Chapter 2 — Three Years of Being a Fake Wife, One Day Overturning the Table

Every word on the diagnosis paper was like a resounding slap, hitting Luu Ngoc Mai straight in the face. The four words "advanced hemiplegia" are written in bold letters, so cold that they make people shiver. On the big screen, her face was captured by the camera. That face full of wrinkles, the blood drained away, leaving only a pale gray color like a dead person. Her mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out. His eyes were filled with panic, fear after being exposed to the truth. Ly Tinh held the copy of the document brought by the staff, her fingertips trembling slightly. The way she looked at me had completely changed. From initial contempt, to suspicion, and now there is only complexity mixed with respect and sympathy. She understood very well, in just a moment, she became an accomplice to help that mother-daughter pair distort black and white. Ly Tinh's voice was a bit hoarse.

“Is this diagnosis… true?”

“White paper with black ink, red hospital seal, can be checked at any time.”

I answered calmly.

“So… that 30,000 yuan…”

“Every penny is used for the treatment, recovery and care of Chu Van Bac.”

I took out the second item from my bag. A thick notebook.

"This is all the expenses over the past year, detailed down to every pill and every cotton stick."

“The 'don't buy dumplings' thing she said happened three days ago.”

"That day, she brought her grandson, also the child of Chu Van Bac and his legal wife, to come find me."

“Opened his mouth and asked for 5,000 yuan, saying it was for the child to take an imported Lego class.”

“I refuse.”

"Because that day was the deadline to pay Chu Van Bac's special care fee."

"The amount of money in the account cannot be touched even a single penny."

“So in her words, it turned out that I was so stingy that I couldn't even buy a bun.”

I flipped the notebook, holding a page towards the lens. The lines are crowded, filled with drug names and costs.

“Everyone can look.”

“Which of these items is not important?”

“Is the life of a paraplegic more important, or a Lego classroom for an able-bodied child?”

“Liu Ngoc Mai, can you answer me?”

My question was like a spear, stabbing straight at her. She completely collapsed. A pitiful cry burst out, even more intense than before. But this time it's no longer an act, it's real madness.

"You comet! It's all your fault!"

“If it weren't for you, why would my son have fallen and broken his leg!”

"You give me back my son! Give me back my son!"

She frantically jumped down from the sofa, raised her hand to scratch my face. The security guard immediately rushed forward and held her tightly. The whole studio was immediately in chaos. In the stands, everyone's faces changed like a spilled color palette. Surprise, indignation, pity, contempt... All emotions poured towards the woman being held tightly. The comment section has completely reversed.

“Oh my god, is this woman still human?”

"Dare to take the money to save my paralyzed son's life so he can go to extra school?"

“This is not reconciliation, this is a modern version of the farmer and the snake!”

"Miss Hua is so pathetic, she was tricked into getting married, taking care of a paralyzed person, and in the end she was even bitten again!"

"Support Ms. Hua! Sue! Sue their whole family!"

Ly Tinh quickly controlled the situation. She signaled the security guard to take Luu Ngoc Mai to the back school. The studio gradually returned to quiet. Ly Tinh adjusted her emotions, walked in front of me, and bowed deeply.

“Miss Hua, I apologize for my initial rashness and prejudice.”

“Our program did not investigate thoroughly and almost wronged a good person.”

I shook my head, said nothing. I had predicted all of this a long time ago. Apologies, to me, have no meaning. I came here today, not to ask for pity. But to completely solve everything.

“I asked you, Miss Ly.”

“A woman took care of 'someone else's husband' for a year, without a word of complaint.”

"In the end, that person's mother, using the name of 'disloyalty', dragged her onto live TV to denounce her."

“Is this… a myth?”

I looked straight into her eyes. Ly Tinh was full of guilt.

“Myth… so wild.”

“So, should your program… do something for me?”

My words made Ly Tinh pause. But soon, she understood.

“Miss Hua, if you have any requests, we will definitely cooperate!”

“Very simple.”

I took out the last document from my bag. It was a copy of the marriage certificate of Chu Van Bac and his legal wife.

“I request that the program immediately connect with Chu Van Bo's legal wife, Ms. Vuong Tu Anh.”

“I think, as the only legal wife…”

“She has more right than me to say the word 'care'.”

I just finished speaking. Ly Tinh's assistant immediately rushed over, whispered in her ear, and raised the phone. The assistant's face was filled with surprise and excitement. Ly Tinh listened for a few seconds, her eyes opened as wide as bells. She lowered the phone, looked at me like I was in disbelief, then turned to the microphone.

“Audience!”

“We just got a call!”

“The person on the other end of the line... is Chu Van Bo's legal wife, Mrs. Vuong Tu Anh!”

“She said… she has been following the show from the beginning.”

“And now… you have something to say!”

The stage lights seemed even brighter than before. All the light focused on me. But this time, there is no longer a fire of judgment. It's a stream of lights full of curiosity. Ly Tinh held the microphone tightly, her palms were still wet with sweat. She looked at me, her eyes flashing with an almost passionate light that had rarely appeared in her career. She knows that tonight, the viewership ratings will set a new record. And I... am the one who created that record.

"Director! Is the signal coming in yet?"

She spoke into the headset, her voice unable to hide her excitement.

“Okay, audience, let's listen together…”

“Sound from the other end of the line, from Ms. Vuong Tu Anh!”

The whole studio immediately fell silent. On the big screen, my face and Luu Ngoc Mai's were split in two. In the middle is the connecting call icon. After a few seconds of interference, a hoarse, tired female voice rang out through the speaker. The voice was very light, carrying reserve and insecurity. Like a small animal that has lived too long in the dark, afraid of the sudden light. Ly Tinh immediately changed to the gentlest tone.

“Hello, are you Mrs. Vuong Tu Anh?”

“…Yes, it's me.”

“Don't be nervous, we are the show 'Home Stories, Life Stories'.”

“I know… I… I was watching.”

In her voice, there was a choking sound like she was crying. Ly Tinh Glancing at me, I nodded slightly.

“Mrs. Vuong, have you heard everything Miss Hua just said?”

“I heard it… I heard it all…”

There was a choking sound on the other end of the line.