Chapter 10 — There Are Wounds That Only Truth Can Heal

He raised his head. Lips moved slightly.

"Van Ninh."

"I know..."

"I'm sorry to you."

"That was all twenty years ago."

"Years later."

"My feelings for you."

"I understand."

I looked at him. Slowly ask each word.

"My mother knows..."

"The signature on file is fake."

He replied hoarsely. I looked straight into his eyes.

"I know."

Ha Kien Minh closed his eyes. Take a deep breath. Don't say another word. Outside the window, occasionally there are a few cars passing by. Car lights passed through the glass, leaving streaks of light. I stood up. Hold a bowl of noodles in front of him. Still intact. I poured it all into the sink. Open the faucet. Then she turned her head to look at him.

"Kien Minh."

"Tomorrow morning I will go to the police station to complete the procedures to adjust Tran Dich's household registration."

"I'll come with you."

Ha Kien Minh opened his eyes. Quietly look at me.

"I mean..."

"Just correct the household registration."

"And then it's all over?"

"I never said it was over."

I turned off the faucet. Turn around.

"Correct household registration..."

"Just the first step."

"Next steps."

"When the time is right..."

"I'll tell you."

"Van Ninh..."

He stood up. The voice carried a bit of pleading.

"This..."

"Can we not make it a big deal?"

"I know I'm wrong."

"Your mother was also wrong."

"But if everyone knew now..."

"Then no one benefits."

"Even Niem Niem..."

"Don't talk about Niem Niem."

I interrupted. The voice is not loud. But Ha Kien Minh immediately fell silent.

"I'm going to sleep."

I walked towards the bedroom. At the door, stop.

"Tomorrow morning."

"Nine o'clock."

"Police station."

"Are you going or not..."

"You decide for yourself."

I closed the room door. It was quiet outside for a while. I heard Ha Kien Minh's footsteps. He walked back and forth in the living room a few times. Then stop. Right after that... It was the sound of a phone number being dialed. The voice was deliberately lowered. I'm not trying to listen. Just take off your shoes. Lie down on the bed. Quietly looking up at the ceiling. Until today... What I know is enough. Ha Kien Minh admitted. He knows Tran Nhuoc Mai. Know the child exists. Also admitted. Know all about household registration. He still hasn't finished speaking. He never said. Whether Tran Thuc Phan was forced by his mother or not. Was anything promised? Or being pushed to the point of being forced to cooperate. He also hasn't said yet. Right at this moment. Someone pushed Tran Dich to knock on my door. Trieu Boi Dao. Tran Dich's grandmother. When he was alive... It was impossible not to know how that grandchild got his household registration. But... Not until after she passed away. Tran Dich just brought a photocopy of his household registration to come find me. When did Trieu Boi Dao die? For what reason? It's a fatal disease. Is there anything else? I haven't investigated yet. What worries me more... Is the phone call Ha Kien Minh just made. Who did you call? The biggest possibility... Is to call my mother. If that's true... What will the Ha family do? The next morning. I left home half an hour earlier than Ha Kien Minh. I didn't go to the police station. First destination... Lam Tinh's spa. I sit in a private room. Retell the entire conversation last night. Not a single detail is missed. Lam Tinh did not interrupt. Just quietly raised the cup of tea. Wait until I finish speaking. Just slowly spoke up.

"Tran Nhuoc Mai..."

"The person who was abandoned by He Kien Minh."

"Then his mother found out."

"Think of it way..."

"Put the child's household registration in your name."

"Like..."

"Keep a bullet ready for yourself."

"When do you want to shoot..."

"Then shoot then."

Lam Tinh put down the tea cup. His face was extremely unsightly.

"Van Ninh."

"For now..."

"Who decided to pull the trigger?"

"That means..."

"Who decided to release this?"

"They feel..."

"Now is the right time."

I calmly replied.

"Maybe something happened between them."

"They want to use this to force me."

"It's just..."

"I still don't know."

"Forcing you about what?"

"Maybe a pharmacy."

"Maybe..."

"It's another matter."

Lam Tinh stared at me.

"Those three pharmacies..."

"You opened it before marrying Ha Kien Minh."

"Or after the wedding?"

"First store."

"It's my own money."

"After marriage."

"We use common property."

"Open two more stores."

Lam Tinh's eyebrows immediately frowned.

"If divorced..."

"Two stores later."

"They are all common property of husband and wife."

"Damn it."

She blurted out a small curse. Then look at me.

"Van Ninh."

"They..."

"I intend to force you to divorce."

"To divide half of the property."

I don't deny it. Also not confirmed. What I need right now... Not speculation. It's evidence.

"The most important thing right now."

"It's a must know."

"When did Trieu Boi Dao die?"

"Who told Tran Dich to come find me?"

"Trieu Boi Dao?"

Lam Tinh asked again.

"Tran Dich's grandmother."

"Someone from my father's side of the family."

"He's also the one who raised him."

"Investigate how?"

"Tran Dich knows his grandmother's house."

"I'll ask him to take me there."

Lam Tinh nodded slightly. Ask no more. Just stand up. Pour me more tea. Sit in a private room. I took the phone. Message Ha Kien Minh.

"I've finished handling the matter at the police station."

"I don't need you anymore."