Chapter 10 — Twenty Years of Reclaiming Justice

See the determination in my eyes. Finally they all fell silent. I made good arrangements for Nguyet Nguyet and Giang Ha. Then go downstairs alone. The coffee shop under the hospital is quite empty. A middle-aged man wearing glasses, with a scholarly appearance, was sitting nervously stirring a cup of coffee in front of him. He is Liu Diem's husband. Just saw me. He immediately stood up. His face was full of confusion and ingratiation.

“You... are you Mrs. Wen?”

I nodded. Sit down opposite him. I get straight to the point. Truong Vi immediately opened the briefcase. Carefully take out a notebook wrapped in a plastic bag. The cover of the book has turned yellow. The corners of the paper are also worn out. Looking at it, you can tell it has been stored for many years.

“This is Liu Diem's diary.”

He pushed the notebook towards me.

“We've been married for so many years but I didn't know she still kept it.”

"This time I accidentally found it when I was packing up to prepare for a divorce."

There was disgust and relief in his eyes.

“I know Liu Diem has done a lot of wrong things to you and your daughter.”

“Her ending today is deserved.”

“I didn't give this diary to you to ask for your forgiveness.”

“I just hope…”

“I just hope I can help lighten her punishment a little.”

“After all, we still have a child.”

I looked at him. A man who after his wife met with trouble. The first thing that comes to mind is not saving. It's about separating yourself from everything involved. Preserve benefits for yourself. But also very practical. I said nothing. Just pick up the diary. Open the first page. The elegant lines of text appeared before my eyes. Date listed above. It was twenty years ago.

"Today is the day I participate in the interview for Duc Tai school."

"I'm very stressed."

"Because my opponent is Wen Qing."

"The most talented and beautiful woman in the pedagogical school."

"Everyone said I had no chance."

My hands trembled slightly. That's my name. Luu Diem and I used to be competitors. I continued reading.

"The interview went very smoothly."

"I performed very well."

"But the eyes of the recruitment committee are still hesitant."

"Until someone got a phone call."

"After hanging up the phone, the way they looked at me changed."

"On the spot, they declared me accepted."

"At that time it was very difficult for me to understand."

"We'll find out later."

"It was Wen Qing who proactively gave up that opportunity."

"Everyone feels sorry for her."

"Only I know."

"I won."

"But that victory was not glorious."

"Because that phone call was from Wen Qing's husband."

"He used his wife's future to exchange for another woman's future."

I tightened my grip on the notebook. Respiration becomes heavy. Tham Chan Hoa. The ex-husband died many years ago. Tham Chu's father. The man who made me suffer the most. My heart felt like someone had stabbed me again. It turns out that's it. How many years? I always thought I wasn't excellent enough, so I missed the opportunity to join Duc Tai. I never knew. There is such a truth behind it. He used my future. To clear the way for his lover. And that woman... It's Liu Diem. I continued to turn the pages. The following pages record the story between Liu Diem and Tham Chan Hoa. How she admired him. I jumped headfirst into that relationship Regardless of everything. Then in the end, he was abandoned miserably when he went bankrupt and everyone turned their backs on him. In every sentence. Filled with the resentment of a lover you can't have. Also full of the bitterness of someone who was thrown away.

"I hate Tham Chan Hoa."

"But I hate Wen Qing even more."

"How could she have all his love?"

"Why can she have such excellent children?"

"And I can only marry an ordinary man and live a life with an end in sight?"

"I got into Duc Tai."

"I became an excellent teacher."

"But I'm still not happy."

"Every time I see children born into rich families, loved by their parents."

"I'm all jealous."

"Especially Tham Nguyet Nguyet."

"She looks so much like her mother."

"Those eyes."

"That elegant appearance."

"It all makes me feel horrible."

"Trieu Ve Dong came to me."

"He wanted me to 'take special care' of Tham Nguyet Nguyet."

"I agree."

"I want to destroy her."

"Destroying the daughter that On Thanh loves the most."

"I want Wen Qing to taste the despair of the past when I was abandoned."

I slowly closed the diary. Everything is clear. This was never just a simple case of school bullying. It was a revenge that lasted for twenty years. Real goal. As for Nguyet Nguyet... Just an innocent sacrifice. What hurts me the most is not Liu Diem. It's about my daughter having to bear hatred that doesn't belong to her. I raised my head to look at Truong Vi. The voice was terrifyingly calm.

“I received this diary.”

“I will let my lawyer request a mental evaluation for Liu Diem during the trial.”

“If the results match.”

“Maybe she will be considered for reduced responsibility.”

Truong Vi's face immediately showed joy.

“Thank you!”

“Thank you, Mrs. On!”

“Thank you very much!”

I stood up. Don't look at him again. Hold the diary in your hand. Step out of the coffee shop. Afternoon sunlight passes through the glass window. Stretching my shadow on the ground. Twenty years of resentment. Finally exposed to the light. But I know. This story isn't really over yet.