Chapter 2 — Once I don't hold back, your whole family has to pay the price

The two words "divorce" fell like thunder in a clear sky. Chu Minh stood still, his eyes full of surprise looking at me. On the other end of the phone, the mother-in-law was silent for a second, then immediately exploded with shrill curses.

"Lam Thu, white-eyed wolf! There is no way the Chu family has mistreated you! You dare to ask for a divorce from my son! You want to force this whole family to death, right?"

I was too lazy to listen to another word, so I immediately hung up. The world… is finally quiet. Chu Minh still stood there, his lips trembling.

“Thu Thu… you… what did you just say?”

Maybe he thought he heard wrong. Over the past three years, no matter how unreasonable his family was, I only complained a few sentences, never touching these two words. I looked straight at him, repeating.

“I said, divorce.”

"Just because of this small matter? Just because of 30,000 yuan, you want a divorce?" His voice was full of myth.

“Small matter?” I laughed.

"Zhou Ming, this is not about 30,000 yuan. This is about you and your family, over and over again, without end, consuming all my patience and affection."

"I'm tired. Don't want to keep cleaning up your mess anymore."

I opened the office door, took out the printed divorce agreement, and placed it in front of him. The division of assets is clearly stated. This house, the deposit was paid by my parents, belongs to my pre-marital property. As for the installment payment after marriage, I can convert it to cash and give him half. If you buy a car after marriage, you can let him keep it. Money saved, divided in half. I... have been preparing a retreat for a long time. Chu Minh looked at the agreement, his face whiter than paper. Only then did he realize, I wasn't kidding. Not angry either. I really… don't need him anymore.

“No… I don't agree!” He tore up the agreement, shredded paper flying all over the floor.

"Lam Thu, calm down! Our love for so many years cannot be because of this..."

His phone rang again, interrupted. This time it wasn't a call. It's a video. Chu Minh reflexively clicked open. The frame shook violently. Chu Dong was tied to a chair, his hair was messy, his face was clearly marked with slap marks, and the corners of his mouth were still bloody. She cried miserably. A rough male voice rang out outside the frame, carrying a bit of cold teasing.

"Mr. Chu, your sister is my guest... she doesn't seem very familiar."

"In one hour, if the money hasn't arrived, I will cut off one of her fingers and send it to you."

“You should consider it yourself.”

The video ends. Chu Minh's hand shook, the phone fell to the ground with a "click" sound. The screen shattered. His whole body seemed to have been drained of soul, his face was bloodless. A few seconds later, he suddenly raised his head to look at me. His eyes were filled with fear… and pleading. He rushed forward, grabbed my arm, his voice trembling.

“Thu Thu… Lam Thu… I beg you… this time… you must save it!”

He clenched as if clinging to the last straw.

"Consider it a loan from me, okay? I'll write a debt note! Later, I'll pay you back as a buffalo and a horse!"

He cried. A tall man... crying like a child. But looking at that scene... my heart no longer wavered. There is only a cold, quiet area left. I quietly looked at him and asked a question.

“Chu Minh, have you ever thought... why Chu Dong must send the computer to our house?”

He paused, not understanding why I suddenly asked So.

“Because… because he doesn't have money and wants us to pay in advance…”

“No.”

I shook my head.

"Because she knows... old Leopard doesn't dare come to our house to cause trouble."

I say every word clearly.

“Because… my cousin is the vice captain of the city's criminal squad—Giang Dao.”

Chu Minh's face was pale, like the first time he saw me.

“My cousin… Giang Dao?”

He muttered. He had heard this name before. But I have never contacted the famous and decisive criminal deputy captain. I nodded, my expression unchanged.

"That's right. So Chu Dong knows very well that as long as he sends things back to our house, Old Leopard will not dare to come."

“She wanted to take advantage of me, take advantage of my family's relationships... as a shield for herself.”

“She calculated it very well—I will be soft-hearted, or for your sake, and pay that amount.”

"Once the money is paid, she's safe. The debt... will become ours."

Every sentence of mine... was like a hammer hitting Chu Minh straight in the heart. He staggered back, falling onto the sofa, his eyes empty. This is not a simple solicitation. It's a carefully calculated game of chess. His biological sister... used her own family as a pawn to sacrifice.

“How could she… do that…”

His voice was full of pain, like something inside him had just broken. I looked at him coldly. Do you know the pain now? Over the years, the pain I have endured... is like a knife cutting into my skin.

“I'll tell you one more thing, Chu Minh.”

My voice is very soft, but every word is clear.

"Two years ago, the pair of gold bracelets my mother gave me were lost. I thought I accidentally dropped them."

“Until last week… I saw it on Chu Dong's friend circle.”

“She posted a selfie and wrote: 'My boyfriend gave it to me, it looks good on me.’”

Chu Minh's whole body was shocked, he suddenly raised his head, his eyes were bloodshot.

“No… no way… Dong Dong is not that kind of person…”

I walked into the bedroom, opened the deepest drawer of the bedside table, and took out the tablet. Opening an encrypted album, I showed it to him. A photo of me and my mother. On my wrist, those golden bracelets are clear, the pattern is unique, unmistakable. Then I opened another screenshot. Bracelet... located on Chu Dong's wrist. Clear, irrefutable evidence. Chu Minh stared at the screen, his breathing gradually becoming heavy. The "honest" sister he was always proud of... turned out to be a thief. She is someone who silently calculates and takes advantage of her own sister-in-law step by step. Everything he stubbornly protects… is just a rotten illusion. The confidence on his face… crumbled little by little. At that moment, the phone with a cracked screen on the ground vibrated crazily again. Chu Minh was like an animal cornered. He quickly grabbed it and answered the phone tremblingly.

“Mr. Zhou, my patience is limited.”

Old Leopard's voice rang out, cold, carrying a bit of impatience.

"An hour is almost over. Where's the money?"

Chu Minh opened his mouth, but his throat seemed to be choked, unable to utter a word. He looked at me. His eyes... were so desperate and pitiful. Without expression, I reached for the phone and turned on the speakerphone.

“Old Leopard, right?”

My voice was calm and cold. The other end of the line was silent for a moment, perhaps not expecting the listener to change to a woman.

“Who are you?”

“I am the owner of this house, also is Chu Dong's sister-in-law. Lam Thu.”

"OH?" Old Leopard smiled softly. “If you're in charge, that's easy to say. 30,000 yuan, bring it immediately. Otherwise... your brother-in-law's fingers won't be able to hold it."

His voice was full of menace. I didn't respond to that threat, just casually asked a question.

“Do you know the card shop ‘Old Place’ on Trieu Duong Street?”

His voice stopped.

“What do you mean?”

"Nothing." I speak slowly. “I just heard it's not peaceful there lately. Last Wednesday night, a cheater had his leg broken.”

“I heard… the person who took action was your junior.”

The other end of the line— fell into absolute silence. I clearly heard his heavy breathing.

“Let me remind you one more thing.”

“Abandoned Warehouse No. 3 in Dong Thanh… you better have someone clean it up.”

“The things hidden in there… if the police find out… it won't just be a broken leg.”

“Who… who are you?!”

Old Bao's voice had completely changed, panicked and insecure. I don't answer. Just coldly state the final condition.