Chapter 3 — When I Don't Need Them Anymore

I spoke first.

"Go to Sanya with To Uyen Ninh. I'll hire a nanny at my place."

He stopped.

“…What did you say?”

"I said, go to Sanya. I don't need you here."

His expression immediately darkened.

"Tham Niem An, what's wrong with you lately? Why do you always push me towards Uyen Ninh?"

I don't answer that question.

“Are you going?”

Silence for a few seconds. His voice became stiff.

"... Uyen Ninh's mood is unstable. This time she was really scared, you... you should come see her. Consider it to make up for me."

“Then go.”

“Make up for it well.”

Those four words made him choke. He stood there for a long time. Finally turned around and left. Su Uyen Ninh has only returned less than half a month, and the Co family has returned to the situation of five years ago. Everyone revolves around her. But that no longer has anything to do with me. But on the third day, things became more complicated. I was lying in the hospital scrolling through my phone and discovered that my friend circle had exploded. A person named Tien Nhuy posted a long article. Tien Nhuy is a close friend of To Uyen Ninh, also quite famous in the social circle of this city, nicknamed "ward speaker". Extremely eye-catching article title:

“The true face of the real genius — Tham Niem An that everyone doesn't know.”

The content roughly tells how during the past five years I oppressed To Uyen Ninh in the Co family, how I relied on my identity as a biological child to push her away, and how arrogant and arrogant I was. The article is written extremely emotionally. Each paragraph tries to imply that I am a modern-day "evil big lady". The comments section had more than three hundred comments, all of which leaned towards one side and scolded me. I skimmed a few lines.

"It's true that when people grow up without good education, their bones will still be sour."

"To Uyen Ninh is so pitiful, being bullied by this kind of person for five years."

"The Co family hasn't chased this unfamiliar white-eyed wolf out yet?"

I turned off my friends circle. Not angry. I understand Tien Nhuy very well. Without To Uyen Ninh's nod, she would not have dared to post another word arbitrarily. This article is directed by To Uyen Ninh. The purpose is very simple. Before completely returning to the Co family, she wanted to trample my reputation to the bottom. So that I can use the position of "victim" and accept everything with integrity. I picked up my phone and opened the chat box with the lawyer.

“The relationship severance certificate and annulment agreement still have one month left to be made public, right?”

The lawyer responded very quickly:

"That's right. Twenty days of publicity have now passed. Ten more days until it officially takes effect."

Just wait another ten days and you'll be fine. But on the fourth day of hospitalization... Things once again went off track. That morning, To Uyen Ninh suddenly appeared in front of my hospital room. She didn't go in right away, just stood at the door, head bowed, two fingers twisting the hem of her shirt. Behind him were two maids following.

“Sister, I came to visit you.”

I was leaning against the head of the bed looking at the documents sent by the immigration broker. Hearing that, I only raised my head to look at her. She took small steps into the room and sat down next to the hospital bed. The maid placed the fruit basket and flower bouquet on the bedside table.

“Sister, I heard you were hospitalized. Is it because of… what happened that day?”

Her voice was soft and weak, her eyes were red, looking like a flower that had just been hit by the rain. Anyone who sees this face will soften their heart. Except me.

“That's right.”

She bit her lip.

“Sister, the garage thing… I know it wasn't you who did it.”

I put down the phone and looked at her. She nodded.

“I went in there myself. I just want my parents and Mr. Canh Tham to pay a little more attention to me… Sorry.”

As she said these words, tears began to fall from her eyes.

“But sister, I have no other choice. Since she returned, her parents' hearts have turned towards her. Mr. Canh Tham was originally my fiance, but the engagement contract was also transferred to her. I have nothing left, I'm really scared..."

She cried so much that her shoulders trembled.

“So you told Tien Nhuy to post that article, also out of fear?”

Her body stopped.

“You… how do you know Tien Nhuy's story?”

“Social networks are public, To Uyen Ninh.”

Her expression stiffened for a second, then she cried even harder.

“Sister, I was wrong. I'll tell Tien Nhuy to delete the post, I'll immediately tell her to delete it..."

“No need.”

Then return your eyes to the phone screen.

“Do whatever you want. It doesn't concern me anymore.”

Her crying stopped momentarily. I didn't see her expression, but I knew... She was definitely recalculating right now. She stood up, wiping her tears.

“Sister, are you having any procedures done recently?”

My finger paused on the screen for a second.

“Yesterday Mr. Canh Tham's assistant seemed to see some documents in your luggage…”

I raised my head.

“Who gave permission to touch my luggage?”

“Don't be angry, don't be angry.”

To Uyen Ninh quickly waved her hand.

“The maid accidentally touched it. I can't see anything.”

Her tone when she said this was exactly the same as when she said "the garage thing is not for me to do". Real and fake mixed together. Making people unable to distinguish which sentences they can believe. But one thing is very clear. Perhaps she already knew about the existence of a divorce agreement and annulment agreement. But her next step... was definitely to stop me from leaving. Because once I'm gone, she won't have any more opponents. But if the "victim" does not have an opponent... then it will have no value.

“What did you come here for anyway?”

Tears were still on To Uyen Ninh's face, but the corner of her lips could no longer be controlled.

“Sister, I came to inform you.”

Her voice softened.

“My parents have already decided. The old house is in my name and the five percent of the shares I hold in the company... will be transferred to your name."

“They say it's to make up for twenty years of suffering.”

She looked at me.

“You won't notice, right? Anyway, you said it yourself, this matter no longer has anything to do with you."

The old house was left to me by my grandmother. As for the other five percent of shares... The year I returned to the Co family, Co's father transferred it to my name as a "meeting gift for his biological daughter". Those two things combined... It's the final proof that I once existed in this house. What she wants is not money. It's about completely erasing my traces. I stared at her for five seconds.

“Get out.”

This time it changed to I only said two words. She was stunned, then quickly returned to her form That soft look, bowed his head and walked out. At the door, she stopped for a moment. Don't turn around.

“Sister, I saw some of your previous designs in the drawer of your room.”

“Very nice drawing.”

“Unfortunately… it's no use.”

The room door closed. I put down the phone and looked up at the ceiling. Design. She also found out. That's been my only secret for the past five years. During the day, she plays the obedient eldest lady of the Co family. At night, lock the door and draw the jewelry design stroke by stroke. No one knows, half a year ago I used the pen name "An Lac" to submit a set of works to participate in a jewelry design competition for young people in Milan. Last month, I received an email response. The work has reached the final round. Currently, only I and the immigration broker know about this. But if To Uyen Ninh had seen those sketches... She would not have missed this clue. I had to leave faster than originally planned.