Chapter 18 — The Day I Stopped Fasting, They Lost Everything

“What are you looking for me for?”

He just quietly pushed a file towards her. That is the DNA examination report. A document confirming the sibling relationship between her and Giang Than. Lam Van was stunned. She picked it up. Read every word. Her hands began to shake. Eyes gradually red. But she still didn't cry. She just raised her head to look at him. Voice hoarse.

“So… I'm not a nameless castaway?”

“I… also have a brother?”

Giang Than's heart felt like it was being squeezed. He nodded. Dry voice.

“I am Giang Than.”

“It's my brother.”

Her tears finally fell. Quiet down. It was as if thirty years of humiliation and suffering had finally found a way out. I gave her a tissue.

“You still have a biological mother.”

“Her name is Liu Yumei.”

She stopped. His eyes immediately changed. Calm disappeared. Only hate remains.

“Is she… selling me?”

I nodded.

“Because of a child she bore with someone else.”

Lam Van burst out laughing. The smile was cold to the bone. She wiped her tears. Bow your head deeply.

“Thank you for telling me the truth.”

“Thank you for finding me.”

She raised her head. His eyes burned with the fire of revenge.

“Where is she?”

“I want to meet.”

“I want to ask directly.”

“Her heart… is it made of flesh?”

Date of opening of trial. The whole city was almost deserted. Everyone watched the livestream. Record-breaking views. Liu Ngoc Mai was pushed into the courtroom. Sitting in a wheelchair. Like an empty corpse. Mouth babbling. Next to him is fake Chu Le. Face turned white. The trial begins. When the prosecutor read about the crime of child trafficking. The courtroom door opened. A figure walked in. Straight figure. His eyes were cold as ice. It's Lam Van. She stepped onto the witness stand. Eyes like two blades. Crashed straight into Luu Ngoc Mai. Right at that moment. The other woman stiffened. She looked at that face. Just like me when I was young. Eyes similar to Giang Than. Memories burst. Thirty years of sin returned. Pupils constrict. She trembled. Like seeing a ghost.

“Don't look for me…”

“It's not my fault…”

“It's your fate!”

Screams rang out. Tearing up the entire courtroom. Also a confession. Indisputable. The whole court was silent. Then shock. Liu Ngoc Mai collapsed completely. She was taken from court. Moved straight to a mental hospital. The rest of your life. Only madness and fear remained. The trial continues. Lam Van stood there. Clear voice. Don't cry. Don't ask for pity. Tell me about thirty years of your life. Wandering. Do enough work to live. Like a nail. Close to the listener's heart. Especially the person standing down there. Fake Chu Le. When Lam Van said that she had her finger broken because of three school fees. Chu Le is wearing a tens of thousands watch. When she said she once skipped school to wash dishes, her hands were cracked and bleeding. Chu Le is living a carefree youth in college. When she said her dream was just to have a clean bed. Chu Le plans to take over more of the house. That distance. Breathtakingly cruel. A person who steals another person's life for enjoyment. A man who should have everything had to crawl through mud for thirty years. Everyone's eyes. Cut to Chu Le. She finally couldn't bear it. Vomiting in court. The verdict was quickly announced. The hammer sounded. Like the ending bell. Luu Ngoc Mai. With a series of crimes. Child trafficking. All were found guilty. Life sentence. Because she lost her cognitive ability, she will be imprisoned in a mental institution for life God keeps strict guard. Chu Hao Dinh was sentenced to twenty years in prison for intentionally causing injury, causing injury and causing disorder. She will live the rest of her life in a women's prison, with a distorted identity that she cannot accept. The rest of her life left only cold iron bars. There is also a debt of more than a hundred million that they owe to me and Giang Than. The court ruled that it would force deductions from all their future legal income. Until they die. This judgment means. They don't just lose their freedom. But also lose the most basic rights of a human being. Property ownership. They will be empty-handed. Slowly rotting in prison. Justice may come late. But when it arrived. Will be cruel to the end. The trial ended. The three criminals were escorted away. Their lives ended with a dot full of humiliation and guilt. Outside the court. The sunlight was so bright that it hurt my eyes. Lam Van walked in front of me and Giang Than. She bowed deeply. She smiled. A relieved smile. Giang Than helped her up. His eyes softened.

“What are you going to do later?”

She thought for a moment.

“I want to go back to school.”

“Make up for lost years.”

Giang Than nodded.

“I will take you abroad.”

“Study at the best school, have the best teachers.”

“My life, from today begins again.”

“I will give you everything you deserve.”

Lam Van's eyes were wet. She looked at him. The word "you" she waited for thirty years. Giang Than's eyes also turned red. He hugged her. As if afraid of breaking something precious. I stood next to it. Look at that scene. I couldn't help but smile. This war. It's finally over. A few days later. Giang Than invited me to his newly purchased penthouse. Outside the glass door close to the ground. The whole city glowed like a sea of stars. We stood on the balcony. Cool night wind. Glass of red wine in hand.

“It's all over.” I said.

"Are not." he looked at me.

His eyes were as deep as the night sky.

“For them it's the end.”

“For us, it's the beginning.”

I looked at him. Haven't understood yet. He put down the glass of wine. Take out a velvet box from your pocket. A sparkling pink diamond ring. Bright enough to dazzle.

“Hua Tinh.”

His voice lowered.

“This fight makes me see you clearly.”

“It also makes you see yourself clearly.”

“I don't want to miss out on the right person.”

He knelt down. Bring up the ring.

“I have nothing but everything that belongs to the name Giang Than.”

“And a heart that wants to be with you all my life.”

“Do you want to put your name in the ‘co-ownership’ section of my life?”

I looked at him. Look at those sincere eyes. I laughed. Laugh until tears. I held out my hand. Let me put the ring on. The story begins. From a house contract in someone else's name. And the end. By having the sky all to myself. Some people calculate every penny. In the end, we lost everything. Just keep your limits. Protect self-esteem. Won the world again. I raised my head to look at the night sky. The brightest star is sparkling. My real life. From this moment. Just officially started.