Chapter 10 — After transferring 150,000 Yuan, I turned the table on the marriage

"Trieu Khai! You're not human! Do you still have face? Are you worthy of me and my child!"

His parents stood next to him, pointing and scolding him, and another family also began to fall into chaos. I looked at that scene, there was no ripple in my heart, I only saw that it was all the price they had to pay. On the way home, my phone rang, it was Ton Nhue. Her voice was very calm, as if she had given up everything:

“Miss Tran… thank you.”

“I've booked a train ticket back home tomorrow.”

“I also received the money… it was more than I thought…”

She hesitated, then choked:

“I… apologize to you… and apologize to your child…”

“If there's anything else you need me to do…”

I interrupted:

“No need.”

“You go.”

“Take your child with you, go to a place where no one knows, live a decent life.”

“That's the last word I'll say to you.”

After speaking, I hung up and blocked that number. I helped her not out of pity, but because she still had some conscience, and her existence was the cruelest punishment for the mother and daughter. When I got home, I went straight to the baby's room. Nac Nhat just woke up, his big round eyes looking at me without blinking. I picked my baby up and hugged him tightly, feeling the gentle smell of milk and soft warmth that made my heart sink. This is my daughter, all I need. I carried my baby to the balcony, the sunset dyed the whole city into a warm, beautiful and peaceful yellow color. The phone rang again, it was an unfamiliar number, I hesitated but still answered it. On the other end of the line was the voice of an old, weak man:

“…Is that Tran Hi?”

I stopped and realized it was my father-in-law. I said coldly:

“What's the matter?”

He was silent for a long time, then sighed:

“I… know everything.”

"Truong Lan and Khuong Vi... they did it themselves."

“I'm not calling to ask for their forgiveness.”

“If they do wrong, they have to bear it themselves.”

His voice was low, carrying a bit of pleading:

“I just… want to say sorry to you.”

“And… want to see the baby once.”

“Just once… okay?”

I was silent. Reason says to cut it off completely. But hearing an old man's voice almost pleading... my heart still softened a bit.

“Tomorrow, the park downstairs.”

After I finished speaking, I hung up. I don't know if this decision is right or wrong. Just know... the child in my arms is innocent. And you have the right to know where you come from... even though that past is not beautiful. The next morning, I pushed the stroller and took Nac Nhat to the central park of the residential area. From afar, I saw an old man sitting alone on a bench, his back bent, his hair white, much older than the last time I saw him. I pushed the cart slowly towards him. He heard the footsteps and turned around. Seeing me, he immediately looked confused and quickly put his hands up to stand up.

“Tran…Tran Hi…”

“Sit down.” I spoke softly, my voice emotionless.

I sat down on the chair next to me, keeping enough distance between the two of us. He didn't say anything, just stretched his neck to look into the stroller, his eyes greedy but careful. Nac Nhat is sleeping, his small lips are slightly pursed, obedient like an angel.

“Like you.”

A long time later, he spoke up, his voice hoarse.

“Eyebrows, eyes... all look like you.”

I didn't reply. The park is quiet, with only the sounds of birds and the wind blowing through the leaves.

“I… am a useless father.”

He suddenly spoke, as if he were talking to me, but also as if he were talking to himself.

“When I was young, me driving long distances, not being at home all year round.”

"Everything in the house is assigned to Truong Lan."

“I think just bringing in money is fulfilling my responsibility.”

“I don't know… she taught Khuong Wei to be like that.”

His voice was full of regret.

"She was too imposing and too indulgent, turning him into an irresponsible, thoughtless person who only knew how to listen to his mother."

“It's me... it's my fault for you.”

He wiped his eyes with his hand, his rough hand shaking slightly.

“I know it's too late to say anything now.”

“I didn't come today to ask for your forgiveness.”

“I just want to… give you this.”

He took out a neatly folded cloth package from his shirt and handed it to me. I don't accept.

“What is that?”

“It's… some money I've saved over the years.”

He opened it, inside was a savings book.

“Not much… two hundred thousand yuan.”

“The capital was for old age... now I don't need it anymore.”

“Take it and buy the baby something.”

He tried to put it in my hand. I pushed back.

“I don't need it.”

“Your money, you keep and use when you are old.”

"Khuong Vi and I are no longer related, your money... I am even less qualified to receive it."

He stopped, his hand holding the notebook suspended in mid-air.