Chapter 16 — Seven Years of Silence, One Life of Freedom

After hanging up. I stood up. Lock the door carefully. Then step outside. The row of sycamore trees in front of the gate has lost nearly half of its leaves. Every step stepped down. There was a rustling sound. Monday night. I don't turn on the light. Just sit on the sofa in the living room. In front of him is a cup of tea that has long cooled. Seven forty minutes. The door lock made a "click" sound. Tran Thieu Quan walked in. See me sitting in the dark. He stopped.

"Why don't you turn on the lights?"

"Save electricity."

He smiled softly. But in that smile. There was no more relief. He comes. Sit down opposite me. Quietly look at me.

"I said there was something I wanted to discuss."

I took out the divorce agreement from under the tea table. Place on the table. Push it in front of him. He didn't take it right away. Just bow your head and look at the words on the cover. Then there was silence for a long time.

"When did you prepare?"

"Three months ago."

He reached out and took it. From the first page. Go to the last page. I read it all. It takes about five minutes. He closed the file. Put it down on the table.

"Don't you need anything?"

"The house belongs to you."

"Deposit divided in half."

"Your shares."

"I won't take it."

"Because it's yours."

He raised his head to look at me. Something seemed to be vibrating in his eyes. Not emotional. Not angry either. It's an emotion that's very difficult to name. Like... Until today. I'm just starting to understand. All these years. In the end, I misunderstood something.

"That email..."

"The email Lam Hieu San sent to me."

"Recommend kicking me out of the company."

"It's you who answered."

"Her suggestion."

"I agreed."

"Don't you hate me?"

I looked at him.

"What now?"

"See it's no longer necessary."

He bowed his head. One hand placed on the cover of the agreement. The thumb unconsciously strokes the edge of the paper back and forth.

"If you say..."

"What if you don't want a divorce?"

He didn't answer.

"Tran Thieu Quan."

I looked straight into his eyes.

"The past seven years."

"Have you ever loved me?"

That's the question. I've asked myself countless times. You never gave me an answer. To the end. He was still staring at the divorce agreement. Still doesn't answer my question. I speak for you.

"Once loved."

"Not in the last seven years."

Tran Thieu Quan turned to the last page of the agreement. Take the pen. Right before signing. He stopped.

"The story of Lam Hieu San..."

"It's true that I didn't know she was arbitraging."

"I admit it."

"You never investigated."

"I really don't know."

"There's one more thing."

He raised his head to look at me.

"Trinh Khai's arrival at Dang Due Capital..."

"You told him to leave."

"I just want to clarify."

"What exactly is Chu Dinh Van planning to do?"

"Not to help him deal with you."

He looked at me. It seems like there's still a lot to say. But in the end... Still didn't say. He bowed his head. Sign your name on the agreement. Push the file back in front of me.

"Do you need to move out now?"

"No rush."

"Within a week."

He stood up. Go to the door. Pick up your coat.

"I won."

This is the second time he said that. Different from last time. There was no longer any reluctance or reluctance in his voice.

"It's not about winning or losing."

I replied softly.

"It's over."

He stood in front of the door. Turn your back to me. Be quiet for two seconds. Then open the door. Step out. The sound of the door closing was very quiet. It was as if he deliberately didn't want to bother anyone. I still sit in the dark. Gently put the agreement in the file bag. Outside the window. A stream of car lights passed by. Instantly illuminating the entire ceiling. Everything went dark again. The divorce procedure was resolved very quickly. No arguments. Noiseless. There's also no holding back. Tran Thieu Quan strictly implemented all the contents of the agreement. He moved out of the house. Two cars. I only brought one. The other one is left at the company. The day he moved out. I just returned from a meeting at the company. Stand at the door. Suddenly realized. Huyen Quan was missing three pairs of shoes. And a suitcase. Below the keys on the table. There is a piece of paper pressed against it.

"In the second drawer on the left side of the office there is a file."

"Let's see."

I opened the drawer. Inside is an old share transfer agreement. That is an old text. Signed by my grandfather and Tran Thieu Quan. In terms. There is an inscription added by my grandfather himself.

"If the marital relationship between To Niem and Tran Thieu Quan ends..."

"The executive management rights that Tran Thieu Quan is authorized under this agreement will automatically convert into limited representation rights."

In other words. After divorce. Even the paper giving him the right to replace his grandfather in managing the company... also expired. He kept that agreement for seven years. Don't hide. Just quietly put it there. I looked for a long time. Then put it back in the drawer.