Chapter 2 — The day I signed the divorce petition, I won the bid for a 30 billion VND project

I glanced at the screen, my eyes immediately stopped at the sender's name. International Iconic Architecture Bidding Committee. My heart suddenly beat a beat faster. I unlocked it with my fingerprint and then tapped on the email. Just a few short lines. But my fingertips trembled slightly.

"Congratulations to Ms. Tham Nghien Thanh. Her design plan 'Van Gian' has passed the final appraisal round and officially became the winning bid for this international iconic architectural project. The appraisal council unanimously agreed that her design has reached the world's leading level in all three aspects: aesthetics, structure and sustainability..."

There's still a long way to go. But I didn't read any more. Because my eyes were fixed on the first line. The total investment capital of this project is 30 billion yuan. He is the general architect of that project. I slowly put down the phone, raised my head to look at Luc Tu Hanh. He was still sitting opposite, bowing his head, flipping through each page of the divorce agreement to check if I had missed a signature anywhere. He watched very carefully. Eyebrows slightly furrowed. Just like reviewing a normal commercial contract. Little did he know... In just a second, the value of the divorce agreement in his hand was crushed into dust by the email in my phone. He doesn't know either... During the past three years, he spent time pleasing Khuong Niem, oppressing me, locking me in this marriage like a decoration. Using the same time that he always despised, thinking I was just "doing useless things", to build a career that he could never reach in this lifetime. He didn't even know... He thought that by signing his name, he could throw me away. But from today... The person no longer worthy of me... It's him.

“Luc Tu Hanh.”

I stood up, picked up my bag and smiled at him. He raised his head, surprise flashing in his eyes.

“My bright moonlight has returned.”

I said calmly.

“And my freedom... has also returned.”

“This deal... is very profitable.”

I turned around and walked out of the room. Behind him suddenly came his voice calling loudly:

“Tham Nghien Thanh!”

I don't turn around. Not because I don't want to. No longer needed. The hallway is very long. Dark gray carpet covers the entire walkway, on both sides are tightly closed office doors. The early autumn sunlight penetrated through the ground-level glass window, falling onto the floor in bright streaks of light. I walked through those streaks of sunlight. Every step is extremely steady. The moment I stepped out of the Luc Thi Group building, the early autumn wind immediately rushed in. Bringing with it the typical dryness and coldness of this city. I raised my head to look at the gray-blue sky above. Then take a deep breath. In the air... There was no longer the familiar scent of the Luc family's perfume. No more harsh words from Luc's mother. There is also no longer the shadow of Khuong Niem. Only the wind remains. And it's me. Suddenly I burst out laughing. Not a bitter laugh. Not even a cold laugh. Which is really funny. Three years ago, the day I married into the Luc family, my mother held my hand tightly, her eyes red.

“Nien Thanh, if you have to suffer hardships there, just go home.”

Then I laughed Answer:

“Don't worry, Mom, he will treat you well.”

I honestly believe he will treat me well. But three years later. I held the signed divorce agreement, carried a small bag and stood in front of the Luc Thi building. On him was only a bus pass that was still expired... And the letter announcing the winning bid. It seemed... I had nothing left. But I feel... I have it all. The phone vibrated again. It's a message from assistant Tieu Chu.

"General Director Tham, congratulations on winning the bid! The media department has made arrangements. Tomorrow morning the press conference will be held at ten o'clock. Is this a suitable time for you?"

I only answer in two words. Then, I opened the ride-hailing app. Destination... My new apartment. That apartment was the one I quietly rented last month, Luc Tu Hanh was completely unaware. He didn't know that in the past three years, I registered my own design company, led a team of seven people, and completed four commercial projects with a total revenue exceeding 80 million yuan. He doesn't know anything, because he never wanted to know. In his eyes, Tham Nghien Thanh is just an ordinary woman who was lucky enough to marry into a wealthy family. Every day, my job is just to stay home and wait for him to come home, cook for him, and then appear with him at social parties like a beautiful decoration. He never asked me what major I majored in at university, never asked what award my graduation project won, and never asked why I gave up the opportunity to work abroad. Because he doesn't care. To a woman I don't love, it doesn't matter what she does. But does he still remember? That year, when pursuing me, I said something to him.

"Luc Tu Hanh, I'm not the type of woman who will stand in one place forever waiting for you. If one day you don't need me anymore, I will go much further than you can imagine."

At that moment, he smiled and hugged me and said:

"That day won't come."

However, every time a man says "That day will not come", that day is usually not far away. The taxi stopped in front of me. I opened the car door, sat in the back seat and read the address I needed to go to. The driver is a middle-aged man. He looked at me through the rearview mirror, perhaps feeling a bit strange that a luxuriously dressed woman walked out of the Luc Thi building but called a taxi instead of having a private car pick her up. I don't explain. The car slowly merged into the traffic on the main road. I leaned my head against the glass door, quietly watching the city outside gradually recede. The high-rise buildings, busy cars and hurried people are all backing away, only I am still constantly moving forward. I don't know how long the car had been running when the phone vibrated again. This time it's a strange number. I hesitated for a few seconds then pressed the listen button.

"Ms. Nghien Thanh."