vuong, help me create a divorce agreement.”

I looked at that text. Don't edit a single dot.