Chapter 15 — Welcome Back Chu Niem

“At that time, we will ask the court for a public trial.” “At the same time, I will also personally invite a few local mainstream media reporters to attend the trial.” “I think, they will be very interested in news like 'the future star of a listed company plans to cheat on his wife for the sake of his future, joining forces with his paralyzed sister to suffer humiliation'.” Every sentence from lawyer Truong was like a heavy hammer blow, hitting Hua Chi An's heart hard. His face was no longer white enough to describe it. It is an ash gray color with no life left. He knows, lawyer Truong is not joking. Once in court, once these stories are exposed by the media. Don't talk about going to Hoa Nam branch for promotion. Whether he can continue to stay at his current company or not is also an issue. His whole life will be completely ruined. Coins and money. He was once again forced to the cliff of choice. But this time, he no longer had any chance of luck. He closed his eyes, his body trembling violently. A long time later. He seemed to use all his strength and opened his eyes. Those eyes that were once full of calculation and pretense, now only left a piece of empty despair. “… I sign.” He gritted out two words from between his teeth. Lawyer Truong put a pen in front of him. Hua Chi An picked up the pen. That pen feels like it weighs a thousand pounds. His hands were shaking so badly, he could barely hold them. He signed his name at the bottom of the agreement. Those three words were written crookedly and extremely ugly. Exactly like his life at this moment. After signing, he seemed to have been drained of all his spirit and fell down on the chair. I picked up the agreement, looked at the signature, then gave it to lawyer Truong. "Done." I said. “My matter is resolved.” I turned around, preparing to leave this nauseating place. From beginning to end, I never looked at Hua Giai Ky again. The greatest contempt for her is to ignore her. When I walked to the door, Hua Chi An suddenly opened his mouth. “Chu Niem.” His voice was hoarse and hollow. I stopped walking, but didn't turn around. “… Have you ever loved me?” He asked a question that sounded extremely ridiculous at this time. I was silent for a few seconds. Then, I smiled softly. “Hua Chi An.” “From today onwards, this question will torment you for the rest of your life.” Having finished speaking, I pulled the door open and walked out. The sunlight outside is warm and bright. I took a deep breath. Feeling the turbid air that had accumulated in my chest for the past five years, finally, at this moment, completely dissipated. I'm free. The third day after signing the settlement agreement, the compensation of three hundred and fifty thousand yuan, not a penny less, was transferred to my account. Ms. Vuong's side has also started arranging a decoration company, preparing to renovate the entire house. Hua Chi An and his family were like a speck of dust, completely wiped out from my world. I heard that in the end he still couldn't go to China. Someone inside the company heard the rumors and the second position was replaced by a colleague with more support. Not only could he not be promoted, on the contrary, because of this, a bad reputation spread throughout the company. Became everyone's laughing stock after tea. As for Hua Giai Ky, I don't know where she went. Maybe going back to his hometown, maybe being taken by Hua Chi An to some unknown sanatorium. But all of that is no longer relevant to me. I started my new life. The new apartment I rented near "Mich Quang" was arranged warmly and brightly. The extra bedroom facing south was converted into my dream office. The ground-level glass doors are so large that sunlight can freely pour in. On the wall was a row of high ceiling shelves, filled with colorful fabrics and accessories. Brand new industrial sewing machines and a giant pattern making table take the center of the room. Every early morning, I am awakened by the sunlight. Then make yourself an exquisite breakfast. I made another cup of strong fragrant coffee and walked into my office. Start a working day. I put all my attention into designing the "Tan Sinh" collection. I give all the pressure

suppressing, betraying, struggling, awakening and finally breaking out of the cocoon and coming out of those five years of marriage into my own design. My design is no longer the gentle and soft style like before. It becomes bolder, more powerful. I use a lot of deconstruction techniques, using asymmetrical cuts along with torn and patched elements to express struggle and breakdown. Using silk and Van Cam brocade, soft but durable materials imbued with oriental fortune to express the inner strength and rebirth of women. When I placed the first series of designs in front of general manager Lam Thanh. Her eyes lit up. “Chu Niem, you gave me a very big surprise.” She looked at those designs, her eyes full of enjoyment and excitement. “This is not just clothes anymore.” “This is her story, and it is also a story that all of us women can go through.” “It has a soul.”