Chapter 1 — After Doctor Diep Disappeared

After the fifth time Co Han Chau locked him in a closet for self-criticism, Diep Nam Sanh was completely heartbroken. She became a perfect noble lady without a single scratch, making the whole Co family unable to criticize even a single word. Didn't argue, didn't cry, didn't check the phone, didn't ask what time Co Han Chau would come home, and didn't even care which girl's apartment he went to. Even when her biological son knocked over the bento box she made herself, she just calmly squatted down and gave him a wet tissue. That morning, Diep Nam Sanh prepared four savory dishes and one soup on the dining table. Five-year-old Co Tu Mac ran down the stairs wearing a backpack, glanced at the food on the table, his small face grimacing.

“Is that what you cooked again?”

Diep Nam Sanh gave the boy chopsticks, his voice was very light: "Yes, try it." Co Tu Mac didn't accept, tilted his head to look at her, then reached out and pushed the thermos box containing sweet and sour fried ribs straight to the ground. The lid of the box came off, the sauce splashed, and a few ribs rolled around at Diep Nam Sanh's feet.

“My aunt cooks a hundred times better than you, I don't want to eat what you cook.”

Diep Nam Sanh squatted down.

“Okay, no more cooking from now on.”

Co Tu Mac snorted, put on his backpack and ran out. Outside the door, Tham Moc Ngung's gentle voice rang out: "Good Tu Mac, auntie brought you your favorite shrimp dumplings." Diep Nam Sanh picked up each piece of ribs on the ground and threw them into the trash. Diep Nam Sanh just got a test paper back from the hospital. Pregnancy ultrasound card. Six weeks. She sat on the window sill of the master bedroom, the corn leaves outside were rustling in the wind, and in the living room, the sound of servants busily preparing dinner could be heard. Diep Nam Sanh folded the paper and stuffed it into his nightshirt pocket. She walked into the bathroom, groped in the secret compartment at the bottom of the bathroom cabinet, and took out two packs of pills. Diep Nam Sanh poured a cup of warm water, peeled all the pills, and gathered them in the palm of his hand. She suddenly remembered her previous pregnancy. That was two years ago, she happily brought a two-line pregnancy test to show Co Han Chau, but he just frowned and said:

"Tu Mac alone is enough. Having another child, what do you want your sister-in-law to think? She only has Tinh Tinh, are you going to use the number of children to oppress her?"

At that moment, Diep Nam Sanh stood frozen in place, the pregnancy test stick slipped from his hand and fell to the carpet. She put twelve pills into her mouth, took a sip of warm water and swallowed them. Then, she returned to the bedroom and locked the door. Twenty minutes later, her lower abdomen began to contract, and her skirt was stained with the first bright red blood stains. Outside the door came the sound of rapid footsteps. Co Han Chau's voice boomed from the end of the hallway: "Diep Nam Sanh, open the door!"

With a "bang" sound, the lock was deformed and the wooden door burst open and slammed against the wall.

Co Han Chau stood at the door, his chest heaving violently. His eyes first stopped on her face, then moved down. Eye-searing bright red blood stains on the hem of her dress, dark puddles of water snaking on the floor, and empty pill blister packs on the nightstand. All the blood on his face drained away in the blink of an eye.

“Are you crazy?!”

He rushed three steps in front of the bed and squeezed Diep Nam Sanh's chin. Diep Nam Sanh was squeezed so much that she tilted her head back, but she did not Struggling, just opened her eyes to look at him.

"You are a doctor, why is your heart so cruel? You can't even tolerate a drop of your own blood?"

Diep Nam Sanh said nothing. Co Han Chau picked up the fruit knife on the tea table. Diep Nam Sanh suddenly laughed. Then her whole body rushed straight towards the tip of the knife. Co Han Chau's pupils shrank and his wrists retreated madly. The blade grazed her collarbone, her white shirt was slashed, and a thin red streak of blood oozed out from under her skin.

“Diep Nam Sanh, do you really want to die?!”

Diep Nam Sanh raised his hand to tuck the loose hair on his cheek behind his ear, bowed his head and looked at the blood trail that continued to spread on the hem of her dress.

“The late President once said, having a son is enough.”

Co Han Chau was stunned.

“If you give birth to another child, wouldn't it make your sister-in-law feel awkward?”

The late general. Not Han Chau, not her husband, not the nagging "Mr. Chau" like in the past. It's General Co. Co Han Chau felt something in his chest falling freely. His lips moved, his voice suddenly hoarse: "Nam Sanh, don't be like that, I... you wait a little longer, my sister-in-law's matter will be resolved."

“Taking care of your deceased brother's widow is the right thing to do, I understand.” Diep Nam Sanh nodded.

Co Han Chau thought she was satisfied, so he took a step forward. But Diep Nam Sanh took a step back.

“On the twenty-seventh day of last month, I came back drunk, on the bed of this master bedroom, the person I called my sister-in-law.”

The blood on Co Han Chau's face receded even more.

“On the fifteenth day of last month, my sister-in-law told me that acting like a 'old lady' in front of her made her uncomfortable. Without a word, he locked me in a dark closet in the basement, locking me for six hours."

Diep Nam Sanh's voice is very even, without any ripples.

“The first time was locked up for three hours, the second time four hours, the third time five hours, the fourth time five and a half hours, the fifth time six hours.”

"Every time it's because my sister-in-law says I make her uncomfortable."

She spread out five fingers and waved them in front of Co Han Chau's face.

“Five times, I remember very clearly.”

Co Han Chau opened his mouth.

"Nam Sanh, why don't you understand? Obviously I did those things because I wanted to be good for you."

Diep Nam Sanh turned around and walked to the bedside table, pulled the drawer, and took out a file of documents.

"Divorce petition. Leaving empty-handed. I don't need anything."

She placed the file on the bed.

“Sign, Mr. Co.”

Co Han Chau stared at the documents, the blue veins on his temples twitching continuously. He grabbed Diep Nam Sanh's wrist and squeezed.

“You dream.”

Diep Nam Sanh raised his eyes and looked at Co Han Chau with an extremely strange look. In those eyes there was no hatred, no love, no self-pity, only cold distance remained after love had completely dissipated.

"Boss, you're squeezing me."

Co Han Chau's fingers loosened. Diep Nam Sanh withdrew his wrist, a bright red ring was printed on it. She took a clean coat and put it on, covering the bloody skirt of her dress. When she reached the door, she stopped for a moment.

“I will never come back again, nor will I ever love you again.”

—

Chapter 2 Co Han Chau wouldn't let her walk out that door. He hugged Diep Nam Sanh's waist from behind, ignoring his stiff body her, directly picked her up. Diep Nam Sanh used both hands to push against his chest, pushing hard.

“Let me go.”

Co Han Chau carried her and strode downstairs. Diep Nam Sanh's nails scratched his neck, leaving a red scratch. The driver was waiting outside the door. Co Han Chau stuffed her into the back seat and locked the car door.

“Go to Nhan Hoa Hospital, Emergency Department.”

Diep Nam Sanh leaned against the car window, his forehead pressed against the cold glass, his eyes looking at the receding street lights outside.