Chapter 29 — The Onyx Bracelet Shatters, The Husband's Secret Is Also Revealed

The room was quiet. Outside the glass door. The sun is slowly going down. The pale red afternoon light covered the conference table. I looked at the man in front of me. The person I once loved. Used to believe. I thought we would spend the rest of our lives together. Then gently say:

"Do you know what the saddest thing is?"

He looked at me.

"It's not that you're poor."

"It's not that the Xia family is in trouble."

"It's not like I need help."

"If that day you open your mouth."

"I will really help you."

Ha Nghien closed his eyes. Shoulders trembled slightly. Because I know. I'm telling the truth. I continue:

"The most unfortunate thing."

"It's that you always have the opportunity to choose to be a kind person."

"But every time."

"You all choose the easier path."

"It's easier to be quiet."

"Lying is easier."

"It's easier to take advantage of my trust."

Every sentence said. His face turned somewhat pale again. I closed the agreement. Sign your name down. The ink strokes are very decisive. No hesitation. No attachment. When I put down my pen. I suddenly remembered my mother. Remember the day she asked me.

"Have you really thought it through?"

I nodded. I also nodded. The only difference is. I'm not getting into a marriage. Which steps away from it. I pushed the agreement towards the lawyer.

"The file is complete."

Lawyer Dieu accepted it. Gently nodded. Ha Nghien looked at my signature for a long time. As if wanting to remember something. He stood up. Go to the door. Before leaving. He turned his back to me.

"Tram Duong."

"Maybe your mother is right."

I don't ask. He smiled to himself. Hoarse voice.

"Someone who truly loves you."

"Then I won't touch your money."

He opened the door. Step out. No turning back anymore. The door closed. In the room, there was only the faint sound of files being flipped. I looked at the space in front of me. Suddenly I felt relief like never before. Not for winning. But because in the end. I don't have to prove anything to anyone anymore. The rain fell lightly on the road. Tiny drops of water covered the steps in front of the law office. Ha Nghien stood under the porch. Hand holding black umbrella. Still holding the posture towards me.

"Just the last time."

His voice was very quiet. As if he himself knew. Those words no longer have any meaning. I looked at the umbrella. Suddenly I remembered many years ago. One time I worked overtime until late at night. He stood under the building waiting for more than an hour. At that time, I was truly touched. I met the right person. But now. I only see one thing. There is tenderness. Not enough to erase the damage behind. I shook my head.

"No need."

His hand holding the umbrella paused. I walked down the steps. Cold rain touches my hair. Touch the shoulder of the shirt. But I don't stop. Lawyer Dieu opened the car door remotely. I went straight towards it. Ha Nghien still stood in place. Don't chase. Don't call me by name anymore. Maybe he also understands. This is truly the last time. I opened the car door. Prepare to enter. Then I heard a sentence from behind. So small that it almost melts into the sound of the rain. I don't turn around. Because of that apology. Came too late. Later, the bracelet was broken. Later than fake documents. Later than the times I looked at him and waited for him to take my side. Later than the marriage that died a long time ago. I sat in the car. The door closed. The sound of rain was immediately blocked outside. Lawyer Dieu looked at me through the rearview mirror.

"Back to the hotel?"

I looked at the drops of water slowly sliding down the glass. Then softly shook his head. She was a bit surprised.

"So where to?"

I opened my phone. An old photo of my mother appeared on the screen. She is smiling. On her wrist is a red agate bracelet still intact. I looked for a long time. Then smiled softly.

"To the cemetery."

"Mom has been waiting for me for a long time."

The car slowly rolled. The city was covered in a thin blanket of rain. The buildings gradually recede backwards. Luong family. Quarrels. Lies. Years of patience. Everything is gradually left behind. For the first time in many years. I no longer think about having to prove myself right. No more thinking about trying to keep a marriage. No longer thinking about how to make others happy. I just thought. If mom sees me right now. Maybe she will smile. Then gently patted my head like when I was a child. Speak softly:

"Duong Duong."

"I'm finally home."

But below that video. It's a recording from the hospital. It's a fake signature document. It is a certificate of debt of one thousand six hundred thousand yuan. It's a video of Luong Man using a bracelet to force me to withdraw my application. The truth was there. It's so clear that it cannot be denied. No one just listens to the cries anymore. Not long after. The relatives who had constantly criticized me in the family group gradually became silent. Because they realize. This made the Ha family lose face. Not me. Which is exactly what the Ha family did. Finally returning to the life that belongs to me. I left the hotel. Moved to a new apartment near the company. But very quiet. No more meals that make people suffocate. No one forced me to yield anymore. No one told me anymore:

"It's just a bracelet."

First morning after moving house. I opened the blue velvet box. The broken bracelet was restored by experts. The crack is still there. Cannot disappear completely. But at least. It no longer falls apart. I placed the restored bracelet next to the intact one. Then took out the card my mother left behind. The familiar words are still there.

"If you meet someone who sincerely treats you."

"Give the other one to that person."

I looked for a long time. Then gently fold the card back. Put it back in the box. Not sad. No regrets either. Because I finally understand. What my mother wanted to leave behind for me. Never two bracelets. It's a reminder. That's my worth. It's not about becoming someone's wife. It's also not about being accepted by a certain family. But it's up to me. One afternoon in late autumn. I went to the cemetery to visit my mother. The wind is very light. The sky is clear blue. I sat in front of the tombstone. Wear the intact bracelet on your wrist. The red agate light reflects in the sunlight. Warm as the colors I remember from my childhood. I told my mother many stories. About the divorce. About the final files that have been closed. About who is ultimately responsible. About the new apartment. About new life. Until the end. I laughed.

"I still have the bracelet."

"But I probably won't give it to anyone else."

The wind gently passed by. The leaves rustle. Such a gentle response. I reached out and touched the bracelet. Then slowly stand up. The sun is sinking towards the west. The sunlight dyed the road ahead yellow. And this time. There is no one left standing at the end of that road. Wait for me to bow. I step forward. One step at a time. The bracelet is still there. The memory is still there. But the woman used to choose patience time and time again for the sake of others. Already behind. The important thing has never been to fight back. It's about protecting your own boundaries.