Chapter 20 — Wedding Day Without Bride

"Isn't it enough that you've harmed Thinh Lan like this? The gallery was sealed, the Pho family's account was frozen, and relatives came to her door to collect debt. Are you determined to force her to death?"

Khuong Van sat still without moving:

“Did I force him to steal the paintings?”

“He was tricked by Hua Tri Ha!”

"He and Hua Tri Ha registered their marriage, were they also deceived?"

Pho's mother choked. A fat guy among the relatives spoke up:

"Miss Khuong, the family's injustice should be resolved, not ended. After all, the two of you once loved each other, why do you have to be so cruel? The Pho family collapsed, what benefit do you get?"

Aunt Trieu sneered:

“When you borrowed money, you remembered that you two used to love each other. When sharing, why didn't you remember?”

The fat man's face is unsightly. Pho's mother changed her tone, tears threatening to fall:

"Van Van, I didn't treat you well in the past, I admit it. I respect Tinh Lan for taking care of you for three years, please give her a way to live."

Khuong Van finally stood up:

"Phoenix Auntie, I haven't seen for three years. Pho Tinh Lan really helped me, read books to me, and took me for a follow-up check-up."

A light flashed in Pho's mother's eyes. Khuong Van continued: "So I gave him a chance. At the wedding dress shop once, at the hospital once, in front of a fake painting once. Every time he chose Hua Tri Ha, chose the Pho family, chose himself." The light on Pho's mother's face disappeared:

“Are you really that cruel?”

Khuong Van pushed the hard drive in front of her:

“Compared to you guys, I'm still far behind.”

Pho's mother saw the hard drive and her face changed dramatically:

“Pho Nhat Ninh, is that you?”

Deputy Nhat Ninh stood behind Khuong Van:

“It's me.”

Pho's mother raised her hand to strike. Khuong Van grabbed her wrist:

“There are cameras here.”

Pho's mother was so angry that she was shaking. Khuong Van let go:

"Deputy uncle, go back and tell Pho Thinh Lan. My mother's paintings, my money, three years of my youth were wasted by you guys, I will get it all back."

Pho's mother gritted her teeth:

“If you dare to corner the Pho family, Tinh Lan will not forgive you.”

Khuong Van looked out the door:

“Tell him to come here.”

* Pho Thinh Lan has really arrived. When he arrived, Khuong Van was chairing a public appraisal conference of the Nam Thanh Fine Arts Institute.

"Xuan Son Vu Hau" was hung in the middle, Aunt Lam stood on the podium, holding up Khuong Van Duong's green stone seal for all guests to see.

Do Minh Vien was brought in to be confronted about the origin of the fake painting, his whole body was skinny and walking around. Seeing Khuong Van, his eyes flickered and avoided. Below the stands were people from the Academy of Fine Arts, the media, collectors, and many guests from Bac Thanh who witnessed the farce at the Pho family's wedding. Pho Thinh Lan stood in the last row, his arm still wrapped in gauze. The host asked Do Minh Vien:

"Do you admit that you once attempted to steal Ms. Khuong Van Duong's relic 'Xuan Son Vu Hau' to resell it?"

Do Minh Vien whispered: "Admit it."

“Do you admit to colluding with Hua Tri Ha, using fake paintings to swap originals?”

“Admit.”

The host asked again: "Will the Pho family participate?" Do Minh Vien raised his head and looked towards Pho Thinh Lan. The entire school's eyes followed his line of sight look over. Pho Thinh Lan did not avoid it at all. Do Minh Vien confessed: "Pho's mother created the opportunity, Pho Thinh Lan provided the key. Maybe he didn't know I wanted to resell it, but he knew we would take the real painting away." There was immediately a buzz below the stage. Pho Thinh Lan's face under the light was as white as paper. Aunt Lam put the recording pen in front of the microphone. The voice of Pho's mother, who wanted to borrow the painting, echoed throughout the hall: *"Khuong Van will have to marry into the Pho family in the future, sooner or later her things will belong to the Pho family."*