Chapter 22 — Pretending to be Fired Once, Enough to See Eight Years of Marriage Clearly

It happened faster than I thought. The first person who could not stand the pressure was Han Lo. She admitted that the phone number ending in 6432 was indeed registered in her name. But she claimed that... After making the SIM card, it was always kept by Ma Lan Anh. The video was sent to the appraisal company... Han Tuan told her to film it. He said he just needs to complete the paperwork. Nothing will happen. It's Ma Lan Ying's turn... She no longer insists that the recording is real. She changed her statement. Say you're old. Everything is according to the son's arrangements. About the signing at the bank... She said Han Tuan said I had agreed in advance. Just because I was on a business trip, it was inconvenient to return. Everyone started blaming. At the same time... Pulling the other person down with him. The last person to speak... was Han Tuan. He did not admit to falsifying documents. Just calmly say:

"I just thought..."

"Husband and wife can handle it like that."

The policeman looked straight at him.

"Husband and wife relationship..."

"Does not mean the right to impersonate someone else."

"It doesn't make any sense..."

"You are allowed to dispose of the other person's private property."

That moment... I suddenly felt strangely peaceful. Before... I thought I needed an apology. Need him to admit he was wrong. Need him to bow his head for eight years of coldness and calculation. It wasn't until I actually got to this step... I realized it. What I need... Not an apology. It's evidence. Evidence... More valuable than any regrets. When leaving the police station... Han Tuan called me back.

"Diep Trung."

I stopped walking. He stood at the bottom of the steps. Looks extremely tired.

"We..."

"Do we have to go to this point?"

I looked at him.

"Not us."

He frowned slightly.

"I just want to help my family."

I nodded.

"So..."

"You have to help yourself too."

He was silent for a long time. Finally spoke up.

"If now..."

"I'll give you back two hundred thousand yuan."

"Withdraw all matters related to the house."

"We..."

"Can we not divorce anymore?"

I almost don't have to think.

"Cannot."

His eyes darkened.

"Eight years of marriage..."

"Don't you have any love left?"

I looked straight into his eyes.

"I used to have it."

"So..."

"Every month I send three thousand eight hundred yuan to your mother."

"So..."

"I spent money to buy a phone for your sister."

"So..."

"I contributed the deposit."

"Spend money to repair the house."

"Pay your mother's hospital bills."

"So..."

"When my father is sick."

"I never opened my mouth to ask you to pay me a penny."

"My whole family sees your kindness again..."

"It's an excuse to keep taking more."

Han Tuan's lips moved slightly. Finally... There's no more words to say. One month later. The divorce trial officially took place. Han Tuan still firmly asked the court to confirm that my pre-marital house was common property. He gave many reasons. Ma Lan Anh used to stay there for a long time. There are repair records from the management board. There is a certificate from the residential area. There are traces of common activities of the whole family. However... Each of those arguments... Is refuted by evidence. The inspection results confirmed... The signature on the application to replace the lock was not written by me. The signature on the residence confirmation application... There are also signs of forgery at a very high level. The change phone number registered at the bank... Has been transferred to the next investigation process. Real estate appraisal company... Present a document to temporarily suspend the file. At the same time, hand over the video of Han Lo pretending to be the owner. The neighbor... Also testified. She confirmed that Ma Lan Anh had said it herself... She wanted to use my house to compensate for the deposit to buy a house for her daughter. Give the court the notarized copy that your mother left behind. It clearly states: This amount of money is only given to Diep Trung. Not the common property of husband and wife. The judge... Read that document twice. Han Tuan's face... From calm... Gradually became gray. Before the end of the trial... The judge asked me:

"Do you agree to reconcile?"

"I agree to mediate the divorce."

"I do not accept the use of my private property in exchange for any compromise."

Finally... Under the presidency of the court... We completed the divorce procedure. The house before marriage... Belongs to me alone. Two hundred thousand yuan was transferred from the joint account... Forced Han Jun and Ma Lan Anh to repay on time. Other amounts... Any amount that can be proven to be a loan or common expense... Will continue to be handled according to the provisions of law. Particularly impersonation acts. Forged signature. Submitting false documents... Transferred to competent authorities for further investigation. When signing... Han Tuan pressed the pen very hard. To the point that a long gash appeared on the paper. It's my turn. I also signed. The last stroke of my name... Still following the habit of gently pulling it back. That's my real signature. I didn't cry at all. Just feel... There's a door that's remained closed in my chest for so many years. Finally... Opened. Walk out of court. Bright sunlight covered the entire yard. Trinh Du An stood waiting on the steps. She smiled and asked:

"Where to next?"

I thought for a moment.

"Go to the hospital to visit dad first."

"Then..."

"Go to the company."

She laughed.

"First day of new position?"

I nodded.

"Can't be late."

Dad's health recovered very well. Looking at the divorce settlement decision in my hand... He was silent for a long time. Finally, just gently say one sentence.

"Let's go home and eat."

I understand... What Dad said... It's not the house that once made me suffocated. The small house my mother left me. I changed the lock to a new one. Clean out everything that no longer belongs to you. Wash the curtains again. Clean the tea table. Place two more potted plants on the balcony. Evening... I sat in the living room. First line... It's still March 12th. That day... When recording this timeline... I just felt like I was standing in the middle of an endless darkness. I wrote one more line below. The plan ended. Finally, I returned to myself. At that moment... The phone vibrated. This is Han Tuan's last message. Your mother is sick. Han Lo also had to return the house. Are you satisfied? I just glanced at it. Then delete immediately. There are people... I can't understand it all my life. What I want... has never been to see them suffer misfortune. What I want... Just to invite them out of my life. The next day. I officially accepted a job at the Risk Control Department of the group. Mr. Tan gave me a new project file.

"Are you ready yet?"

I received the documents.

"Prepare done."

Sunlight shines through the glass window. In the reflective glass... Is my own shadow. Straight back. No more backing down. That March 12th... Han Tuan once thought... What he cut out... was just the living expenses of 3,800 yuan per month. But he didn't know. At that moment... He also cut off... My last illusion about this marriage.