Chapter 13 — The Darkness After a Model Marriage

Wedding photo of me and To Uyen Thanh. On the back was written a line.— Nghien Dinh, I heard something happened. This photo was found when cleaning Uyen Thanh's room. She always keeps it in her nightstand drawer. I didn't know who to give it to, so I brought it here. I looked at the photo. Seven years ago, she wore a white wedding dress. The smile is very bright. It's like she believes the future will be extremely good. I turned the photo face down on the table. Then dialed the internal phone. "Tran Nham, help me order a bouquet of flowers." "To whom?" "Old house." "What kind of flowers?" "Cinnamon flowers. My mother likes it." The other end of the line was silent for a second. "Understood." In the evening, I returned to my old house. Mom is watering the flowers in the yard. Under the cinnamon tree, a newly purchased small tea table was placed. Seeing me, she smiled. "Nghien Dinh, smell it, this year's flowers are especially fragrant." I sat down opposite her. "Mom, next month her case will be tried." Mom's hand stopped for a moment. Then continue watering. "Are you going?" "I'm going." "Then go." She didn't ask anymore. Nor does it say to forgive or not to forgive. She just continued to water the flowers. Water drops fell on the leaves, illuminated by the sparkling night light. I sat next to him for a long time. The smell of cinnamon flowers comes in waves. Not too strong, not too light. Sufficient. The phone vibrates. Is a notification message from the court. Case number, court opening time and courtroom number. I finished reading and then locked the screen. Mom put down the watering can and sat across from me. "Nghien Dinh, I want to tell you something." "Tell me." "After the case is decided, let's renovate the old house." "Why?" "This house contains too many old stories." She looked at me. "Me too." I didn't answer. She reached out and patted the back of my hand. "Uyen Thanh did wrong and must be punished. But I can't live in hatred forever." "Mom..." "The year my father died, I was only eighteen years old. I alone supported this family, then supported the company and my mother's old age. Mom knows I'm very tired, but I can't turn myself into a machine because of fatigue." I looked at her. The mother is over sixty, her hair is eight parts gray. Her hands were very rough. These are calluses that form while doing chores in the warehouse. But she is smiling. That smile was exactly like the year my father passed away. Firm but not offensive. "Mom, don't you hate her?" Mom thought. "I used to hate. When I lived in the warehouse, couldn't sleep at night, I also hated." "What now?" "Now I feel that hatred is too tiring." She stood up, pulling back her shawl. "In this life, the only person I ever really hated was only one." "Who?" "It was you." I was stunned. "At that time, you trusted people too easily, didn't know how to tell the difference. Obviously your voice won't be that cold, but I'm still being fooled. I feel so stupid." "It's not my fault." "Maybe, maybe not. But I can't live with that problem forever, you're still with me. Let it go." After saying that, she went into the house. The smell of cinnamon flowers still floats in the air. I sat alone in the yard. Haven't moved for a long time. Day twelve. Date of opening of trial. To Uyen Thanh wore a blue vest from the detention center and stood on the defendant's chair. She lost a lot of weight. Hair is cut short to ear level, revealing white roots. When the prosecutor read the indictment, she did not bow her head. From beginning to end, look straight ahead. When it was time to deliver her final words, she was silent for a long time. Then turn towards the listening area. Her eyes landed on me. "Tham Nghien Dinh, I'm sorry." Her voice was hoarse. "I know these three words aren't valuable. But besides them, I have nothing left to give you back. Your mother's old house,

lost corporate reputation and seven year marriage. I cannot refund anything. I can only say sorry.” She paused. “If I could do it again, I wouldn't teach him to imitate your voice. I will open my mouth myself. Tell me you're tired. Tell me you need to be seen. But I didn't. I chose the worst way, hurting the people who shouldn't be hurt the most. I plead guilty, not appealing." After she finished speaking, the courtroom was silent for a long time. The judge asked her if there was anything else she wanted to add. She shook her head. The judgment gavel was knocked down. The verdict was as follows: Defendant To Uyen Thanh committed fraud, was sentenced to eleven years in prison and had to pay a fine. She did not cry. Only when she was being led away did she turn her head to look at me once. Those eyes were exactly like the eyes during the kiss. ceremony seven years ago. Only then she was smiling. Now there was only a gray color left. I walked out of the court. Tran Nham was waiting outside the door. "President Tham, the official verdict will be issued within a week." I nodded. "What about Lam Vu Hang?" "The appeal court upheld the sentence, twelve years in prison." "I know." I sat in the car. The court building slowly backed away.