Chapter 4 — Once I don't hold back, your whole family has to pay the price

Chu Minh held the pen, the pen tip hovered on the paper for a long time, but still could not come down. The mother-in-law stood next to her, crying and cursing, her cruel words pouring out like trash non-stop.

"Chu Minh! You can't sign! If you sign, I'll die right in front of you!"

"That woman is a disaster! She wants to destroy this house!"

“What karma did our Chu family create to marry such a cruel-hearted daughter-in-law!”

If it were before, these words would probably make my heart ache. But now... there is no longer a ripple in my heart. Perhaps, the ultimate pain... is the loss of feeling. I didn't urge Chu Minh, just quietly looked at him. I know how difficult this choice is for him... On one side are his biological mother and blood sister. On one side is the first wife who has been on her hands and knees for three years. Whichever side you choose... is to betray the other side. Time passes every second. The air in the living room was so heavy it felt like it could be squeezed out of water. At that moment, Chu Minh's phone rang. It's a video call from Chu Dong. Chu Minh seemed to have grabbed a lifeline and immediately received the call. The screen showed Chu Dong's tearful face. She didn't look seriously injured, just her hair was tangled, her eyes were red and swollen... clearly she had just finished crying. As soon as she opened her mouth, her voice was choked.

“I was so scared… I thought I would never see you again…”

"It's good that you're okay... It's good that you're okay..." Chu Minh also choked.

The mother-in-law immediately intervened, crying and calling.

"My daughter! You are suffering! It's all because of that bastard! I will definitely get justice for you!"

When Chu Dong heard that, his eyes flashed a strange light. She raised her head and looked straight through the screen at me, her eyes filled with resentment.

"Brother, it's all because of Lam Thu! It was she who brought me to those people!"

"She wants to kill me! She hasn't liked me for a long time!"

She began to change white to black, blaming all the blame on me. If it were an hour ago, Chu Minh would definitely have believed her without hesitation, then turned to question me. But now… he just silently looked at his sister. That look was very complicated, filled with pain, disappointment... there was also a trace of doubt that he didn't even realize.

“Dong Dong.”

He opened his mouth, his voice hoarse.

“Why did you buy five computers?”

Chu Dong's crying immediately stopped.

“I… I bought it for my classmate…”

“Why did you send it back to my house?” Chu Minh continued to ask.

“I… I entered the wrong address…”

It's still the same reason full of loopholes. Chu Minh closed his eyes, his face looking tired and exhausted.

“So… what about a pair of gold bracelets?”

This question... made both Chu Dong and her mother-in-law stunned. Chu Dong's face immediately turned pale, his eyes panicked.

“What kind of gold ring… I don't understand what you're saying…”

"The pair of gold bracelets that Lam Thu's mother gave her... are now in my hands."

Chu Minh's voice was very calm. But every word... was like a hammer hitting down. Chu Dong reflexively wanted to hide his hands behind his back. But it's late. On the screen... everyone can see it clearly. A pair of bracelets carved with unique patterns... were shining brightly on her wrist. Can't deny it.

“I… this… was given to me by my boyfriend!”

She still tried to resist.

"Really?"

I smiled coldly, held the tablet up to the camera. On the screen… was a photo I took with my mother. The pair of gold bracelets... are on my wrist, identical.

“Your boyfriend… also bought the same thing Like the relics my mother left behind?”

Chu Dong's face... completely lost all color. She opened her mouth... but no sound came out. The truth… was ripped apart right before everyone's eyes. The mother-in-law on the other end of the line was also dumbfounded. She looked at the bracelet on her daughter's arm, then at the photo on my phone... there was only disbelief on her face.

“Dong Dong… I…”

The daughter she always thought was obedient and understanding... turned out to be a thief. This attack... to her, it was like the sky was falling. The whole space... fell into silence. A silence... cold to the bone. Only the video remains... Chu Dong's trembling, panicked sobs. Chu Minh slowly turned off the video call, then raised his head to look at me deeply, those eyes... contained too many emotions that could not be put into words. Regret, pain, nostalgia... and even a bit of relief, as if he had just let go of something that had weighed him down for so long. He didn't hesitate anymore, picked up the pen, and signed his name at the bottom of the divorce agreement, each strong and heavy stroke as if he had exhausted all his strength. After signing, he pushed the agreement towards me. His whole body seemed drained of energy. He leaned down on the sofa, his eyes empty. The mother-in-law looked at the signed paper, as if her soul had been pulled out of her body, she sat down on the ground, screaming until her voice was hoarse. I took mine, folded it carefully, put it in my pocket, a neat movement as if closing a rotten chapter of my life. After that, I turned around and went straight to the bedroom, pulled the suitcase I had prepared in advance, everything... it turned out I had planned it out a long time ago. From beginning to end, I never looked back at Chu Minh and my mother-in-law again. When I pulled my suitcase out to the door, Chu Minh's hoarse voice rang out behind me, as if it had been torn from my throat.

“Where are you… going?”

I stopped, but didn't turn my head, my voice was as light as the wind passing by.

“To a place… without you guys.”

The door closed behind me with a very soft "click", but so decisive that it blocked all the cries and screams behind. The hallway outside was strangely quiet, the sensor light turned on, clearly illuminating the road ahead, as if a completely new path was opening. I took a deep breath, feeling... so relieved for the first time, like I had just removed the shackles I had been wearing for three years. I took my phone and texted my cousin Giang Dao.

“Brother, I'm divorced. It's all over.”

As soon as the message was sent, he immediately replied, so quickly that it seemed like he was waiting.

“Okay, I'm at the gate of your area, taking you to celebrate, congratulating you on being alive again.”

I looked at that line, the corners of my lips curled up slightly, a smile... a long time ago that truly came from the bottom of my heart.