Chapter 9 — The Darkness After a Model Marriage

Mom picked up a glass of water and placed it in front of me. "Mom, there's been progress today." She sat down. "Have you caught someone?" "Yes." "Who is it?" "An intern in the company, also... To Uyen Thanh." Mom's expression stiffened for a moment. Then it slowly became blank. “Uyen Thanh?” “Yes.” “Why is she…” Mom didn't finish. She bowed her head, her hands on her knees clenched and then let go. "Does she have any resentment towards you?" "It's not resentment towards you. It's greed for money." Mother shook her head. "I don't understand." "What don't you understand?" "Since childhood, her family background was not bad, her job was decent. After marrying into our family, we never treated her badly. Why did she do something like that?" "Mom, Some people's desires cannot be explained by morality." Mother was silent for a long time. Then she got up and went into the kitchen. The pot of soup boiled loudly. She turned off the stove. Don't turn around. "Nghien Dinh, can I get my old house back?" "Maybe." "Your father's photo is still in the office." "I know." "I'm afraid they'll lose the photo when they move." Her voice was very quiet. So quietly that it was like he was afraid of bothering someone. I walked over and stood at the kitchen door. "Mom, all of those things will be taken back." She nodded and didn't say more. After eating, I sat next to her for a while. The TV was still on but she wasn't watching. She just sat on the sofa, looking at the wall outside the window. At eight o'clock in the evening, Tran Nham called. "Chairman Tham, General Director To's lawyer is here." "She wants to be released on bail pending trial?" "Yes. The reason is to handle the handover of the company." "What are the conditions for being released on bail?" "Restricted from leaving the country, periodically appearing and paying bail." "How much is the bail?" "Could be up to millions." "Isn't her account frozen?" "The lawyer said it can be collected." "I was silent for a few seconds. "Let her be released on bail." "President Tham?" "The handover of the company really needs her signature. Thirty-seven unfinished contracts all have her signature stamp. If all of these contracts are not officially transferred, the loss will be even greater." "Understood. I will go discuss." Hanging up the phone, I stood under the smoking apartment building. I haven't smoked in a long time. Toxic smoke dissipates under the streetlights. The phone rang again. Some strange. I picked up the phone. “Tham Nghien Dinh.” It was To Uyen Thanh. Her voice was hoarse, as if she hadn't had a drink for a long time. "The lawyer said you agreed to let me go on bail." "The company needs to be handed over." "I thought you would let me stay inside." "I can't handle those contracts inside." The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. "You're still the same as before." "Like what?" "Still the same rationality." She laughed, carrying self-mockery. "I lied to you, almost leaving your mother without a home to live in." living. Yet for the sake of the company, I can still let you out." "Public matters and private matters, I can distinguish." "So what about divorce?" "Divorce is a private matter." "Are you going to sue?" "Yes." Her breath stopped. "There is no way back?" "The way back is only for those who can turn back." "I feel like you can't turn back?" "I can't turn back anymore." Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. The cigarette burned to the end. I slammed the filter head on the trash can. The city's night wind is very cold. But not as cold as people's hearts. The day To Uyen Thanh was released on bail awaiting trial, the atmosphere in the company dropped to freezing. No one dared to discuss it publicly. But they all use eyes to communicate. As she walked through the hallway, the former subordinates instinctively took half a step back. Not intentionally. It's an instinctive avoidance. She wore a simple black coat, no makeup, and her hair tied up casually. Completely different from the general manager a week ago. Set

The legal department spread handover documents on the long table in the meeting room. Thirty-seven contracts are yet to be completed, three mergers are in progress and two framework cooperation agreements with the government. Each document needs to be signed by her hand to confirm handover. She sat at the other end of the long table. The lawyer sat next to him. The legal director stood behind me. In the entire meeting room, there was only the sound of flipping papers. "The negotiation conditions of this new energy merger deal are personally decided by General Director To." The legal director pointed to a document. To Uyen Thanh lowered her head to look at it. "Yes. The partner asked for a twenty percent difference, I forced it down to twelve percent." "What about additional terms?" "The technical team is restricted from competing for three years." Having said that, she signed the handover document. Don't raise your head. Just like that, one text after another. From two o'clock in the afternoon until five o'clock. The light in the meeting room changed from bright to dark yellow. When the last stroke was placed, she let go of the pen. She rubbed her wrist. “It's done.” She said. The legal director checked all the documents once and nodded at me. I stood up. Everyone left one by one. There were only two of us left in the meeting room.