Chapter 14 — Thirty Years Later, We Brought Mom Home

Tham Gia Thu pointed at her face.

"Are you also worthy of stopping me? You three sisters have lived abroad for so long that you have developed a feeling of superiority?"

Tri Chau calmly looked at him.

"When I was fourteen years old, you threw my schoolbag into the fish pond."

"My mother said children play around."

"My father told me not to accept it."

Tham Gia Thu was stunned. Tri Chau continued:

"I won't accept you today either."

I leaned aside, making way for the police to enter.

"I just called the police."

Tham Gia Thu was taken to the station to testify. When Tham Ngoc Nhu hurriedly ran over, the yard was quiet again. Seeing the window frame being dismantled, her face immediately turned pale.

"Where is Gia Thu?"

Tri Dao replied:

"At the police station."

Tham Ngoc Nhu screamed at her.

"He's still just a kid!"

Tri Dao looked straight at her.

"He's forty-two years old."

Some people in the crowd of onlookers couldn't help but laugh out loud. Tham Ngoc Nhu lost face and turned to look at me.

"Hua Tri Chanh, do you have to push me and my mother into a corner?"

I pointed towards the west building.

"This is called the end."

She looked in the direction of my hand. In the room, the wall cabinet left behind by her mother was pried open, revealing a secret compartment behind. Just now, the worker removed the window frame and accidentally caused the panel on the wall to shake. Inside the secret compartment is an iron box. The workers still haven't had time to move. I put on gloves and carefully took out the box. Tham Ngoc Nhu's breathing seemed to stop. The box is still sealed. It's my mother's handwriting. To my three children. I opened the box. Inside is a stack of photos. Some letters. And an old-fashioned video tape. Tri Dao immediately asked someone to bring a tape player. Half an hour later. In the living room of the old house, the tape begins to play. Mom sits in front of the camera. Her face was very pale. But the voice is still clear.

"Tri Chanh, Tri Chau, Tri Dao."

"If you guys see this recording..."

"Maybe mom is no longer alive."

I unconsciously clenched my fist. In the screen, mother paused for a moment.

"I know there's someone else besides your dad."

"Mom also knows..."

"What she wants is more than just who your father is."

Tham Ngoc Nhu stood at the door. His face was so pale it was scary. The recording continues.

"I don't hate him."

"He is soft, listens to others, has dignity and is afraid of loneliness."

"But I can't let that weakness destroy you."

Mom picked up a stack of documents.

"Mom has kept all the evidence and papers separate."

"Uncle Luc Trieu Minh keeps a part."

"The bank safe keeps a portion."

"The western part of the old house is also kept partly."

"Tri Chanh."

"Don't be afraid that others will say you're cruel."

"I'm just taking back what belongs to my three sisters."

The whole living room was silent. I looked at the mother in the screen. Finally... Mom smiled.

"If you all live happily in the future..."

"Then don't be sad because of mom."

"I just hope you guys have a home of your own..."

"There's no need to look at anyone's face anymore."

The tape ends. The screen became pitch black. Tham Ngoc Nhu suddenly rushed forward, intending to pull the transmitter's cord. Tri Chau immediately stopped her. She screamed loudly.

"It's all fake!"

I stood up.

"Tham Ngoc Like."

"Ten o'clock tomorrow morning."

"We will meet one last time."

She gasped. I calmly said:

"Bring the books."

"Bring the key."

"And bring Tham Gia Thu."

Tham Ngoc Nhu did not bring Tham Gia Thu. She brought three lawyers with her. The location is still the living room of the old house. Tri Dao sits on my right. Tri Chau sits on the left. Uncle Luc Trieu Minh and aunt Phuong were also present. On the table were laid out her mother's will, trust fund contract, house ownership certificate, explanation of the content of the video recording, record of Hua Hoanh Vien's testimony and the court's decision to apply asset preservation measures. When entering, Tham Ngoc Nhu glanced at the documents on the table. She was no longer smiling.

"Gia Thu cannot come."

Tri Dao asked:

"After being summoned by the police, his psychology was unstable. The doctor advised you to rest."

Tri Dao nodded.

"So if you negotiate on his behalf, please present your power of attorney."

Tham Ngoc Nhu took out the power of attorney. Tri Dao took a look. Negotiations officially began. Tham Ngoc Nhu's lawyer spoke first.

"Our client admits that the ownership of the Van Giang Cong Quan apartment has shortcomings and agrees to compensate Ms. Hua one-third of the value according to the market price."

Tri Dao flipped through the documents.

"Van Giang Cong Quan apartment is my sister's personal property."

"Not a third."

The opposing lawyer frowned slightly.

"But the registration right has existed for many years, and the residence and use have also existed for many years."

Tri Dao raised his head.

"Then we'll charge an additional occupancy fee."