Chapter 19 — The Bride Strikes Back: Exposing the Liar

People in the photo. He's still the same as in memory, clear features, deep eyes, just a little more tired and weathered. His eyes stopped on me, calm but filled with many difficult things to say.

“You're here.”

His voice was low and hoarse, as if he had gone through a lot of wind and fog. I looked at the man I had been looking for all this way, my throat choked for a moment.

“Uncle… why are you looking for me?”

I finally asked the question that was suppressed deep inside my heart. He didn't answer right away, just stood up and walked step by step towards me. He was so much taller than me that I had to raise my head to look him in the eye. He stood in front of me, so close that I could smell his unique scent, the faint scent of buttermilk mixed with dry grass in the sun. He reached out his hand, the movement was very slow, but still made me instinctively take a cautious step back. His hand stopped in midair, then changed direction, pointing towards the necklace around my neck. It's a small piece of jade I've worn since I was a child, something I've never taken off once.

“This… where did you get it from?”

His voice trembled slightly, as if he was trying to suppress some very deep emotion. I paused, not understanding why he asked about this piece of jade.

“It's what my grandmother left behind.”

I answered truthfully, my eyes still not leaving his. After hearing that, his body felt like he had been hit, shaking slightly. His eyes were fixed on the jade piece, inside was a fierce wave of surprise and pain. He reached out his hand, wanting to touch it. The crescent-shaped scar on the back of his hand was clearly visible in the firelight. His hands trembled, unable to hide it.

“Your grandmother… is her family name Lam?”

“On the wrist… is there a crescent-shaped scar exactly like this one?”

His question was like a thunderbolt hitting my head, causing everything around me to explode. My grandmother, Lam Nguyet Nga, does have such a scar, I've seen it since I was a child.

“Uncle… how do you know?”

My voice trembled so much that it almost broke.

“Yes… my grandmother has that scar.”

Hearing the answer, his whole body trembled violently, as if he could not bear the weight of what he had just confirmed. The tall body slumped a bit, as if bearing a pain that had been suppressed for decades. His eyes were no longer calm, but a sea of emotions rolling, painful and suffocating. He gently touched the jade on my neck, his fingertips cold to the bone.

“A Nguyet…”

He whispered that name, as if calling someone from far away. Then he pulled another piece of jade from his collar. It's exactly the same as mine, only the color is deeper, the jade is thicker, clearly a pair. I stood dumbfounded, my brain completely blank at the scene before my eyes. This strange man... why does he have my grandmother's token, why does he call her name in such a voice.

“Uncle… who exactly are you?”

He raised his head, his eyes were red, his gaze seemed to penetrate straight into the past.

“My name is Trat Tay.”

“Your grandmother, Lam Nguyet Nga…”

“The only woman I have ever loved in my entire life.”

That sentence fell like an explosion in my heart, destroying all logic I had. My mind went blank, unable to process what was happening. He didn't look at me anymore, just turned back to the fire, added a log of fuel, and the fire flared reflecting on his face. In the flickering light, the sadness in his eyes was so deep that people didn't dare look at him for a long time. He began to speak, his voice low and slow, as if he were opening a dusty old book. Many years ago, he was a strong guy in this land, the best guide. My grandmother at that time was a young botanist from the lowlands, going alone to the plateau to collect samples. He became her guide. Together they crossed the snowy mountains, walked through the grasslands, between the vast sky and earth, their two souls gradually drew closer together. He loved her, loved the light in her eyes, loved her unyielding tenacity. She also loves him, loves his courage and sincerity. The pair of pearls is the token of engagement between the two people. They agreed that when she finished her work, she would take him home to meet his family and live forever together. But things never go as promised. Her family knew about it, objected vehemently because of his background, and used every means to force her to leave. They lied that he died in an avalanche while leading the group into the mountain. She collapsed, became seriously ill, and was sent to the lowlands. And he was threatened, received a sum of money and was forced to leave her forever. He waited at the appointed place, waited for a long time, until all hope was gone. He thought she had changed her mind, had chosen a different life. From then on, he no longer went into the mountains, no longer led the way, living with half a piece of jade and a broken love. After listening, my tears kept falling, my heart felt like it was being torn into pieces. I never knew my grandmother had such a deep love. I never thought there would be people waiting for a date for half their lives.

“So… three years ago…”

I choked, the question stuck in my throat.

“Three years ago… what happened?”

I looked at him, my voice trembling slightly but still trying to keep my last bit of composure. Mentioning three years ago, Trat Tay's eyes suddenly darkened, as if a layer of memory fog passed by.