Chapter 8 — The Second Life of the Italian Examiner

Until Thursday night. Tieu Niem was asleep. I sat in the living room looking at documents. Khuong Ngan walked out of the office. Stop in front of me.

"Let's talk."

I closed the file.

"You say it."

He sat down. Hands clasped together. Place on your knees. It took a long time before he opened his mouth.

"I feel..."

"There is no more love between us."

I looked at him. Calmly replied: Khuong Ngan was immediately stunned. Maybe he never thought I would be so calm.

"You agree?"

I looked straight into his eyes.

"I went to the Civil Affairs Department to learn about divorce procedures."

"What reason do you have for not agreeing?"

Khuong Ngan's face immediately changed.

"How do you know that?"

"They called to confirm with me."

Khuong Ngan's hand tightened.

"So these past few days... you haven't said anything?"

I raised my head to look at him.

"You didn't say anything either."

The living room fell silent. So quiet that the sound of the refrigerator operating becomes unusually clear. Khuong Ngan took a deep breath. Finally said that sentence.

"So... let's divorce by mutual consent."

He paused slightly.

"And Tieu Niem..."

"Tieu Niem will stay with you."

Khuong Ngan immediately frowned.

"I didn't say I don't need you."

"But I can't raise her."

"What can't be raised?"

His voice was a bit higher.

"I'm her father."

I looked straight into his eyes.

"Khuong Ngan."

"Do you know what I need to bring in my schoolbag every day?"

"Do you know what your child is allergic to?"

"Do you know what time I have to take calcium?"

His lips were tight. After a while he said:

"Those things can be learned."

I nodded slightly.

"You have five years to study."

"But I never learned."

This time he was completely silent. It took a long time before he spoke up.

"The matter of child custody..."

"We'll discuss later."

"No need to discuss."

I interrupted him.

"If you want to fight for custody, I will go to court."

Khuong Ngan looked at me. His eyes were complex and difficult to understand.

"When did you change?"

I stood up.

"I've changed a long time ago."

"I just never realized it."

He asked again:

"What about assets?"

"The house is your pre-marital property and belongs to you."

"The car is also yours."

"My income belongs to me."

"As for Tieu Niem's alimony, it will be done in accordance with the law."

Khuong Ngan parted her lips slightly. It seems unbelievable.

"Have you thought it all through?"

I tidied up the documents on the table.

"Don't think twice."

"It's just that this is very simple."

He stood up.

"Khuong Ngan."

I turned my head.

"Stop acting."

"I want a divorce."

"I also want a divorce."

"This is the first time in this marriage that we have made the same decision."

"Then just do that."

He stood where he was. Can't say another word. I hold the documents. Enter the bedroom. Close the door. Sit down on the edge of the bed. Then take out your phone. Send Lam Chinh Tac a message.

"Mr. Lam, I will participate in the province's review review session."

Two minutes later. A reply message appears.

"Okay. Come to my office next Monday. I'll prepare the documents for you."

I put down the phone. Quietly looking at the night outside the window. Feeling the sky for the first time of this city is so large. The divorce story was not made public. The only person who knows is Trieu Ky. I'm not sure if he heard it from Khuong Ngan or guessed it himself. That day at the project office. Trieu Ky came again.

"I heard that you and Khuong Ngan..."

I replied very briefly. He was stunned for a moment.

"So what do you plan to do next?"

I looked at the detailed drawing on the screen.

"Keep doing what you're doing."

Trieu Ky seemed to want to say something. But then again.

"Do you need my help?"

"I know a pretty good lawyer."

"No need."

I smiled softly.

"Still thank you."

He didn't have time to continue speaking. Then Co Yen walked in from outside. In his hand he held a stack of documents.

"Miss Tham."

"The response from the investor has been sent."

"The Nam Hang acceptance milestone has been pushed forward two weeks."

I immediately turned back.

"How soon?"

"The fifteenth day of next month."

I did the math in my head.

"So there are only twenty days left."

Co Yen nodded.

"This afternoon we have to have a coordination meeting with the construction team."

I stood up immediately. Trieu Ky still stood in place. While passing by him.

"Trieu Ky."

"I'm fine."

After speaking, he walked away. Never looked back. The coordination meeting lasted until seven o'clock in the evening. When walking out of the meeting room. The sky was completely dark. Co Yen and I walked side by side on the road outside the construction site.

"Is twenty days enough?"

Co Yen asked.

"But still in time."

I looked towards the construction area.

"Most importantly, batches of interior materials and lighting systems cannot continue to be delivered late."

"I pushed the supplier."

"There will be a response tomorrow."

I nodded. Co Yen suddenly remembered something.

"There's one more thing."

"The province's review review session will take place on the twentieth of next month."

"Nam Hang's acceptance is on the fifteenth."

"There's only a five-day gap in between."

He looked at me.

"Can you prepare at the same time?"

I answered very briefly. Co Yen did not say flattering or complimentary words. Just calmly say:

"If you need any help, just let me know."