Chapter 4 — The day I signed the divorce petition, I won the bid for a 30 billion VND project

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the curtains, drawing a yellow streak as thin as a thread on the floor. I looked at that streak of sunlight for a few seconds before suddenly realizing... I was no longer at the Luc family's house. No need to wake up early to greet Luc's mother. No need to prepare breakfast for Luc Tu Hanh. There's no need to sit at the dinner table and listen to Luc's mother use insinuating words to criticize you. No need... Anything else. I turned around, buried my face in the pillow and burst out laughing. It felt like finally taking off the armor I had worn for three years. That armor is too heavy. It was so heavy that I couldn't breathe. But I still wear it all the time. Because I used to think... That's my responsibility. Only today did I understand. It was never armor. A shackle. I slowly got out of bed. Slowly brush your teeth and wash your face. Slowly prepare yourself a breakfast. Two slices of toast. A fried egg. A cup of black coffee. But the food is very delicious. Halfway through eating, the phone suddenly rang. It was Luc's mother calling. I hesitated for a few seconds then picked up the phone.

"Tham Nghien Thanh."

Her voice was as sharp as ever, as harsh as fingernails scratching glass.

"Where did you go last night? Why didn't you come home?"

Those two words came out of her mouth... How ridiculous. I calmly replied.

"Your son and I have signed a divorce agreement. That place is no longer my home."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Immediately followed by a torrent of blame.

"You are truly an unscrupulous person! Our Luc family has raised you for three years, and now you say you're gone? The agreement has indeed been signed, but the procedure has not been completed. Now you are still the Luc family's daughter-in-law! Tu Hanh didn't come back last night to see you, do you know how worried he is?"

I almost laughed out loud. Is he really worried about me... Or is he worried that I brought something I shouldn't have brought? I put down the coffee cup, my tone remained calm as before.

"Your son is not worried about me, but rather worried that I hold the Luc family's weakness in my hands. Just tell him that I don't bring anything with me, and I won't say a word to anyone."

“I still have something to say.”

I interrupted her.

"I don't need that apartment in the suburbs. I don't need that car either. I will return all the money in the agreement."

“What do you mean?”

“My point is very simple.” I calmly replied. “I, Tham Nghien Thanh, did not take any money from your Luc family.”

After speaking, I hung up the phone and continued to eat breakfast. The two slices of bread have cooled, but the coffee is still hot. I took a sip, the bitter taste quickly spread across my tongue, then slowly gave way to the sweetness in the aftertaste. Coffee is like that. Life... is also like that. Sometimes, the most bitter moment is also the moment the sweetness is about to begin. At ten o'clock in the morning was the press conference announcing the results. I wear a black vest with a white shirt underneath. Her hair is tied neatly at the nape of her neck, her makeup is light but delicate. Standing in front of the mirror looking at myself, I suddenly felt a bit strange. During the three years I lived in the Luc family, my dressing style was always strictly controlled. Luc's mother said: "The Luc family's daughter-in-law must not dress too ostentatiously." Therefore, my wardrobe is full of neutral colored dresses with discreet designs. dark color scheme. She didn't know... When I was in college, I was the most popular person in the department because I knew how to dress. Beautiful dresses. High heels. Brightly colored lipsticks. All were locked into a suitcase by myself. Locked for three years. I opened that suitcase. White shirt. Nude high heels. But neat and sharp. That's the look a designer should have. The press conference was held in the banquet room of a five-star hotel. Dozens of media agencies were present early, cameras and cameras simultaneously facing the stage. When I walked in, the receptionist was stunned, perhaps not expecting the general architect of such a large project to be young, and moreover, a woman.

“Miss Tham, please come over here.”

The staff led me to the front row. As soon as I sat down, I immediately felt someone looking at me. I raised my head. Four eyes met. It's Luc Tu Hanh. He sat in the third row, next to several senior leaders of Luc Thi Real Estate Group. Today he was wearing a dark blue suit, his hair was carefully combed, looking like he had just rushed out of an important meeting. He looked at me, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion.