Chapter 20 — World Chess Game

21 Going towards the light The verdict was quickly announced, everything fell into its proper place, coldly but clearly like a final cut that closed a play that had gone on for too long. Trieu Thien Thanh, the mastermind, with a series of crimes from treason to attempted murder to kidnapping, was sentenced to life in prison, with the rest of his life rotting behind bars. My eldest uncle, Tham Chi Cuong, who sold his blood and flesh in exchange for money and power, received twenty years in prison, which means he will be buried there for the rest of his life. Aunt Vuong Cam, for concealment, was sentenced to three years, and Tham Hao, because he was forced and had great merit, was exempted from criminal liability, but the compensation of 1,000,000 yuan still had to be paid in full. As for my parents, due to the light circumstances and not directly participating in the cover-up at the last minute, they were only reprimanded and then released, leaving behind a life of self-torture. Everything finally calmed down, like a storm ending, leaving only ruins. That day, I returned to the house I had lived in for more than twenty years, a place once called "family", but now only memories remained, cold as ashes. The door opened, the living room fell silent, the heavy silence seemed to press on the chest, making it difficult to breathe. My father sat in the chair, overnight he had aged twenty years, his hair was half white, his eyes were empty. My mother sat next to me, silently crying, tears falling soundlessly, as if she had exhausted all her strength to scream. They looked at me with complicated eyes, both guilty and resentful, but also carrying some fragile hope that they wanted to hold on to.

“Nguyet Nguyet… I'm back.”

My mother stood up and tried to hold my hand, but I took a step back, that distance was like an irreparable cut. Her hand floated in mid-air, then fell. My father's voice was hoarse, as if his pride had been eroded. I don't sit. Just standing there, looking at them, coldly calm.

“I came back today to get my household registration book.”

My voice wasn't loud, but every word was as clear as a knife. My father's body shook, my mother cried harder.

“Nguyet Nguyet… what are you planning to do… do you really want to cut us off…”

“We are your parents…”

I laughed lightly, the smile without any warmth.

“When you force your child to pay 1,000,000 yuan, do you two think you are parents?”

“When you let your child be pushed out as a substitute, do you two think you are parents?”

"When your lives are threatened and you only care about Tham Hao, do you think you are parents?"

With each question asked, their faces became a little whiter, as if each layer of deception had been exposed.

“Since I passed university, you two started to see me as a cash machine.”

“Since the time I continuously sacrificed my interests for Tham Hao.”

“From the moment I said the words ‘you have to pay that amount’…”

"In the hearts of both of you, I am no longer a girl."

“Just a tool that can be sacrificed at any time.”

I put a file on the table.

“This house is in my name.”

“Now I take it back.”

“One week, move out.”

My father raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.

“You… kicked us out?”

“We are your biological parents!”

“This is the second you deserve.”

I looked at him, my eyes unwavering.

“How did you two take what I had the other day…”

“I got it back today just like that.”

“How to live later…”

“It has nothing to do with the child.”

I don't look at them anymore. Go back into the room, take all the things mine, dragged my suitcase to the door. My mother rushed forward, knelt down, hugged my legs tightly, crying until she was hoarse.

"Nguyet Nguyet! Don't go! Mom was wrong! Please forgive me this time!"

That cry... if it was before, maybe I would have softened. But now… My heart has turned to stone. I slowly removed her fingers one by one.

“The stab wound, even if it heals…”

“The scars are still there.”

“We… can't go back.”

I pulled my suitcase and walked out. Don't turn around. Outside, the sun is shining brightly. A black SUV was parked. Lam Phong leaned against the car door, looking at me with a rare gentle smile. He walked over and naturally took the suitcase from my hand.

“All done?”

I nodded, relieved like never before. I looked up, looking at the deep blue sky. Take a deep breath. Then turned to him and smiled.

“Go anywhere.”

“Just… be where the light is.”

The car rolled away. Carry me, and a whole new life, rushing forward. I know, from this moment— I have been reborn.