Chapter 25 — The Onyx Bracelet Shatters, The Husband's Secret Is Also Revealed

Luong Man said hoarsely:

"Khai Hang once told..."

"That year, Uncle Ha went to the hospital twice."

"Second return."

"He was angry for a long time."

"Because your mother refused to sign."

The whole room suddenly fell silent. Outside the glass. Ha Chinh Duc is sitting in a wheelchair. But when I heard that. He suddenly raised his head. His face was pale. For the first time, unconcealed panic appeared in his eyes. I looked straight at him. Slowly ask:

"Refuse to sign what?"

Luong Man shook his head.

"I really don't know."

"But it was mentioned in the recording."

"Aside from the trust thing."

"There's also the engagement thing."

My fingers unconsciously tightened. Four years ago. Right before Ha Nghien and I announced our marriage. It was also the time when my mother was the sickest. Lawyer Dieu suddenly opened a newly sent document. She looked for a few seconds. Then take a deep breath.

"The technical team has just restored another part of the recording."

I took the phone. On the screen is the latest transcript. My mother's voice is very weak. But every word is clear.

"I won't sign."

Then came Ha Chinh Duc's voice. Colder than I ever imagined.

"You should think about your daughter."

My mother replied:

"Just because I think about it."

"That's why I didn't sign."

There was a long silence. Then Ha Chinh Duc's voice rang out again. This time it made my whole body cold.

"If she marries into the Ha family in the future."

"Those things sooner or later belong to the same family."

I stared at the screen. Don't blink. Because up to this point. All the final pieces of the puzzle seem to be coming together. Application to change beneficiary. My private seal. Transferred funds. Pre-marital estate plan. And this marriage. Right from the start. In the eyes of some people. It was never just a marriage. It's a path to access wealth that has been calculated from a very early age. Outside the glass. Ha Chinh Duc suddenly leaned on the wheelchair and stood up. He pointed straight at Luong Man. Hoarse voice:

"That girl lied!"

"It's all a lie!"

But this time. No one immediately believed him anymore. Even Ton Phuong Anh stood dumbfounded. Look at my husband. Like the first time I really felt scared. Quietly looking at the man with half-white hair. Then I remembered something my mother said a long time ago. She held my hand very tightly. Softly advised:

"Duong Duong."

"There are people who want to take what you have."

"But the scariest people are not greedy people."

"It's the person who was just greedy."

"Just wanted you to thank them."

Come today. I truly understand the meaning of that statement. The entire hotel lobby was silent. No one spoke up. Even Ton Phuong Anh's crying had disappeared. Only the voice in the recording rang out clearly. But steadfast.

"Someone who truly loves you."

"I won't look at his money."

My hands clenched into fists. That was mother's voice. A voice that I haven't heard in a long time. But now. Every word, every letter. It's like stabbing straight into the heart. In the recording. Ha Chinh Duc smiled faintly. Very small laughter. But it sent chills down people's spines. He spoke up:

"You're thinking too far ahead."

"I'm just worried about the future of my two children."

My mother breathe very heavily. After a long dry cough. She slowly responded:

"You don't worry about them."

"You are worried about the Ha family."

There was another silence. This time it lasted longer than before. Then Ha Chinh Duc's voice rang out again. No longer the usual politeness. It clearly revealed long pent-up discomfort.

"If you say so frankly."

"Then I don't need to beat around the bush anymore."

My whole body stiffened. Lawyer Dieu also raised his head. Outside the glass. Ha Chinh Duc's face was terribly pale. He wanted to rush forward. But was held back by security. In the recording. His voice continued to echo. Every sentence, every word. It's so clear it's chilling.

"You know the current situation of the Ha family."

"I'm not hiding."

"If you two get married in the future."

"Those assets should also support the family."

"I can't let Tram Duong keep it all alone."

In the hall. Someone unconsciously took a deep breath. Ton Phuong Anh staggered backwards. As if she herself didn't expect it. Ha Chinh Duc once said such words. The recording continues. My mother laughed. The laughter was very soft. But it made my eyes sting.

"I got it."

"You don't come to visit the sick."

"He came to calculate."

No one spoke up. No one dared to interrupt. Because right now. The person is telling the truth. Not the people present in the hall. But a person who left this world many years ago. A mother. Is leaving his daughter with the final truth. In the recording. Ha Chinh Duc's voice became cold.

"Don't speak so harshly."

"I'm just helping you two have a stable future."

My mother immediately responded. No hesitation.

"He is helping the Ha family find a way out."

Even the onlookers began to whisper. Because everyone heard it. This is no longer a misunderstanding. It's also not a family matter. It's a bargain. A bargain takes place right at the deathbed of a person about to die. Then the recording comes to the end. My mother's voice became very weak. But still clear. Each word seems to be carved into stone.

"Ha Chinh Duc."

"As long as I'm alive."

"Don't you dare touch anything of my daughter's."

It was a very long silence. Then Ha Chinh Duc's voice rang out one last time. And made the whole hall speechless.

"You can't protect it all your life."

Right at that moment. I heard the sound of something falling on the stone floor. It's the phone in Ton Phuong Anh's hand. She stood motionless. Look at my husband. As if realizing for the first time. The man I lived with for decades. It can be so strange. Standing quietly in the middle of the hall. Listen to the ending recording. Then slowly close your eyes. By the end. I understand. Why that day? Mom held my hand so tightly again. Because she knows. She will no longer be with me. And she was using the last bit of strength she had left.