Chapter 1 — When he returned, the house had been transferred to someone else's name

During the Cold War, my husband moved out to live with a female colleague. Before leaving, he coldly said:

“You stay home and reflect on yourself, then I'll come back.”

He thought I would panic. I thought I would go down and admit my mistake and beg him to come back. I was really scared. But I panicked and contacted a broker to sell my house. A month later, he returned with his suitcase, still wearing the expression "I was very generous". He inserted the key into the lock. But no matter how I turn it, I can't open the door. At that moment, the door opened. A strange man stood leaning against the door frame, his eyes full of confusion:

“Who are you looking for?”

Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he burst out laughing:

"Ah, you are the ex-husband of the previous homeowner, right? After selling this house to me, she moved abroad to settle."

My husband stood frozen on the spot. His face suddenly turned pale.

“Please reflect on yourself properly, then I will return.”

Chu Minh stood in front of the door. His right hand was pulling a 28-inch suitcase, his left hand was in his pants pocket, his chin was slightly raised. When he said that, he didn't even look at me. His eyes just glanced at the living room behind me, like a king observing the territory he temporarily left.

“I moved out to live with Bach Vy just to calm her down.”

"As a woman, don't be too hard on yourself, be grateful."

“I'm giving you a chance, don't be unreasonable.”

Each time he said a sentence, his chin lifted a little higher. Outside the window, car lights flashed twice. It's Bach Vy's car. She was urging him to come down. I leaned against the shoe cabinet, not speaking. While still wearing an apron while washing dishes, water from the edge of the rubber glove dripped onto the floor of the mystery room, shooting up into tiny droplets of water. It seemed that Chu Minh was very satisfied with my silence. He took it as a tacit admission. It is a sign of submission before bowing. He likes this look of me the most. Five years of marriage, what he likes most is my silence. Because that means he won. Regardless of the cause of the argument, as long as I stay silent, he will have the right to define this fight, summarize right and wrong, and then use the winner's posture to decide when to end, when to "forgive" me.

“Okay, I'm going.”

He turned the suitcase, the wheels rolling across the floor making a soft noise.

"Remember to water the flowers in the house. Next week my mother will come to pick up the purple tea set, please wrap it carefully for her."

"Also, don't call me. When I think clearly, I will come back."

He explained everything in a tone like he was instructing a nanny, then pulled the anti-theft door open. The cold wind immediately rushed in, blowing my hair. I looked at his back. Watch him enter the elevator. Watching the elevator door slowly close, swallowing that last figure. Then I heard the sound of a car engine starting downstairs. The sound gradually faded away. I stood up straight, took off my apron, took off my wet rubber gloves, and conveniently threw them on the shoe cabinet. Then go into the living room, pick up the phone on the sofa. Don't panic. No crying. Not even angry. My mind right now is like an overloaded, cold server terrifyingly alert. I opened my contacts, my finger scrolled through a long line of contact names, finally stopping at the note name:

“Old King - Gold Card Broker.”

The call is connected.

“Tut… tut…”

"Hello? Who is it?" On the other end of the line, a cheerful middle-aged man's voice rang out.

“Mr. Vuong, it's me.”

"Oh my! So you're the sister-in-law! What's wrong? Do you want to change to a bigger apartment? Did Chu Minh finally think it through?"

"Not."

I walked out to the balcony, pulled back the curtains, and looked at the now empty parking space downstairs.

"Mr. Vuong, the house you helped us buy that year... now I want to sell it."

The other end of the line was silent for three seconds.

“… Sister-in-law, have you discussed this matter with Chu Minh?”

“No need to discuss.”

“But this house is in both of their names…”

"He gave his entire share to me. Just finished notarizing last month, did you forget?"

I reminded him. To circumvent the regulations on buying a second house and buy Bach Vy's newly graduated cousin an apartment in a neighboring city to invest in, Chu Minh transferred the entire ownership of this house to my name. At that time, he was very pleased, saying this was a "trust" and a "challenge" for me. On the other side, Mr. Vuong obviously also remembered, his voice immediately became much more enthusiastic.

"Ah yes yes yes! I remember! If that's the case, then I have full control over this house! No problem! How much do you intend to sell it for?"

I looked at the house I had lived in for the past five years. Wedding photos hang on the wall. The jacket he conveniently threw on the sofa. The tea cup on the table was still unfinished. Everywhere is full of his traces. Like a giant invisible cage.

“The price is ten percent lower than the market.”

"Huh?" Mr. Vuong's voice immediately rose. "Sister-in-law, that's a big loss! This location, this apartment, don't worry about not being able to sell it!"

“I only have one request.”

I interrupted him.

“Must be quick.”

"All electronics, furniture, everything is included. As long as the buyer pays once, the contract can be signed today."

“I… need the fastest speed.”

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds. Then came a voice that suppressed excitement:

“… Rest assured sister-in-law.”

"Just leave it to me. In three days at the earliest, I'll find a buyer for you right away!"

I hung up and put the phone on the windowsill. The stomach suddenly rolled violently. I rushed to the bathroom, put my hand on the toilet, but couldn't vomit anything. Only the bitter taste of bile refluxed into the throat. I was really scared. Panic, I want before Chu Minh comes back... This so-called "family" must be erased, along with the five years of my youth, from this world completely.