Chapter 15 — Three Years of Being a Fake Wife, One Day Overturning the Table

The paralyzed son, whom she once took as her "pride", eventually had no one to take care of him. And now, she herself... is paralyzed. Staying in a cold prison, experiencing the feeling of not calling the sky, calling the earth not spiritual, day by day being immersed in one's own fate.

“Why did she think… I would write her a dismissal paper?”

I looked at that yellowed envelope, my eyes were so cold that they no longer wavered.

“Based on the fact that she tricked me for three years of my youth?”

“Or is it based on the fact that she wants to steal all my money?”

“Or based on her defaming me in front of the entire public?”

“Didn't she always believe that the Chu family had great blessings?”

“Then just let her stay there… enjoy all her blessings.”

Phuong Tinh looked at me, not surprised at all, just nodded slightly as if she already knew the answer.

“I guess you would say that.”

"Actually, the prison has also assessed that her condition is not enough to be released for medical treatment."

“This letter… is just the last bit of desperation.”

“Tear it up.”

I spoke very softly, but firmly.

“From now on, anything related to the Chu family… no need to show it to me anymore.”

“Whether they live or die, illness or disaster... it has nothing to do with me.”

Phuong Tinh nodded, put the envelope back in her pocket, as if closing a completely old chapter.

“Okay, let's talk about fun.”

She changed the subject, her voice lighter.

“The trust fund is doing very well.”

"Vuong Tu Anh's son has transferred to study at the best elementary school in town."

“He tried very hard, last time he ranked first in the whole grade.”

Hearing that, my heart warmed a little. The child was skinny and timid back in the day... There was a sinful father and a weak mother. But his life... should not be buried because of the mistakes of previous generations.

“What about Vuong Tu Anh?”

I asked, my voice light as a passing question.

“She is also changing.”

Phuong Tinh smiled, her eyes somewhat satisfied.

"She used the small amount of money she had accumulated in her hometown, plus the living allowance she was allowed to withdraw from the fund."

“Rent a small space near my school.”

“Open a breakfast restaurant, selling dumplings with soy milk.”

“Every day I wake up early and work until late at night. It's really hard, but I hear business is going well.”

“A few days ago I passed by and saw her from afar.”

"The person is still thin and black, but the spirit is different from before."

“In my eyes… there is light.”

Selling dumplings. Hearing those two words, I froze for a very short second. The other day, Luu Ngoc Mai stood on television, crying and saying that I refused to buy her a dumpling. And now, Vuong Tu Anh uses dumplings... to rebuild his life. The wheel of fate rotates once, then closes in a way that is both satirical and strangely fair.

“So that's good.”

I lifted the cup of coffee, took a sip, the bitter taste gradually dissipated, leaving a deep and warm aftertaste.

“Everyone has to pay the price for their choices.”

“Liu Ngoc Mai has paid the price.”

“Vuong Tu Anh chose to save himself.”

“And I… finally stepped out of that mud puddle.”

I looked out the window, the sunlight was bright, the traffic was constantly passing by. Every day this city has countless stories of tragedy and happiness mixed together. But my story... has truly ended. Phuong Tinh raised her glass and lightly touched it I.

“Wishing you a new life.”

“Wishing you a new life.”

Three years later. My third book, "Breaking the Cocoon", is officially released. This time, it is no longer just my story. I sought out, listened to, and recorded the stories of twelve women who had been deeply hurt in their marriages and relationships. Some people were abused for ten years. Some people had their husband transfer all their assets and left the marriage empty-handed. Some people are tricked out of money by elaborate emotional traps. I write about their wounds. But also write about how they get up. About the moment they chose not to fall anymore. These past three years, I've been more than just a writer. I used most of the royalties from the first book to establish a legal support fund for women with Phuong Tinh. A place for people who are trapped in marriage, in hurt, but not qualified to protect themselves. A place... that gives them a chance to stand up. Today is the second anniversary of the foundation's founding. We held a small gratitude party at a hotel in the city center. The guests were not only benefactors but also dozens of women who had been supported by the fund. I wore a neat white suit, stood at the door of the banquet room, welcomed each guest who entered, watching them from the first days trembling and asking for help, with tears in their eyes, to today dressed neatly, their eyes shining, being able to smile and chat in the crowd, an unprecedented strength rose up in my heart. That power is even greater than when I personally overthrew Liu Ngoc Mai that year, because then I was destroying the enemy, and now, I am saving people like me. When the party reached its climax, I was invited to the stage to give a speech. Below were countless eyes full of respect and gratitude. I did not prepare any manuscript, because there were words that had been engraved in my bones for a long time.

"Three years ago, I stood under another light in this city. At that time, I was criticized on social networks and scolded by countless people."

“In front of me was a cold camera, and an ex-mother-in-law who had tried her best to destroy me, then my only thought… was to drag them to hell with me.”

The whole hall was silent, not a single sound.

"But in the end, I didn't turn myself into a monster like them. I used the law, used reason, and used all my sanity to regain dignity."

“I thought it was the most glorious moment of my life.”

I stopped, my eyes scanning the familiar faces below.

“But today, standing here, seeing people come out of the darkness, find their smiles again, and start a new life…”

“I now understand that true salvation is not trampling down enemies, but pulling those who have fallen into the abyss together… back to the light.”

The applause rang out like thunder, some people sobbed, Phuong Tinh sitting in the front row gave me a thumbs up, I smiled and continued speaking.

“In this world there will always be bad people, there will always be calculation, betrayal and lies.”

“We can't guarantee we'll never meet bad people, but we can be sure that…”

“When misfortune strikes, we have the courage to resist, the determination to let go, and the courage to start over.”

“Even if you get hurt No matter how much we hurt, we must be like weeds, growing and blooming in the midst of the ruins."

“Thank you everyone, it was your resilience that made me see the greatest strength of women.”

I bowed deeply, the applause continued endlessly, as if it wanted to open the ceiling of the banquet room. At the end of the evening, I walked out of the hotel alone, the cold night wind blew through my hair. I didn't drive but walked along the quiet street, slowly returning. Now I live in a large apartment in a high-end area, every brick, every lamp is bought by myself, there is no such thing as someone else's deposit, no house is in someone else's name, everything... is mine. At the intersection, the green light just turned on. I raised my head to look at the wide road ahead, the light shining like daytime, suddenly remembering the night three years ago, when I left the studio, alone, exhausted. At that time I thought the sky was falling. But looking back now, it was just a thunderstorm. Once the rain passes, the sky will be clearer, the air will be cleaner, the sky will be wider. The phone vibrated slightly in my pocket. It's a message from mom.

"Son, Mom and Dad packed the Tam Tien steamed dumplings you like. Tomorrow is the weekend, let's go home to eat."

Attached is a steaming photo. I looked at the photo, my eyes heated up a bit, but the corners of my lips curled up into a brilliant smile.

“Yes, I will be home on time tomorrow.”

I quickly answered, put my phone away, and walked straight ahead in the noisy but vibrant city. Don't turn back. Just go towards the light.