Chapter 4 — Six Sticks Change a Life

A single thought kept circling in my mind: This whole life, have I chosen the wrong person from the beginning? * One month later, the results of the injury assessment were available. Second degree serious injury. Crushed knee joints on both sides, completely torn anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, collapsed left tibial plateau. Simply put, I will never be able to stand up again in this life. The Procuracy prosecuted the crime of intentionally causing injury. Before going to court, a few things happened. The first thing was, Tong Nghieu came to the detention center to find me. I didn't meet. He made a noise outside, saying he wanted to talk to me. What to talk about? I asked lawyer Chu to pass him four words: Divorce agreement. I left empty handed, I didn't need anything from him. But don't try to take away a penny from me. He refused to sign. I added one condition - If I don't sign, I will spread the story about him and Tran Tam Dao on Facebook/Wechat, informing all relatives, friends, and colleagues of both sides. The next day, the divorce agreement was faxed. Signed. The second story, Tran Tam Dao's family came. Her parents, and her sister. Came here to hand in the dismissal papers. The complaint dismissal paper was written very properly: Victim Tran Tam Dao voluntarily dismissed the complaint against the person who injured Co Tri Y, asking the court to reduce the penalty. The attached condition is that I must compensate 1.5 million yuan for hospital fees and future rehabilitation costs. Attorney Chu represented me. Return the petition. Not accepted. Tran Tam Dao's older sister panicked, banged on the table and shouted: "My sister is in this situation! What else do you want? Wouldn't it be better to pay the money and dismiss the complaint!" Lawyer Chu very calmly replied: "My client does not accept the dismissal of the complaint, nor does he intend to pay compensation. Ms. Co accepts the amount of prison sentence." "Are you guys crazy?" Lawyer Chu pushed up his glasses: "Miss Tran, I advise you to remind your sister in a wheelchair not to go too fast in the future. Going downhill is easy to overturn." The other party was so angry that he couldn't say a word. Third story. It's also the most important thing. Procedures for dispersing assets have been completely completed. The house was transferred, the car was sold, and the company shares were transferred. Minus lawyer fees and necessary expenses, the entire remaining amount was transferred to a trust account in Ta Chau's name. Clean, neat, completely legal. There is not a penny left under my name now. The court wants to enforce compensation? Coerce what? I'm already a miserable person. On the day of trial, I stood on the dock. The courtroom is not large. The audience bench includes Tran Tam Dao's family members, and several former colleagues at my company. Tong Nghieu did not come. Tran Tam Dao was pushed in a wheelchair. I glanced at her. After more than two months of not seeing her, she was skinny, her face was yellow, her legs were wrapped in thick braces, her whole body seemed to have been drained of life. She also saw me. That look is very complicated. There is hatred, there is fear, and there is a bit of... self-pity. Yet she felt sorry for herself. I almost burst out laughing. When the prosecutor read the indictment, I listened very carefully. "...Defendant Co Tri Y, on December 17, 2021, at his home used an aluminum baseball bat to hit victim Tran Tam Dao's knee and tibia, causing second-degree serious injury..."The judge asked if I wanted to say anything. I said yes. "The day the incident happened was the third wedding anniversary of me and my ex-husband Tong Nghieu. I came home early and witnessed with my own eyes the victim Tran Tam Dao having sex with my ex-husband. Tran Tam Dao is my friend of 26 years, the maid of honor at our wedding." In the audience, someone took a breath of cold air. "The above is the entire incident. I plead guilty and accept the punishment, do not ask for a reduction."