Chapter 15 — Because of his ex-wife, he lost everything

He sat on the living room sofa, his hands resting on his knees, his mind a mess. He didn't want to believe it, trying to find excuses for Tham Duong - perhaps his tablemate's mother remembered wrongly, perhaps Duong Duong was childishly talking nonsense, perhaps those two words "biological father" were just a joking way of calling a certain male friend of Tham Duong. But those transfer records, the nights Tham Duong didn't come home, the clues that he had never thought about carefully, just kept rushing back, every detail was telling him the same truth. Duong Duong grew up unlike him. From childhood to adulthood, everyone said Duong Duong looked like his mother, but no one said he looked like his father. Before, he thought it was very normal, there was nothing strange about children looking like their mothers. But now that I think about it, Duong Duong's facial features, demeanor, and even walking posture are not similar to him at all. Luc Hanh Chu sat on the sofa for a long time, until it was completely dark, until Tham Duong opened the door to go home. Tham Duong turned on the light and was startled when he saw someone sitting in the living room. Waiting until she saw clearly that it was Luc Hanh Chu, she immediately became irritated: "What are you doing sitting here? The lights aren't even on, scaring people to death. Where is Duong Duong?"

“I sent it to my mother.” Luc Hanh Chu's voice was hoarse.

Tham Duong changed into slippers, threw his bag on the shoe cabinet, glanced at him: "What's wrong with you? Your face looks so bad." Luc Hanh Chu raised his head to look at her. The woman in front of him, he has loved for more than ten years, from college until now, she was the brightest light of his youth. Because of her, he gave up his marriage, spent all his savings, sold a house, and fought against the world to protect her and her children. But looking at her now, he just feels strange.

"Tham Duong," he said, his voice was very light, as if he was afraid of disturbing something, "Who is Duong Duong's biological father?"

Thham Duong's action of putting away his bag paused for a second, just one second, then immediately returned to normal. She didn't even turn around and said: "What are you crazy about? Of course Duong Duong is your son."

“Look at me.”

Tham Duong turned around and met his eyes. Her eyes were very calm, even a little impatient, as if looking at someone causing trouble for no reason: "I told you, Duong Duong is your son. What's wrong with you today? You drank too much, right?" Luc Hanh Chu stood up and took out a piece of paper from his pocket. That was the DNA test application form he took at the hospital that afternoon, still blank, nothing had been filled out. He originally intended to ask clearly before thinking about it, but now there was no need to ask anymore, Tham Duong's momentary pause and unnatural expression gave him all the answers.

"Okay," he said, slapping the paper on the tea table, "Tomorrow we'll take Duong Duong for a DNA test. If it's mine, I'll kneel down and apologize to you. If it's not..."

He didn't finish his sentence. Tham Duong looked at the paper on the tea table, the expression on his face finally showed a crack. It's not guilt, but impatience - the kind of impatience of being exposed that makes you lazy to continue.

“Luc Hanh Chu,” she crossed her arms and leaned against the wall, her tone cold as if she were talking to an unfamiliar colleague, "Do you stubbornly compare this to me now? Does Duong Duong call you dad for so many years, your feelings for him are real, his feelings for you are also real, what's the difference if you take the test or not?"

Luc Hanh Chu felt like someone had punched him in the face, his whole body staggered.

“So, not my child.” His voice trembled, "You always knew, from beginning to end you knew clearly."