Chapter 10 — The day I signed the divorce petition, I won the bid for a 30 billion VND project

“You're too self-righteous.” Khuong Niem looked straight at me. "Do you really think that just winning a few projects is considered a success? Do you really think divorce is a way out?"

She smiled faintly.

"You don't understand. The most important thing is who is in that man's heart."

"In Tu Hanh's heart there will always be only me, not you. No matter how excellent you are, it cannot change that fact."

I quietly looked at her. It's not because what she said hit the nail on the head. I don't see the need to object. Khuong Niem is right. Luc Tu Hanh's heart truly always has her. So what? A man whose heart already contains the image of another person... Not worth fighting for.

“Are you done talking yet?”

I asked calmly.

"Done."

“Then you can go home.”

Khuong Niem picked up her bag and stood up. After two steps, she suddenly stopped.

“Ah yes.”

She turned her head to look at me, the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

“Sister Nghien Thanh, do you know why Tu Hanh has never asked anything about you?”

“Because…” She smiled. “In his eyes, you are not important at all.”

The door closed. I was the only one left in the room. I stood in front of the window, quietly looking at the city outside. The sunlight is very beautiful. The sky is very blue. In the distance, there are a few birds spreading their wings in the air. What Khuong Niem said is not wrong. In Luc Tu Hanh's eyes... I'm really not important. But that's just because... He never knew how important I was. It's time to let him know. A week after Khuong Niem left, my life was strangely peaceful. There is no phone call for Luc Tu Hanh. There were no nagging words from Luc's mother. There was also no inquiry from Khuong Niem. Everything is extremely quiet. So quiet... Just like the sea before the storm came. I know very well. This peace will not last. Khuong Niem has never been the type of person to give up easily. After three years of living in the Luc family, I understood her tricks all too well. That day, right after I married into the Luc family, she sent me that photo. At first I thought it was just a normal blessing. Only later did I find out... She deliberately chose my wedding day to send it. That day, I was doing my makeup when the courier brought an envelope. Inside is a photo of Luc Tu Hanh and Khuong Niem together. The two of them stood by the beach, smiles on their lips so dazzlingly bright. On the back of the photo there are only four words.

"I wish you two happiness."

Sign below. I held that photo. My hands trembled non-stop. The makeup artist asked me what was wrong. I just smiled and said... Nothing. During the wedding, the smile on my lips was still very beautiful. No one noticed anything unusual. That night. Luc Tu Hanh was drunk. He vomited for a long time in the bathroom. I helped him back to the room. But as soon as he hugged me... He whispered again.

“Nim Niem... don't go.”

Only at that moment... did I truly understand. That photo was never a blessing. A declaration of war. Khuong Niem is telling me that. The person he loves is me. As for you... forever just a replacement. And from the first day of that war... I lost. It's not because I'm not good enough. In the first place, I didn't even I know I'm being dragged into a war. I used to think marriage was about two people. It's two people who love each other walking in the same direction. It's a promise. It's trust. The Luc family's marriage has never been like that. At the Luc family... Marriage is just a power game. Who has the right to speak up? That person will be the winner. It took three years. I finally understood that principle. And now... I am no longer a passive player in this chess game. On the seventh day of that peaceful time, I received an anonymous email. In the email there was only one photo. That's a photo taken the day Luc Tu Hanh and I got married. I wear a wedding dress. He wears a suit. The two of them stood in the hotel garden, smiling seemingly happily. But on the back of the photo... Someone used a red pen to draw a huge slash. I looked at the photo for a long time. Then calmly drag it into the trash. Not out of fear. It's because... I don't want those things to continue taking up my time and emotions. After deleting the email, I called my assistant Tieu Chu.

“Help me investigate the origin of this email.”

“Yes, Ms. Tham.”

After hanging up, I continued drawing the design.