Chapter 13 — After Forgetting Your Husband

I looked at the divorce agreement on the table.

“Sign your name, giving up the right to dispute child support and property division according to the law. And, force your mother to personally apologize to Tue Tue.”

He was silent for a long time.

“Okay.”

I thought he thought it through. But the next day, Tong Chieu received news that Tham Duat Hanh changed his request to sue and decided to take custody of Tue Tue. The reason is that I have memory loss, emotional instability, and no fixed income. Looking at the documents, my fingers tightened. Tong Chieu cursed: "Is he crazy?" But I suddenly calmed down. Are not. He's not crazy. He's just not used to losing control. 【Chapter 10】 When the day of trial came, Tue Tue insisted on going. I don't agree. The girl clutched her tiny backpack, standing at the door, her eyes red.

“Mom, I want to tell the judge that I want to go with you.”

I squatted down: "You don't have to fight for me."

“But I'm also in this situation.”

She said that so seriously, so seriously that I couldn't refuse. The court corridor is very long, the walls are cold white, the sound of footsteps pounding down is clear step by step. Tham Duat Hanh and his mother-in-law arrived first. The mother-in-law was wearing sunglasses, saw Tue Tue, her lips moved to curse but she didn't dare. Tham Duat Hanh squatted down, intending to pat Tue Tue's head. Tue Tue retreated and hid behind me. His hand paused in midair, then slowly withdrew. The trial was more stressful than I expected. The opposing attorney cited my memory loss and work interruptions, arguing that I could not provide a stable life for the child. Tong Chieu responded step by step, presenting me with painting contracts, bank account statements, real estate certificates and psychological assessment reports. Next comes the presentation of evidence. The cold rice ball, the birthday night, the call in the rainy night, the mother-in-law's insults, Ha Tuyen's provocation. When those sounds rang out in the middle of the solemn trial, Tham Duat Hanh always lowered his head. The mother-in-law tried to open her mouth several times but was held back by the lawyer. It was Tue Tue's turn to express his wishes. The girl sat on a small chair, her hands placed obediently on her knees. The judge gently asked: "Who do you want to live with?" Tue Tue glanced at me. I nodded encouragingly. The girl turned up, her voice still shaking a bit, but each word was clear:

“I want to stay with mom.”

The judge asked: “Why?” Tue Tue clutched the hem of her dress: "Because when you have a fever, mom will carry you to the hospital. Mom herself is very sick, but still asks if you're in pain. Dad is very busy, and grandma doesn't like you." Tham Duat Hanh raised his head. Tue Tue didn't even look at him.

"Before, dad said that if mom is not happy, she can leave. Now that she's really gone, dad says she can't."

The girl sniffled.

“I don't want my mom to have to go back there and cry anymore.”

The entire courtroom was so quiet that you could clearly hear the sound of papers being flipped. I clenched my teeth to keep from bursting into tears right there. Tham Duat Hanh's shoulders sagged little by little. During a break in the trial, he walked up to me, his voice sounding like it had been rubbed over with sandpaper.

“I withdraw my request to fight for child custody.”

I looked at him. His eyes were filled with blood: "I just want to keep a little something." I replied: “Children are not The rope for me to hold on to my marriage.” He closed his eyes tightly.

“I know.”

The mother-in-law next to her was impatient: "Duat Hanh, you cannot agree! How could the Tham family's grandson let him take him away? He's such a talented artist, what can he give Tue Tue?" Tham Duat Hanh turned his head, his voice cold.

“Mom, that's enough.”

She was stunned.

“You should apologize too.”

The mother-in-law's face changed from blue to white: "Do you have to apologize to him? Based on what?