Chapter 1 — When I No Longer See Them As Family

After returning from a business trip half a month ago, the river view apartment I bought with all my own money... turned into my brother's wedding room. Coming back from a half-month business trip, I couldn't even open the door of the river view apartment that I paid all the money to buy. When I called a locksmith to break down the door and rush in, the scene before my eyes almost made me not recognize my own house. The master bedroom was smashed to pieces. My sister-in-law stroked my newly protruding belly with one hand, while the other commanded the workers to throw my custom-made mattress worth 100,000 yuan (about 350 million VND) downstairs. My mother stood next to me, laughing until she couldn't close her mouth.

"This bedroom receives beautiful sunlight, it is the most suitable for my grandchild."

I looked at the pile of limited edition collectible models that they swept into a pile of trash on the floor, and calmly asked my mother:

“Have you forgotten whose name this house is in?”

The sister-in-law rolled her eyes contemptuously:

“Sister, you don't even have a man, aren't you unlucky to have such a big bedroom?”

My mother laughed coldly, took out a bright red notebook from her pocket and slammed it on the table.

"What are you yelling at? The name on this house has long since changed to your younger brother's name!"

I looked at my younger brother's name on the ownership certificate and suddenly burst out laughing. Because... the real notebook is still sitting quietly in my safe right now. Half a month on business trip. I'm back. Standing in front of my house. Fingerprint lock. Verification failed. The red light continuously flashes, emitting a deafening "beep" sound. I changed to entering a password. Still failed. Someone from within has changed all access rights. I took out my phone. Call building management. The manager quickly ran over, his head covered in sweat.

“Miss Khuong, are you back…”

“Why can't I get into my house?”

His eyes avoided.

“This… your family said you have agreed to replace the lock core.”

“Family?”

“It's… it's your mother and younger brother.”

I got it. I hung up. Call the unlocking company directly.

"I'll send you the address right away. As quickly as possible, break the lock for me."

Half an hour later. With a loud noise, the door of the river view apartment that I paid all my own money for finally opened. The living room is as messy as a landfill. My limited edition vinyl record set was broken into pieces and used as a placemat under the foot of the tea table. The sofa was filled with strange men's clothes. The air was filled with the smell of rotten food and unpleasant sweat. The master bedroom door was wide open. Inside, there was a loud noise from the worker commander. I stepped forward. The scene before my eyes made the blood in my body freeze in the blink of an eye. My master bedroom was smashed to a state of disrepair. My favorite oil painting on the wall disappeared. Instead there is a giant baby poster. Two workers were struggling to carry my custom-made imported mattress worth 100,000 yuan to the balcony. My sister-in-law, Luu Van, held her newly protruding belly, her face full of disgust, and stood in command.

“Be careful, don't hit the wall.”

“This cushion is so unlucky, throw it away, throw it as far as possible.”

“In the future, my son still has to stay here, he has to be clean.”

My mother, Dinh Tue, stood right next to Luu Van. She kindly fanned her, smiling brightly like a flower blooming.

“Tieu Van, don't move, you accidentally move What about pregnancy?"

“Just let the workers do some heavy work.”

"This bedroom has beautiful sunlight, two-way ventilation, very good feng shui, what could be more suitable for my grandchild to live in?"

They finally saw me standing outside the door. The smile on Dinh Tue's face stiffened for a moment. But soon it became full of reason.

“Are you back? Why didn't you give us an hour's notice?"

Luu Van directly rolled his eyes and looked at me with his hands on his hips.

“Sister, I've only been on a business trip for half a month, but as soon as I come back, I'm already showing such an unsightly face for anyone to see?”

"I don't know, but I thought we took away a great deal from you."

I don't pay attention to them. My eyes stopped at the corner of the room. There was a pile of "garbage" that had been swept up. It's a limited edition anime model set that I asked an auction friend to bring back from abroad. In one model, the character's head was broken and rolled to the side. I slowly walked forward. Bend down to pick up the broken head. Then he raised his head and looked at Dinh Tue, his voice as calm as the surface of dead water.

“This house…”

“Did everyone forget whose name was on the certificate?”

My calmness seemed to make Luu Van uncomfortable. She laughed contemptuously, stroking her belly as if holding a supreme scepter.

"Sister, an old aunt who isn't even a man, taking up such a large bedroom alone, isn't it scary to sleep at night?"

“The feng shui of this house is so good, it should be suitable for people with many children and grandchildren to live in.”

“Now that your younger brother has a child, the master bedroom must of course be given over to my son.”

“You in the extra room is enough.”

After listening, Dinh Tue immediately chimed in. She stepped in front of me, looking down from above.

“What are you yelling at?”

"If I threaten your grandchild's gold and silver, will you be able to bear it?"

She pulled out a bright red notebook from her bag and slammed it on the dressing table next to her.

"I'm telling you, Khuong Nghien, don't ask an elephant for a fairy."

“This house is no longer yours!”

“Open your eyes wide and look carefully to see whose name is written on it!”

It is a home ownership certificate. The color is bright and dazzling red. I did not reach out to receive. Dinh Tue directly picked it up and opened it in front of me. In the owner section, clearly write my younger brother's name.

“See?”

“Khuong Vi!”

“Now this house belongs to my younger brother. Your sister-in-law is pregnant and is the hero of the whole family."

“Whichever room he wants to stay in, he stays in that room.”

"And you, an outsider, what right do you have to stand here pointing five fingers?"

I looked at Dinh Tue's face distorted with pride. Look at Luu Van's disdainful and triumphant eyes. Look at that brand new but ridiculously fake red book. Suddenly burst out laughing. The laughter grew louder and louder. In their shocked and confused eyes. I laughed so much that tears were about to come out. Because the real certificate… Right now is lying quietly in my bank safe. My laughter made Dinh Tue and Luu Van both stunned. The smug look on Dinh Tue's face immediately turned into anger.

“What are you laughing at?”

“Are you crazy?”

Luu Van also frowned, took a step back, and instinctively covered his stomach.

“Mom, look at her… is there something wrong with her nerves being stimulated?”

"An old aunt that no one wants to marry, now that even her house is gone, it's strange that she doesn't go crazy."

I'm slow stop laughing. His eyes cooled down little by little. I didn't look at them again. Right in front of them, I punched in three numbers. Dinh Tue's face immediately changed.

“Khuong Nghien, what do you want to do?”

I didn't answer, just pressed call directly. The phone is quickly connected. I turned on the speakerphone. From the other end of the line came a deep male voice.

“Hello, this is the 110 report reception center.”

My voice was clear, calm and cold.

“Hello, I want to call the police.”

“The address is apartment 3201, building A, Thien Du Hoa Phu, Giang Ninh district.”

“Someone illegally entered my house and intentionally destroyed personal property.”

“Estimated damage exceeds 500,000 yuan.”