Chapter 2 — Cheating Marriage

Some time later, the same thing happened again. Really tiring. So I started learning to let things go. Learn how to be a generous and charming “Auntie Co.” He's probably satisfied now. But he was not satisfied. His eyebrows furrowed, as if his punch fell on a cotton pillow, bringing with it an indescribable feeling of discomfort. I walked around him, turned around and walked into the room. "I have a cold, I won't sleep with you tonight, I'll go to the living room to sleep." He seemed to realize something, turned around and asked: "Thanh Mien, are you angry?" I looked at him coldly. "A Sinh, I have purulent lymphadenitis, it's very contagious. I don't want to infect you." "Why didn't you tell me when you were sick?" I smiled faintly. "I told you already. If you open it, Take out your phone, you will see I have sent you the test results." He was stunned, slowly took out his phone, there was indeed an unread message from me, but he did not reply. I smiled softly: "You see, I'm really sick." He just pursed his lips, not knowing what he was thinking. After a while, he put his hand down: "Thanh Mien, you have to rest well." I nodded, packed my things and went to the living room. Looking at the cozy layout of the living room, I remember the year we first moved here. He asked me why I decorated the living room so beautifully. I said, “So when guests come over, they will see this beautiful room and know that we are serious about building our life.” Two years have passed, no guests have visited. No one cares if we are serious about building this life or not. It's just me, silently becoming a guest in my own house. That night, I couldn't sleep peacefully. Lately I've been dreaming about things from the past. I dreamed of the old days, when I was still at the orphanage, standing under the old banyan tree. I knelt before the tree and sincerely prayed for my life to be happy, healthy, peaceful, and joyful. I pray that I won't be like my parents, one makes the other suffer, in the end one dies, the other goes to prison. The last words my mother said to me before she left were: "Thanh Mien, you have to find someone who loves you. If you can't find one, then live alone." I held tightly in my hand the peace talisman that my mother asked for me for the last time, sobbing without a sound. I still dream about when I was in college, when Co Nam Son held my hand and seriously told me in the temple: "Thanh Mien, we will love each other forever." At that time, I really believed that. But now, my tears won't stop falling. "Mom, I'm so hurt. Didn't you think that when you loved dad, you never thought that the man who abandoned the whole family for you, after starting a failed business, would blame you, saying that without you, he would live better? Did you also not expect that the man who loved you to death, just because of his own failure, would beat you after getting drunk? Mom, At that time, you were as sad as I am now, weren't you? Are you like me? I don't understand why love has such a short lifespan. It seems like the moments of love are still a thing of yesterday, but today we have become strangers. I closed my eyes, crying in suffering, unable to distinguish what was real and what was a dream. I only know that that night, after many years of separation, I dreamed of my mother. She has never appeared in my dreams, but this time, she looked at me with gentle eyes. She asked: "Thanh Mien, are you happy lately?" I shook my head. She smiled and said: "Thanh Mien, if you're no longer happy..." "Then let go of the things that make you unhappy." I looked at my mother and replied: "I will

Do that, I just need a little more time." The next day, when I woke up, I was alone in the house. On the table, it had been a long time since I saw a small piece of paper: "The company has something to do, you go first. Remember to take care of yourself." It's been a long time since Co Nam Son explained his whereabouts. When I looked at the paper, I had to think for a moment: "Why did he do that today?" Thinking for a while, I remembered: "Today is my birthday." Last time, when he missed our 10th anniversary, he promised to spend the whole day with me on my birthday. From that day, I waited for my birthday for a long time. Waiting forever, it seemed like I was no longer looking forward to it. Until today, I even forgot about my birthday. I returned to my room and put on light makeup. I am inherently beautiful, but I cannot deny the harshness of time. I am old, wrinkles in the corners of my eyes have begun to appear, and my skin is no longer as smooth as before. Is Co Nam Son fed up with me? But from the day he loved me, he must have known that one day, I would grow old. I can't always be a girl in my twenties. I didn't expect that when I arrived at the shopping center, I would see Co Nam Son and that girl. The young girl walked in front, smiling brightly and pointing at each luxury store: "Director Co, I want to go to all these stores!" Co Nam Son followed, his face full of helplessness. Buy, buy, buy. When I saw them, I reflexively avoided them. That girl's smile was so bright, they looked so happy. I'm afraid if I go a little further, that happiness will burn me. But as I was backing away, the salesperson carrying the product accidentally bumped into me. He panicked and said loudly: "Sorry, ma'am, are you okay?" I kept shaking my head, but his voice was too loud, attracting the attention of Co Nam Son nearby. When he saw me, he quickly walked over: "Thanh Mien, are you following me? I already told you, me and Nhiep Oanh are not what you think." At this time, Nhiep Oanh also stepped closer. "Miss Thanh Mien, why do you think that way about Director Co? There's nothing between us." The salesperson looked shy, perhaps he realized the awkward situation he had unintentionally created for me. I stood up, struggled to brush off the dust on my clothes, and looked towards them. Faced with their back-blaming action, I wasn't angry, just seriously explained: "I of course know there's nothing between you two. I just came here to buy a birthday gift for myself. I know you're busy, A Sinh." Having said that, I held up the gift box in my hand to prove I wasn't lying. The young girl's face showed a triumphant smile: "Ah, so it turns out that way. Ms. Thanh Mien, Director Co and I just finished meeting a customer and signed a big contract. The director said he wanted to reward me, so he took me for a walk. Don't pay attention." I smiled: "Nhiep Oanh, thank you." At that moment, I felt the sympathetic eyes of the waiter standing next to me. I pretended not to see, turned around and said to him: "I'm fine." "Just take care of your work." Co Nam Son looked at me, without saying a word, with a bit of anger in his eyes. "Why do you go shopping for gifts alone? I'll give it to you tonight." I looked at him and smiled: "A Sinh, you're busy, I think I'll just buy it myself." Actually, it's been two years since Co Nam Son gave me a birthday present. He always forgets, and then gives me a bank card. I rarely use it, because I also have my own career and savings. I always think it's better to spend some of his money. But today, suddenly I want to use that card to buy something for myself. yourself, as a way to compensate

"I've bought my sister's gift. Continue walking with her." I politely said goodbye, but heard Co Nam Son coldly say: "I'll take you home." He still clearly remembered the last time he promised to celebrate my birthday with me. Actually, he didn't forget, he just didn't want to do it. I refuse: