Chapter 7 — On my wedding night, I kicked my husband's entire family away

I interrupted.

"You can't handle it. Because you never wanted to handle it. You just want me to hold back."

The entire courtroom was silent. Luc Dinh sat next to me, his expression calm, without saying another word. But at that moment, my heart felt strangely steady. It was like finally… someone was on my side. Don't tell me to endure, don't tell me to stop, but tell me that - what I endure, there is a place to say, there is someone willing to listen. The first trial did not announce a verdict immediately, the court allowed time for mediation. I'm not surprised. Law has its order. Sobriety… same thing. But when I walked out of the court, Chu Tu Bach chased me to the steps, eyes red and stopped me.

“Lam Van… really can't give me another chance?”

I stopped walking and looked at him. In just over a month, he had lost weight, his eyes were dark, and his whole body looked exhausted. My previous life… wasn't it the same? It's just that at that time, he never softened his heart. So now, I won't either.

"Opportunity?" I smiled softly. "Chu Tu Bach, I gave it to you on the wedding night. If you had said that day—Van Van, the money and the house are all yours, no one is allowed to touch it—then perhaps I would have really stayed with you to live on."

“But you didn't say it.”

“You thought of making me a resource for your family.”

“From that moment… you were eliminated.”

His lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end only his pale face remained. I walked past him, straight. When I got to the car, Luc Dinh opened the door for me.

“What do you want to eat?”

I was stunned.

“After the trial, we have to eat.” he said. “Fighting the psychological battle takes a lot of effort.”

I laughed. He also laughed. At the hot pot meal that day, I ate a lot. The spicy pot boiled loudly, the heat rising up and fogged the glass. I sat opposite, watching Luc Dinh drop slices of beef into the pot... suddenly a bit stunned.

“What are you looking at me for?” He looked up.

"Nothing." I held the glass of apricot juice and spoke softly. “It's just that I realized... it turns out that someone is on my side, this is what it feels like.”

His movements slowed down a bit.

“Has it never happened before?”

"Not yet." I smiled slightly. "In the past, everyone told me to be generous, to give in, to take a step back. As if just because I am a woman... I have to suffer more than others."

Luc Dinh's eyes slowly darkened.

"Lin Van... it's not you who should suffer."

“It's that they assume you will suffer the loss.”

My heart trembled slightly. But enough to… change a lot of things. He gave me a piece of tripe, his voice still light.

“Don't be a default in the future.”

I bowed my head and smiled, but my eye sockets felt a bit hot. The hot pot meal that day was eaten very late, Luc Dinh took me home. Downstairs, pale yellow light spreads onto the ground. I unfastened my seat belt and was about to open the door when he suddenly spoke.

“I know you don't want to think about anything else right now.” He looked straight ahead, his voice steady. "So I'll only say this once. Wait until you finish the divorce matter, if you agree... let's try it."

My hand stopped. The car suddenly became so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. I turned my head to look at him. He also looked back, there was no pressure in his eyes, only seriousness.

“You don't need to answer right away.”

I laughed and pushed the car door open.

“Then you get in line first.”

Luc Dinh was stunned for a second, then laughed softly.

“Okay, I'll wait.”

The second trial took place after three month. During those three months, Chu Tu Bach and I completely separated. All the money transfers, harassing messages, police reports... were clearly saved by me bit by bit. As for the Chu family... it's so messed up that it couldn't be more messed up. After the marriage was annulled, Chu Minh Khai continued to borrow at high interest rates. Chu Tu Van borrowed everywhere to cover the debt. Finally, he turned to forcing Chu Tu Bach to sell his parents' old house, and even tried to drag me—“daughter-in-law”—into the debt. They could no longer find anyone who could be pushed out as a substitute. The second trial ended, the judge declared a divorce on the spot. The moment I stepped out of the court, I raised my head to look at the winter sunlight, so bright that my eyes hurt a bit. Chu Tu Bach stood on the steps, as if his strength had been drained from him. He looked at the verdict in my hand, his voice hoarse.

“Lam Van... I really regret it.”

“You don't have to regret hurting me.” I put the paper in my pocket, my voice calm. “You only regret not tying me up sooner, regretting losing someone who can take care of the whole family for you.”

His face turned white, he wanted to refute... but couldn't say a word. Chu Tu Van stood far away, her hair disheveled. When she saw the divorce results, she rushed over like crazy.

"You unlucky woman! You ruined my son's life!"

She raised her hand to hit me. But midway, a hand stopped me. Luc Dinh didn't know when he stepped up and stood in front of me.

“Try touching her.”

His voice was not high, but cold to the bone. Chu Tu Van faced that look... but really flinched. His mouth was still muttering curses, but he didn't dare to act anymore. I walked out from behind Luc Dinh and looked at her.