Chapter 2 — When I Learn How to Bloom Again

The next day, I wore a black suit and skirt. Exquisite makeup, every line is neat and cool. When entering the court, the sunlight just fell on my shoulders. I saw Lam Hieu Vu. She wore a white dress, long loose hair, light makeup, red eyes, looking so fragile that it was easy to believe. Next to her is a middle-aged man, probably a lawyer. Seeing me, she froze for a second, her eyes immediately filled with hostility and contempt. As if I were truly a dirty person, ruining her beautiful love story. I don't bother paying attention. Just walk straight into the courtroom. There were a few people in the audience. I saw Chu Van Bac. He sat in the corner, his face pale, his eyes looking at me with complicated eyes. It seems that he already knows the entire content of this lawsuit. It's also difficult for him... to choose a position between the main wife and his lover. At exactly nine o'clock, the judge took his seat and the trial began. Lam Hieu Vu's lawyer spoke first. He reread the entire content of the complaint, his tone full of emotion, as if telling a tragic story. Then, it was Lam Hieu Vu's turn. As soon as she stood up, tears fell like rain.

“Judge… I didn't expect there to be such a shameless woman in the world…”

Her voice was choked, shaking with self-pity.

"Van Bac and I have known each other for two years, we truly love each other..."

“He promised to resolve everything over there, then marry me…”

“But this woman… she kept clinging to him, using every means to keep him from leaving!”

"She sent shady messages, found excuses to ask for money, and even... went to the hotel to block him!"

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became, pointing straight at me, her fingers shaking with indignation.

"It was her! It was this third person who destroyed my happiness!"

The whole courtroom was silent. All eyes were on me. There is pity. There is contempt. Chu Van Bac bowed his head, not daring to look at me. The judge lightly tapped his gavel.

“Defendant, in response to the plaintiff's statement, do you have anything you want to defend?”

I stood up. Looking at Lam Hieu Vu who was crying and trembling. Looking at Chu Van Bac in the corner of the room again, he looked like he wanted to crawl into the ground. Then I turned to the judge. Inside... it's so quiet it's scary.

“Judge, all of the evidence presented by the plaintiff — including text messages, wire transfers and hotel history — I admit.”

As soon as the sentence ended, the whole courtroom erupted. Lam Hieu Vu immediately smiled victoriously. Chu Van Bac suddenly raised his head and looked at me with surprised eyes. Even the judge frowned.

“Defendant, can you confirm?”

“I confirm.”

I nodded. I slightly changed my voice.

“I have something, I would like to invite the plaintiff to take a look.”

I bent down and took out a red notebook from my bag. I placed it firmly on the table. The sound rang out decisively and coldly. The whole courtroom... was silent. I looked at Lam Hieu Vu's face and immediately turned pale. Slowly, word by word, say clearly:

"Lin Hieu Vu, what you said is not wrong. These evidences... truly prove the relationship between me and Chu Van Bac."

“But you are wrong.”

“It's not a shady relationship.”

“It is a legal relationship, protected by law — a husband and wife relationship.”

I picked up the red book, flipped to the page with the photo taken together, and held it straight towards her. The corners of his lips curled into a smile cold.

“Are you asking me if I am a third child?”

“So I ask again…”

“You and him — do you have this?”

Lam Hieu Vu's face instantly drained, white as paper. It was as if all her bones had been pulled out, her body staggered, she could barely stand. His lips trembled, but he couldn't utter a word.

“No… no way…”

She muttered, her eyes fixed on the red book in my hand. The steel mark printed on it, the photo taken together ten years ago still had an immature look... at this moment it was like a red-hot iron bar, aggressively pressing straight into her eyes. The lawyer next to her was also stunned. Perhaps in his entire career, he has never encountered such a wild case. He opened his mouth, turned to his client, his eyes were questioning and a bit of unconcealed frustration. Obviously, Lam Hieu Vu hid the most important truth from him. Or to be more precise, she herself is living in a false story that she herself weaved. The entire courtroom fell into dead silence. In the air, only my words from earlier remained.

“Do you and he… have this?”

The voice is not loud. But like a heavy hammer blow, it shattered all of Lam Hieu Vu's illusions and self-esteem. In the corner of the room, Chu Van Bac finally reacted. He jumped up, his face as red as pig liver. He wanted to rush forward, but was forced to stand dead in place by the solemn atmosphere of the court. His eyes looked like a cornered animal, both embarrassed and resentful... also carrying a trace of resentment towards me - the one who had exposed everything. Maybe he wished he couldn't immediately silence me. I wish I could tear up that marriage certificate. The first responder is still the judge. He tapped the hammer hard, breaking the frozen atmosphere.

“Keep order!”

His eyes turned towards me, carrying questioning.

“Defendant, please submit the evidence you just presented.”

I nodded and gave the marriage certificate to the court police. The police received it and quickly transferred it to the trial table. The judge picked it up, looked at it carefully, and compared each piece of information. Name: Chu Van Bac, Tan Tranh. Identification number. Registration date. Every letter is clear. Each word... is like a death sentence for Lam Hieu Vu's drama. She finally collapsed.

"Fake! Everything is fake!"

She shouted, her voice hoarse and shrill.

“It's definitely fake!”

"Van Bac told me he's not married yet! He said it himself!"

She pointed at me, her face distorted, completely losing her previous weakness.

"It's you! It's you who faked it!"

“Judge, she is lying to the court!”

Her lawyer quickly pulled back, trying to reassure her.

"Miss Lam! Please stay calm!"

But she was crazy and couldn't hear a word. She turned to Chu Van Bac, her eyes almost crazy.

"Van Bac! Say it!"

"I told them! I said we are true lovers!"

“You tell them she is the third person!”

Chu Van Bac's body was as stiff as stone. He was nailed to the spot by her eyes, his face changing from blue to white. All eyes in the courtroom turned to him. He becomes the central character... also the most laughable and pitiful person in this play. His lips moved slightly, his throat slid up and down... but no sound came out. Admit it? Admitting love to Lam Hieu Vu, means admitting adultery in marriage. Deny it? Then all the sweet words and promises he once said... turned into jokes. He was hanging in the middle of the fire, with no way back. I looked at him. Looking at the man I once loved for ten years... now standing there, pathetic and out of shape. In my heart, there is no more joy, no more pain.