Chapter 23 — The Secret in the Basement B2

21I stood silently in the control room. Outside, the sound of Manh Ky An pounding on the door rang out. His voice penetrated through the iron door, muffled as if coming from the bottom of the water.

"Don't touch anything in there!"

I didn't reply. On the screen, a man named Luong slowly placed his hand on the table. The left little finger has lost a segment. He looked at me.

"See that watch?"

I raised my head. His eyes stopped on the old bronze clock hanging on the wall.

"That's my father's watch."

He slowly shook his head.

"At first..."

"It belongs to your grandfather."

My heart sank.

"You lied."

"On Kieu found the ledger that year..."

"It's not because she's so smart."

"But before I die..."

"Her father left a clue."

"Inside that watch..."

"Ever hid the key to the first account."

"When Nguyen Thanh Vien got the watch..."

"It also means..."

"He got his ticket into that network."

I stared at the clock. Layers of rotten truth... Like moldy fabrics. Someone ripped it apart layer by layer. Not being pulled down by others. From the beginning... He was standing right in front of the door. It's you... Reaching out to take something that doesn't belong to you. The man named Luong continued to speak.

"After knowing about..."

"On Kieu wants to hand the watch out."

"Nguyen Thanh Vien..."

"Knelt down to beg her."

"She's soft-hearted..."

"One time only."

"And that same time..."

"Push yourself into the path of death."

My throat was tight.

“Why are you saying all this to me?”

He smiled softly.

"Because I don't want..."

"Nguyen Thanh Vien continues to play the role of innocent person."

"I'm not innocent either."

"So..."

"Today..."

"No one leaves here clean."

Next to the screen appear two progress bars. Upload progress: 93%. Remaining bar... Reverse overwriting of data. The man named Luong slowly spoke.

"In front of you..."

"There are two buttons."

"Blue button."

"Full disclosure."

"Red button."

"Erase everything."

I bowed my head. On the console... There are indeed two old-fashioned buttons.

"Why don't you press it yourself?"

"Because..."

"On Kieu has reserved the final confirmation..."

"For you again."

"That action..."

"That's cruel."

"She handed over the last knife..."

"For my own daughter."

I look at the blue button. Fingertips gradually become cold. The voice of the man surnamed Luong suddenly lowered.

"Just click."

"Done."

"Shao Chan Hai..."

"It's done."

"Also."

"But in return..."

"You will lose..."

"The ultimate illusion of a family."

I raised my head to look at him.

"That family..."

"It's been gone for a long time."

I raised my hand. No hesitation. Press down firmly on the blue button. Right at that moment. All screens in the control room lit up simultaneously. The progress bar jumped from 93% to 100%. The loudspeaker outside rang out a cold announcement.

"The original data file has been backed up to multiple servers."

"Public submission completed."

"Local control has been locked."

The iron door opened. Manh Ky An rushed in. One hand held my shoulder tightly.

"Are you okay?"

I shook my head slightly. But... Right next second. The man named Luong on the screen suddenly leaned back. Behind he... A window appeared. Outside the door... Not a warehouse. It's the hospital's rooftop. From beginning to end... He was never in the warehouse. The captain also saw that image. Immediately picked up the walkie-talkie and called the hospital. The man surnamed Luong looked straight into the camera. Give your last smile.

"Nguyen Nam Tu."

"That year..."

"Don't die right away."

My whole body stiffened.

"What did you say?"

"Nguyen Thanh Vien..."

"I don't dare kill her myself."

"He handed her over..."

"For someone else."

"That person took her away."

"Then..."

"Moved to a private nursing home again."

"Already lived another nine months."

Tears immediately welled up in my eyes.

"Which sanatorium?"

The man surnamed Luong raised his hand. Point to the bottom corner of the screen. There appears an address. Same medical record number.

"It's my last card."

"At first..."

"I intend to use it in exchange for my life."

"But now..."

"No need anymore."

The image on the screen suddenly shook violently. Someone on the rooftop was calling his name. The man surnamed Luong turned his head to look over. Raise your voice softly.

"On Kieu once said something."

"When people are rotten..."

"You should let the light shine."

The screen turns off. I stood dumbfounded. It feels like all the strength in my body has been drained. Manh Ky An quickly took a picture of the address and medical record code on the screen.

"Let's go out first."

When the warehouse's lockdown system was lifted... The rain finally stopped. When Thieu Chan Hai was escorted to the car. In just a few hours... He seemed to have aged ten years. Driver Cao sat down on the ground. Constantly repeating.

"I was just following orders."

"I was really just following orders..."

Mieu Tue was also controlled again. She cried while revealing the entire process of forging electronic signatures. My father stood silently in front of the warehouse door. He did not run away. Or maybe... There was no way to run anymore. Saw me coming out. His lips moved slightly.

"Nam Tu..."

I stopped. There were still a few steps between us. I asked calmly.

"You know..."

"Did my mother live another nine months?"

His face immediately turned white. That's enough. I don't need your answer anymore. He always knew. I held up the recording pen.

"To the end..."

"Have you been waiting for me?"

Dad's tears suddenly fell.

"Been there before."

"I don't dare go in."

I looked at him. Only coldness remains in my heart.

"It's not that you don't dare."

"You don't want to face the truth..."

"That she's still alive."

He bowed his head. Can't say another word. When the police escorted him away. He turned his head to look at me many times. Not once responded. Uncle Ma was taken back to the hospital for emergency treatment. Come evening. The doctor announced. Temporarily kept alive. When I woke up. The first question you asked me was:

"Have you seen that photo?"

I nodded.

"I see."

Uncle cried as he spoke.

"That day..."

"When your mother hugged you..."

"She said..."

"Later..."

"You must live well."

I sat by the hospital bed. Cry for a long time. Three days later. All backup data were simultaneously published on many media agencies and sent to investigation units. The fire three years ago. Project security deposit transfer. The case of forging electronic signatures. Same list of accounts being braked from the old ledger. All were officially investigated again. The day Manh Ky An's reportage was published. The title has only one sentence. The piece of paper on a rainy night exposed the fire that had been buried for three years. I didn't open the article. I went to the address of the old private nursing home. That place has long been abandoned. Only a tall sycamore tree stands still in the middle of the yard. Based on old records. An employee gave me an iron box. Inside... Is the last letter my mother left behind. On the page... There are only a few short lines. If you grow up and know all the truth... Please don't let hatred hold you back. My mother has made many wrong choices her whole life. But saving my child... Was never a mistake. I stood under the sycamore tree. The wind after the rain blew softly. The leaves rustle. At that moment... I truly understood. The piece of paper Uncle Ma left behind on a rainy night... Not only saved my life. But also giving back... Purity came three years late for my mother. I quit my job. Khuong San also left that company. Manh Ky An continued to follow the remaining names on the list. The day Uncle Ma was discharged from the hospital. It was just sunny after a bit of rain. Uncle sat in a wheelchair. As soon as I saw it, I smiled gently.

"Later..."

"Don't work overtime so late anymore."

I also smiled.

"So later..."

"Don't stand in the rain waiting for anyone else."

Uncle shook his head.

"Someone worth waiting for..."

"Then we still have to wait."

I raised my head and looked into the distance. After the rain. The city seemed to have just been washed. Glass buildings reflect gentle light. There are dark nights... Will never be forgotten. But dawn... Will eventually come.