Chapter 7 — The Gift I Left After My Divorce

The incident spread... even more fiercely than I thought. Chu Minh Hien and Truong Lan became targets of criticism. They don't dare go out. Just showing your face... is being pointed at by people around you. Some people were even too enthusiastic... throwing eggs directly at them. That villa... became a prison. A cage that can be seen, touched… but cannot be escaped. They want to sell the house. But now... don't say seven parts, no one even asks for five parts. Everyone knows that it is the residence of a "scandalous" family. Buying is bringing on bad luck. Chu Dinh is no better. Her husband's company, Ly Vi, was heavily affected, losing many large contracts in succession. The husband's parents directly came to cause trouble and forced a divorce.

“Our Ly family cannot bear this humiliation!”

"What did my brothers and sisters over there do? Why does my family have to suffer?"

Chu Dinh sobbed and called Chu Minh Hien. Her voice cracked as if it was about to break.

“You… you save me…”

“I… what should I do?”

"Ly Wei wants a divorce and also wants custody of the children!"

"It's all because of you! It's all because of that woman To Tham!"

Chu Minh Hien listened as if he had lost his soul, unable to say a single word. What else can he do? His own life… has become a quagmire. Truong Lan's spirit... completely collapsed. She began to hallucinate. I always feel like that doll... standing next to my bed, staring at me. Every night I have nightmares, scream and then wake up. The whole person was skinny, his eyes were scattered, and his speech was slurred. Chu Minh Hien took her for a psychological examination. The doctor concluded— Acute stress disorder, accompanied by severe depression. Long-term treatment is needed... and away from the source of irritation. What is the source of stimulation? That very house. But they… had nowhere to go. All the money... was buried in that villa. They are stuck. There's no way out. Finally, another night… when I was woken up by the nightmare again. Chu Minh Hien collapsed. He found my new phone number. Brought to me by my lawyer. I did it on purpose. I know... he will definitely come. This is the final piece of my plan. The call is connected. Both sides were silent for a long time. Then his voice rang out— Hoarse, like it had been ground through sand. I replied, my voice as light as air.

“What do you… what exactly do you want?”

There was no longer any anger in his voice. Only... tiredness and despair.

“Let us go.”

“I beg you.”

“I returned the house, I don't need anything else.”

“Just delete everything online and come out and explain.”

“Give us a way to live…”

I laughed. The laughter was very soft. But through the phone... it's definitely chilling to the bone.

“The way to live?”

“Chu Minh Hien… are you asking me about my life path?”

“I asked you—”

“That day, will you leave me a way to live?”

My voice gradually turned cold. Every sentence, every word, seemed frozen.

"You cheated... did you think about my life?"

“You use my money to support others... do you think of me?”

"Your mother forced me to quit my job, forced me to be a buffalo and a horse, and scolded me endlessly... have you ever thought about me?"

“Your whole family clung to me like hungry leeches, sucking my blood for five years… then kicked me away like trash—”

“Have you… ever given me a way to live?”

Each sentence… is heavier than the previous one. On the other end of the line, his breathing was rapid.

“I… I…”

Can't even say a word.

“Chu Minh Hien, do you find it strange?

"Why did To Tham, who was so patient... become like this?"

I asked myself... then answered myself.

“Because I was pregnant.”

“Just before the day I was supposed to tell you.”

“I found out… you transferred twenty thousand money to buy our car to that woman.”

“I'll go find you.”

“You slapped me.”

“I had a miscarriage.”

“Right in our bathroom.”

“Blood… all over the floor.”

“And you and your mother… are sitting outside in the living room, discussing how to force me to leave empty-handed, to welcome her in.”

My voice was… terrifyingly calm.

“At that moment—”

“To Tham is dead.”

“Survivor…only a demon who knows revenge remains.”

“What you are suffering… is what you deserve.”

“And this… is just the beginning.”