Chapter 13 — My Husband's Secretary Announced Pregnancy

In the following days, I mostly stayed in lawyer Vuong's office. The contents of the USB were like a Pandora's box. Once opened, it revealed Tram Mac's countless crimes - the level of complexity and cruelty was far beyond my imagination. Lawyer Vuong led his entire team to thoroughly review and analyze each document, each conversation, and each transaction line on the USB. We discovered that Tram Mac started the underground money laundering plan a year ago through that woman in Macau. He used his company's name to sign fake contracts with a number of ghost companies, using the excuse of "project costs" to transfer money out. After going through several intermediaries, the money was transferred to the other woman's account. She continued to use gambling chips at the casino to launder the dirty money, then deposited it into Tram Mac's secret account at a Swiss bank. The entire chain of activities is extremely discreet and professional. Without Lam Uyen to grasp the core data, it would be impossible for outsiders to find out. In just one year, he secretly transferred out more than ten million. And that's not counting the public funds he embezzled to spend on Lam Uyen and a few other shady women.

“This is typical behavior of financial crime and money laundering.”

Lawyer Vuong looked at the chain of evidence he had compiled with a serious expression.

"Moreover, he intentionally evaded debt with a particularly large amount of money. Miss To, your husband's case is no longer an ordinary civil dispute, but has become a serious criminal case."

I looked at those terrifying numbers, but there wasn't much turmoil in my heart. Anger, surprise — those emotions passed from the moment I saw the USB. Now all that remains is an icy calmness.

“How many years will he be sentenced?” I asked.

“The accumulation of many crimes: money laundering, fraud, plus the unfinished crime of kidnapping and extortion…”

Lawyer Vuong pushed up his glasses and said: "If all the crimes are established, it will be at least fifteen years or more." Fifteen years. Fifteen of a man's most golden years will all pass behind bars. By the time he was released from prison, he was over fifty, empty-handed, no different from a decrepit old man. To me, that's a satisfying enough ending. Lam Uyen was placed under police protection and placed in a safe place. With the support of her lawyer, she stood as an adverse witness and declared all the truth she knew to the investigation agency. Her testimony combined with the evidence on the USB, formed a perfect closed chain of evidence. Tram Mac's case was officially transferred to the economic investigation unit. At the same time, the divorce lawsuit between him and I was also officially brought to trial. Due to the criminal element involved, the trial was held in secret. In court, I once again faced Tram Mac. It's only been half a month, but he seems to have turned into a different person. Wearing a gray prison uniform, his hands are handcuffed, his head is shaved, his body is thin, his eye sockets are sunken, his eyes only look depressed and dumbfounded. He looked at me, without wavering, just staring as if he were facing a stranger. The judge read out my lawsuit request: divorce, property division, and debt liability determination. Law Tram Mac's defense attorney is a court-appointed legal aid attorney — a very young girl. She tried to argue "shared marital debt", asking me to be jointly responsible for the other five million loan. Lawyer Vuong stood up, did not object directly, but submitted each piece of evidence to the judge in turn. Consumer bill when Tram Mac had an affair during marriage. Receipt of luxury goods purchases for Lam Uyen. History of gambling transfers in Macau. And the strongest — notice of prosecution for his money laundering and financial fraud. Every time lawyer Vuong presented a piece of evidence, the judge's face became more serious, and Tram Mac's head bowed lower and lower. Finally, lawyer Vuong summarized the defense:

"Your Honor, defendant Tram Mac committed serious violations during the marriage. Not only did he betray the marriage, squandering common property, but also used the plaintiff's father as a guarantor, intentionally borrowed a large amount of money by fraudulent means, and at the same time tried to transfer money abroad to avoid debt."

“The defendant's behavior caused serious emotional harm to the plaintiff, as well as brought economic risks and severe mental trauma to the plaintiff's entire family.”

"According to the current Marriage Law, the party with serious faults in the marriage will be subject to unfavorable property division upon divorce. Debts arising from illegal acts are not considered joint debts of the couple."

"Therefore, we recommend that the court accept all of the plaintiff's requests: declare a divorce between the plaintiff and the defendant, all debts under the defendant's name are personal debts, for which the defendant is solely responsible. At the same time, as the at-fault party, the defendant should leave the marriage empty-handed."

The whole court was plunged into silence. The judge turned to ask Tram Mac:

“Defendant, regarding the evidence and the plaintiff's lawsuit request, do you have any comments?”

Tram Mac was silent for a long time, then slowly raised his head. He didn't look at the lawyer, nor at the judge, but at me. His lips moved slightly, his voice so low that it was almost inaudible:

“I agree.”

The legal aid lawyer next to him was stunned, about to say something, but was stopped by Tram Mac with his eyes.

“I agree to divorce.”

He repeated again, his voice a little louder.

"I shouldered all the debts myself. I... left empty-handed."

After saying that, he seemed to have been drained of strength and his whole body collapsed. I know, he is not repentant. He only understood that, in the face of such a mountain of hard evidence, any resistance would be futile. He agreed — just to save the last bit of dignity, which was not much left. The judge pronounced the sentence right in court. Tram Mac and I are officially divorced. Stepping out of the court, the sun was shining brightly. But I see, everything is still as vague as a dream. Five years of marriage, five years of commitment. We have loved, we have hated, we have calculated each other. Finally, it all ended with a brief sentence from the judge. I don't feel relieved, nor happy. There's just a cold void inside. It was like a long war had come to an end. I am the winner, but the battlefield is devastated, no one truly wins.