Chapter 9 — Real Child in a Fake Family

“Your suffering—is treating me as a traitor for twenty-three years.” The room was as quiet as death. The team of lawyers bowed their heads to look at the documents, no one dared to interject a word. To Uyen Ninh closed her eyes, tears quietly flowing down. She was silent for a long time. Then he opened his eyes, his voice hoarse but unusually calm: "I won't sign." Co Dien Chau raised his eyebrows. "I won't leave empty-handed." She said, “If you want a divorce, that's fine, but I want the part that belongs to me.” “Belongs to you?” “I've been with you for twenty-three years.” She looked straight at him, "In these twenty-three years, your company has grown from a hundred million to a hundred billion. I manage the family, socialize, give birth, take care of everything—even if I am at fault, my efforts are not zero." Co Dien Chau looked at her quietly. Don't say. "The law stipulates that even the guilty party has the right to share a portion of the common property." To Uyen Ninh's voice became more and more stable, "Your prenuptial agreement—I saw it, there were loopholes. When the contract was drafted that year, the clause defining 'serious violations' was unclear. If you sue in court, it's not certain you can win completely."I sat in the corner listening, thinking to myself— This woman. Even though we've reached this step. She is still calculating. Still betting. Still looking for a way out. Needless to say, he is truly a formidable character. But she didn't know that— A month ago, Co Dien Chau reviewed that prenuptial agreement. Loopholes have been added. The chain of evidence is complete enough to hold a press conference. Includes a recording of her call to Tran Quoc Luong. Includes a recording of her call to Hui Jianguo. Includes a list of commercial interests that Xu Jianguo obtained through her over twenty years. Includes a recording of Chen Guoliang bragging after drinking alcohol—a recording that Hui Kienguo kept for twenty years. That's right. Hua Kien Quoc handed over that recording. Not voluntarily. It was Co Dien Chau who used evidence of illegal construction on three plots of land in his name in exchange. Everyone has weaknesses. Everyone has their price. Co Dien Chau only found that price. "Uyen Ninh." He opened his mouth, "Do you know why I called a lawyer today instead of filing a lawsuit directly?" To Uyen Ninh looked at him. "Because I gave you the last chance to save face." He stood up. Go in front of her. Looking down from above. "Sign your name. Bring your dowry and pre-marital assets. Go clean." "If you don't sign—" He bowed, his voice so soft it was almost a whisper: "I will let the whole world know what you did. Every detail. Every recording. Including evidence that you tried to bribe the testing facility." To Uyen Ninh's pupils shrank. "At that point, it will no longer be a matter of leaving empty-handed." He stood up straight, "It's suspected of falsifying blood tests, commercial bribery—these two crimes are enough to put you in prison for several years." The air in the room was extremely cold. To Uyen Ninh looked at him. The man had shared bed with her for twenty-three years. At this moment in her eyes—strange, like a different species. Her lips moved. Want to say something. But in the end, nothing could be said. She bowed her head. Hand holding the pen on the table. Flip to the last page. Sign. Hands tremble. But each stroke of the pen still steadily falls onto the white paper. After signing, she gently placed the pen back on the table. Stand up. Don't say a word. Turn around and walk towards the door. As she passed me, she stopped for a moment. Bow your head and look at me. I saw her eyes—red, swollen, empty, all light gone. She opened her mouth. "Nien An..." Just called my name once. Then—leave. The sound of high heels gradually fades away. Upstairs. Enter the room. Close the door. From then on, it never came down again. Three days later. Grandma

move away. A black commercial vehicle came to pick her up. Bring two suitcases. No one said goodbye. No one said goodbye. The three "brothers" also left one after another this week. Co Thua Vien left most decisively. On the day he signed the agreement, he booked a plane ticket to London. He stood at the door and turned to look at Co Dien Chau. Lips move. Finally, just say one sentence: "For these years... thank you." Co Dien Chau stood at the door and nodded. "Take care." Co Thua Vien turned around and got into the car, not turning around again. Co Thua Trach was picked up by his biological father - the old driver. When he got in the car, he cried. Don't cry for Co Dien Chau. Don't cry for To Uyen Ninh either. He cried for his own life of nineteen years of being blinded. Co Thua Hien was the last person to leave. His mother, To Uyen Ninh, called and told him to follow. But he hesitated for a long time. Standing at the door, he turned his head to look at Co Dien Chau. "Dad—" He called out loud. He corrected himself again: "Uncle... Uncle Co." The voice was trembling. The sixteen-year-old boy had red eyes. "Can I... still come visit Niem An in the future?" Co Dien Chau was silent for two seconds. "Maybe." Co Thua Hien nodded vigorously, turned around and quickly got in the car. The car door closed. The car left. The Co family's gate slowly closed.