Chapter 7 — The Day I Overthrew My Husband's Family

He said he wanted to confess many times, but was afraid that my mother and I would be disappointed, afraid of the eyes of our family, so he kept hesitating until now.

“Nguyet Nguyet, dad was wrong, very wrong.”

"You don't have to hesitate because of me. You can do whatever you want. It's time for me to pay the price."

Those words contain no justification, no evasion, only acknowledgment and acceptance of the consequences. I hung up the phone, my heart felt like it was being torn apart, but my eyes gradually became colder and more alert than ever. I looked at Luu Ngoc Mai, but at this moment she no longer had the initial satisfaction, but instead was confused because the plan was completely different from what was expected. I wiped away the tears at the corner of my eyes, my voice became calm and scary as I said that he would bear his own sins, but her sins could absolutely not be escaped. I picked up the divorce agreement, slowly placed it on the table, and said that now I had to repeat the new conditions. In addition to all the old terms, she also had to give three hundred thousand as compensation to Ton Chi Cuong and his father for the past twenty years, and this amount had to be transferred directly to Ton Hieu Hieu's account within a week. If I don't see the money, I will personally take her to where she is supposed to go. My word is not big, but as a final verdict, no negotiation is allowed. Luu Ngoc Mai looked at me, her eyes full of resentment and unwillingness, but she also clearly understood that she no longer had any cards in her hand. At that moment, the doorbell rang again. I curled my lips slightly, walked to the door and opened it, outside was a skinny girl, very big eyes but a look full of caution and insecurity. It is Ton Hieu Hieu. I took her inside, then pointed towards Luu Ngoc Mai who was sitting on the ground, her voice as calm as ice.

“Liu Ngoc Mai, recognize yourself.”

“It's been twenty years, I think you should say sorry to her.”

Ton Hieu Hieu stood there, as fragile as a weed blown by the wind. She looked at the woman sitting on the ground, her eyes filled with twenty years of confusion, pain and hatred that could not be named. Luu Ngoc Mai also looked back at her, looking at her face that looked seven parts like Ton Chi Cuong, the face that had become a nightmare that had haunted her for the past twenty years.

“Miss…” Ton Hieu Hieu's lips trembled, as if she wanted to ask many things but couldn't say them out loud.

She wanted to ask why she was so cruel, why she ruined her and her father's lives, and why in the past twenty years she had not once regretted it. But all those questions eventually turned into a bloody sob. Tears fell continuously, each drop seemed to cut into the other person's heart. Luu Ngoc Mai was frightened by that cry. She wanted to get up, want to run away from this place, from the trial that did not require a hammer but decided everything.

“Sorry…” three words were forced out from between his teeth, so small that they were almost inaudible.

“I can't hear clearly.” I said coldly, my eyes not wavering at all.

"Sorry!" Luu Ngoc Mai suddenly raised her head and screamed like crazy.

"I'm sorry guys! Okay!"

The apology had no sincerity, leaving only resentment and helplessness of the person cornered. Ton Hieu Hieu cried even harder, her thin shoulders shaking uncontrollably. I stepped forward, gently put his hand on her back, his voice was low but firm.

"Hieu Hieu, stop crying, tears should only be reserved for those who deserve it, there are people... who don't deserve it."

I helped her sit down on the chair, then turned to look at Luu Ngoc Mai, her eyes cold as ice.

"Three hundred thousand, that's the amount of money you've owed them for twenty years. If you miss a penny, I'll make you understand what regret is."

Chu Van Ban saw his mother so miserable, and finally couldn't bear it anymore, turned to me and screamed.

"Tham Nguyet! Don't be too harsh!"

"After all, she is my mother and your elder!"

I laughed, a cold, sarcastic laugh.

“Elder?”

I stepped in front of him, looking straight into those useless eyes.

“Chu Van Ban, do you now remember the words elder?”

"When she plotted against me, harmed me, forced me to leave empty-handed, did she remember that she was an elder?"

"When she colluded with outsiders, targeted your assets, and treated you like trash, did she remember that she was your mother?"

“When she ruined other people's lives and lived leisurely for twenty years, did she ever remember that she was human?”

Every question was like a slap to his face, leaving him speechless, unable to refute. That's right, what right does he have to blame me, when he himself is a part of this dirty trap. I didn't look at him anymore, just took the two contracts, one for divorce, one for compensation, and walked in front of Luu Ngoc Mai.

“Sign your name, get fingerprinted.”

My voice was so cold that it no longer had any temperature. Luu Ngoc Mai looked at me with eyes full of resentment, as if she wanted to tear me apart, but she didn't dare to resist. All the cards have been turned over, she is just a fish lying on the cutting board. Holding the pen with trembling hands, she signed both contracts, then pressed her bright red fingerprint down. When finished, her whole body collapsed as if her life had been drained from her, lying on the floor with no strength to resist. Seeing that the situation was over, Chu Van Hao immediately quietly slipped away like a chased dog, not daring to stay another second. I looked at his back, not stopping him, because of his debt, I will calculate it bit by bit later. I collected all the papers, then helped Ton Hieu Hieu up, my voice a little lighter.

“Hieu Hieu, let's go, this place is too dirty, it will dirty your eyes.”

I took her out of the room, not looking back even once, leaving behind only the desperate eyes of Chu Van Ban and Luu Ngoc Mai. At the door, I stopped walking, didn't turn around, just said one sentence quietly but coldly enough.

"Chu Van Ban, before nine o'clock tomorrow morning, take your and your mother's things and leave my house."

“If not, I can't guarantee what will happen.”

Having finished speaking, I opened the door and took Ton Hieu Hieu out into the light. The door behind him closed strongly, blocking all plots, dirt and sins. Also closing... a ridiculous part of my past.