Chapter 12 — After Forgetting Your Husband

Raindrops hit the glass, making thick clicking sounds. I turned to an unfinished illustration. In the painting, a little girl is holding an umbrella. The umbrella canopy is very small, but the girl still tries to stand on tiptoe, wanting to protect the adults next to her from the rain. The brush stroke stopped there, and there was a streak of water on the paper. I stared at the water streak, suddenly a white light flashed in my head. Rain. Car headlights. Tue Tue's forehead was hot and pressed against my neck. Tham Duat Hanh's voice on the phone was as cold as a needle: *"Take the car to the hospital yourself, don't come looking for me no matter what."* I carried Tue Tue and rushed out into the rain, slipped, my knee hit the steps. Tue Tue cried and called for her mother. I gritted my teeth and crawled up, hugging the baby in my coat. And then there were the blinding headlights and the sound of sudden brakes. The moment my body was thrown away, I used all my strength to push Tue Tue in my arms towards the sidewalk. I woke up, the drawing paper in my hand was crumpled. Cold sweat broke out on my back. Tue Tue ran out of the bedroom: "Mom?" I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The little girl rushed to hug me: "Mom, do you remember?" I hugged her tightly, smelling the scent of milk and sunshine in her hair, tears finally fell.

“Remember a little.”

The girl's body stiffened, her voice trembled: "Do you like dad again?" My heart felt like someone was squeezing it hard. I lifted her face up.

“No way.”

She stared at me, as if wanting to confirm every word I said. I said: "Remembering only makes me understand more clearly why I had to leave." Tue Tue burst into tears. The baby cried loudly, as if she had been holding it in for too long, her small shoulders shaking. I hugged the baby and sat on the carpet, the sound of rain outside the window became more and more intense. That night, Tong Chieu arrived, bringing news.

"Ha Tuyen has betrayed."

I was stunned. Tong Chieu gave me the phone. In the video, Ha Tuyen sits in front of the camera, wearing very light makeup, and her eyes are red and swollen. She said that she and Tham Duat Hanh were just friends, because she was unilaterally dependent on Tham Duat Hanh. She admitted that she had intentionally called many times when there was a conflict between me and Tham Duat Hanh, admitted that she sent provocative photos, and also admitted that her mother-in-law had once hinted that, if Tham Duat Hanh divorced, she could enter the Tham family. But she pushed the most dangerous part to her mother-in-law. She said: "The night Mrs. Tham had an accident, I did say that children cannot die from fever, but that was because Mr. Tham's mother said it first, I just followed along." The comments section exploded again. My mother-in-law called me, her voice shrill and clear:

"Diep Tri Chi, are you satisfied? You must force me to death, right?"

I turned on recording.

“You're living a good life, stop complaining.”

She angrily cursed: "You comet, since you entered the door, this house has never been at peace! Duat Hanh's conditions are so good, marrying you is your third generation's blessing, do you still dare to sue him? How can you live with a daughter who has lost money?" I glanced at Tue Tue sitting next to me. Her little face was pale, but she didn't hide. I turned on the speakerphone: "Who did you just say is a money-losing girl?" The mother-in-law's voice choked. I said: "Say it again, I didn't record clearly." She panicked: "You're recording again? Diep Tri Chi, why are you so cruel?” I hung up the phone bluntly and sent the recording to Tong Chieu. Ten minutes later, Tham Duat Hanh called back. I picked up the phone. His voice was low and hoarse: "For what my mother said, I apologize on her behalf."

“No need to replace. Whoever speaks, must pay the price."

“Tri Chi, I will make your mother publicly apologize.”

I replied: "I have received too much apology from the Tham family, it is not worth a penny." The other end of the line paused for a breath.

“So what do you want?”