Chapter 4 — Cheating Marriage

"Thanh Mien, I don't want to go back to the days when there was nothing." "Co Nam Son, then consider that you have passed through my life. Sign the divorce papers, so we can break up in peace." "Tut..." The call ended, I couldn't wait for an answer from Co Nam Son. But after many years together, I knew he was angry. Perhaps, in your eyes, I am the one who will never leave you. So feel free to do what you want, without any hesitation. He thinks that I will always be by his side, but forgets that I also have my own aspects. When he used to love me, those edges were covered with love, and I became softer. But now, when love has disappeared, my edges have grown back to protect myself. While I was waiting for my flight at the airport, a young girl approached me. She looked like she had a lot of things to ask, but then kept quiet. When I was 20, I was nothing like that. At that time, I wore a 10 VND T-shirt, bare face, and just because of Co Nam Son's statement that he wanted to start a business, I did not hesitate to follow him. But now, he wears all the brand names, worth up to six figures. She was alert, knowing clearly what she could get from Co Nam Son. "Nie Oanh, are you 20 years old this year?" She paused, seemingly not understanding why I asked that. "I'm almost 20." "Co Nam Son is about 30. My family has money and power in Bac Thanh, in fact I don't need to do that. He's not that special of a person." She smiled a familiar smile: "No, I just like to rob. Just someone else's stuff." If that's the case, I have nothing more to say. I turned around to go through the security check gate, then a man's voice shouted from behind: "Thanh Mien, try chasing someone away!" It was Co Nam Son. Nhiep Oanh turned back first: "Director Co, you're here." His voice was full of anger: "Nie Oanh, quickly tell Thanh Mien, there's nothing between us." She just looked at him, said nothing, but her eyes said it all. "Co Nam Son, I told you you're an idiot." Co Nam Son, really stupid. Until now, he still thinks everything is Nhiep Oanh's fault. But actually, our relationship collapsed from repeated misunderstandings and conflicts. Everything has been eroded. "Co Nam Son, if you don't sign the divorce papers, tomorrow the whole North City will know you're having an affair. I work in the media, you know I can do it." At the same time, Nhiep Oanh lazily said: "Director Co, you've lost. Mrs. Co took the initiative to propose a divorce. If you chase after me this time, my father will withdraw his capital." Just two sentences made Co Nam Son silent, not knowing how to answer. See, Co Nam Son trusts me very much. Even betting is a bet that I won't leave you. But this time, maybe I can't do what you want anymore. I sat on the flight back to my hometown, where I had lived for 18 years. Of those 18 years, 10 years I lived in a happy family. But for 3 years, I had to witness my father beating my mother. Whenever I'm in a bad mood, he also beats me. When I was 13 years old, my mother legitimately defended herself, causing my father to bleed to death. From then on, my mother had to go to prison, and she forbade anyone to visit her. I have never told Co Nam Son about this past. He thought I was just like him, an orphan growing up in a children's home, without parents. Suddenly, I wanted to go see my mother. I want to tell her that I have grown up, and my life is quite okay. Even though I also just went through a not-so-perfect marriage, I'm glad I was able to let go. Surprisingly, this time my mother agreed to let me visit. She has aged a lot, her hair

more and more money. "Thanh Mien, Mom has reformed very well, in a while she will be released from prison soon. At that time we will live a good life together, is that okay?" Mom looked at me, her eyes full of caution and worry. Since that incident, my mother has always felt guilty. Perhaps in her mind, if she had endured a little longer that year, would things have been different? Dad will not die, and I will still have a complete family. "Mom, I will wait for you. When you come out, we will live well together." Mom slowly raised her head, tears sparkling in her red eyes: "Thanh Mien, I will wait until that day." I resigned from my job in Bac Thanh, and let the broker sell the house I owned there. I bought a new house in the countryside. It's great, I have a house again. This is my mother and I's own house, no one can get drunk and beat us, and we no longer have to worry about being kicked out of the house. In this house, I have a real, true family. The broker has known me for many years. When he learned that I wanted to sell the house, he was surprised: "Husband Co, why do you suddenly want to sell the house? Are you still in Bac Thanh recently? Recently, Director Co has had a lot of big changes, I heard that his company is about to list. According to common sense, there should be no problems at this time. But I heard that he refused an investment from a big man in Bac Thanh, and now he is still in conflict with a strong force. Mrs. Co, you You have to advise Director Co.” Looking at the message from the broker, I didn't know how to respond. Over the years, he has seen us go from renting cheap houses to buying our own house. He once said: "I have been a broker for many years. There are many couples who rent houses through me, but people who can stay together as long as you two are really rare." I thought for a while... I still decided to tell the truth: "Now, Mrs. Co is a different person. From now on, just call me Thanh Mien." The other end of the line was silent for a while. I understand that silence. For many years, I admired a couple who started a business with nothing and overcame difficulties together, but in the end they still inevitably ended up separating because of a change of heart. He said: "Thanh Mien, live well." "I will live well, we will all be fine." The feelings of the countryside people seem to be warmer than those of Bac Thanh. I have lived in Bac Thanh for many years, but rarely communicate with my neighbors. When I returned home, on the day of moving house, the neighbors next door saw that it was inconvenient for me to move things alone and enthusiastically helped. The neighbor boy was only about eighteen or nineteen years old, with a radiant appearance and a bright smile revealing his white teeth: "Sister, where did you come from?" I answered: "You are from here, but you studied at university and lived in Bac Thanh for many years." Hearing me mention Bac Thanh, the boy's eyes sparkled with admiration: "Bac Thanh must be very bustling, right? Ah, have you met Director Co Nam Son there? He is my idol. "Hearing the familiar name, I was a bit stunned, unable to react. The boy scratched his head, a bit shy: "Sorry, I'm a bit too excited. I've never been to Bac Thanh, my mother said she would take me after the university entrance exam." I smiled: "Bac Thanh is beautiful, very busy. If I have a chance to go, you can make me a guide." The boy thanked me profusely, then said goodbye to me. I cleaned up a bit more and was about to close the door when someone came in from outside. He hugged me tightly, as if he had just run to me, his warm breath blowing on my neck. "Thanh Mien, you just got divorced and are dating a young boy of eighteen or nineteen years old, what's so good about that?" I pushed him away: "Co Nam Son, are you crazy?" "Yes, you are crazy. If you weren't crazy, I wouldn't have been foolish to argue with the Tran family because of you. Thanh

Mien, you know, I've been waiting for the company to list for so long." I raised my head and looked straight into his eyes: "Co Nam Son, everything is your choice. Don't say it's because of me." His eyes turned red: "Thanh Mien, you said it wrong. It's really your choice. Come home with me, okay? I don't need anything else." I coldly replied: "Co Nam Son, we can't go back anymore. It's really impossible. What did Nhiep Oanh say to you?” “You've never been like that before.” “Because I've never been like that before, so you can do anything? In your eyes, I shouldn't have emotions, right?" He quickly explained: "Thanh Mien, I don't mean that." "No, Co Nam Son. I'll say it again: We are divorced. Please leave." He turned to leave. Before leaving, he texted: "Thanh Mien, please wait for me, everything is going to be okay." But no one was waiting for him anymore. The day my mother was released from prison, I brought flowers to pick her up. Mother received the bouquet, looked at it for a long time: "Thank you, Thanh Mien. It's been a long time since I've seen flowers." "Mom, our new house is right next to the flower market. Every day I can see flowers." "Mom, we still have a lot of time ahead." In that moment, she couldn't hold back her emotions anymore. She hugged me and sobbed: