Chapter 23 — Wedding Day Without Bride

"I'm not because of you. I'm just because of the reputation of the Pho family, because I myself refuse to admit defeat."

Pho's mother stiffened. The police quickly arrived. While being taken away, Pho's mother kept cursing Khuong Van. Khuong Van didn't even look at her, just bent down to examine the corrosion marks on the ground. Pho Thinh Lan squatted down, intending to use paper to wipe. Khuong Van stopped:

“Don't touch it, it's dangerous.”

Deputy Thinh Lan looked at her bewilderedly:

“I still remind you.”

Khuong Van said: "I remind a living person, not because of old love." The light in his eyes dimmed again. Pho Nhat Ninh ran over, saw the scattered battlefield, angrily stomped his feet:

“You are truly beyond help.”

Khuong Van looked at the girl:

“What do you plan to do next?”

Pho Nhat Ninh was silent for a moment:

"I want to leave the Pho family and go to Nam Thanh to study. Ms. Khuong, I don't want to grow up in that pile of trash anymore."

Aunt Lam came out of the house:

"Nam Thanh Fine Arts Institute has a quota for assistant internships, starting with organizing storage. Dirty, tired, little money."

Pho Nhat Ninh's eyes brightened:

“I can do it.”

Aunt Trieu teased:

“The eldest lady went to carry the box of paintings, but she ended up crying.”

Deputy Nhat Ninh raised his chin:

“Even if you cry, you will cry.”

Khuong Van finally smiled. Pho Thinh Lan looked at her smile, as if separated by a layer of glass that could never be overcome. He finished signing the documents and left the old house. Walking to the front gate, he looked back. Khuong Van bowed her head and continued to fix the picture frame. She didn't come out to see him off. * On the day the trial of Hua Tri Ha's case opened, Khuong Van arrived. Not to see how pathetic she is, but to hear her admit each crime with her own mouth. Hua Tri Ha wore a gray suit with a bare face, her whole body was haggard as if she had turned into a different person. She saw Khuong Van, at first there was hatred in her eyes, then a pleading look appeared:

"Khuong Van, I'm willing to compensate. Please be gentle with them."

Khuong Van sat on the plaintiff's bench, not responding at all. In court, chat history, receipts, security cameras, recordings, each piece of evidence was exposed one by one. Hua Tri Ha still tried to make excuses:

“I just want the wedding to be a bit grand, and have no intention of selling paintings.”

The prosecutor asked: "In the chat you mentioned that after Khuong Van was hospitalized, the Pho family would stabilize the situation. What do you mean by hospitalization?" Hua Tri Ha's face turned pale:

“Just… going to the doctor.”

“So why did you say, wait for her to lie down, the fight and the person will be easy to deal with?”

Hua Tri Ha bowed her head without speaking. Pho Thinh Lan appeared as a witness. He stood on the witness stand, his voice very quiet:

"Hua Tri Ha has hinted many times that if Khuong Van doesn't see, many things won't be known. I didn't stop it, it's my fault."

Hua Tri Ha suddenly looked up:

"Pho Thinh Lan, you're really good at cleaning up the relationship! Didn't you sign the surgery papers? Didn't you do the registration at Cang Thanh? What are you pretending to be now?"

Pho Thinh Lan closed her eyes:

“So I will also bear the responsibility.”

Hua Tri Ha smiled tremblingly:

“Suffering? In the end, it's just compensation. My whole life is ruined.”

Khuong Van finally spoke:

“The last half of your life was chosen by yourself.”

Hua Tri Ha glared at Khuong Van:

“Of course you can say that. She has the reputation her mother left behind, the Academy of Fine Arts, and people to help her. What about me? I have nothing.”

Khuong Van looked at her:

“You had plenty of opportunities to stop.”

Hua Tri Ha's lips trembled.