Chapter 16 — Don't Touch My Limits

On weekends, he proactively took me home to visit, helped my parents with work, and sat and talked with my father. It's no longer the case that when you go to your wife's house, you just sit and play on your phone. My parents saw that change and felt more secure, telling me:

“As long as he knows how to correct himself and treats his children well, life can continue.”

Three months later… I found out I was pregnant. When I held the pregnancy test and saw two red lines, my hands shook and tears immediately fell. It's been two years. Since losing my last child, I always wanted a baby, but my body wouldn't allow it. Now… finally. When Cao Trung Dan heard the news, he was as happy as a child, hugging me around, eyes red, repeating over and over:

“La Mai… thank you… thank you… I'm about to become a father…”

From that day on, he took care of me little by little. He didn't let me do heavy work, picked me up every day, and at night even washed my feet and massaged my feet. He was so careful that he was afraid that if I were a little careless, he would disappear. Truong Nguyet Cam knew I was pregnant and brought things to visit a few times. No more overbearing look of the past. She spoke softly. When entering the house, she had to call first and ask for permission. Only after receiving approval did she dare to come. She bought things for pregnant women, cooked soup for me, and said cautiously:

"La Mai... I was wrong before... I'm sorry. In the future, I will take care of you, take care of your grandchildren, and make up for what happened before."

I looked at her. Didn't say much, just nodded. I will no longer be the same, pouring my heart out to her. But there is no longer a fierce confrontation. She is still my husband's mother. She is my child's grandmother. Keep enough distance. Peace is okay. As for Cao Hieu Quyen... Since that time, he has not appeared again. It is said that her husband divorced and the children were given to the other party to raise. The dry goods store also closed due to business losses. Only the house left in Hoa Vien Anh Duong is for rent, and we can barely survive day by day. A lifetime of calculations... In the end, only... emptiness remains. She called Cao Trung Dan several times, crying and asking, wanting to borrow money, wanting to restore the relationship. But Cao Trung Dan never answered the phone and directly blocked it. He said, I have fulfilled all my gratitude. In the future, he just wants to be with me, be with his children, maintain his small family, and live a decent life. Ten months later, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. The day his child was born, Cao Trung Dan stood outside the delivery room, crying like a child. When I was pushed away, he immediately ran over, held my hand tightly, and repeated:

“La Mai, you've worked hard... thank you.”

I looked at him, at the baby sleeping soundly next to me, my heart filled with... peace. Five years of suffering. Five years of patience. Five years of trying to hold on... Finally, a perfect ending. During my stay, my mother came to take care of me, Truong Nguyet Cam came every day, washed diapers, cooked soup, looked after my grandchildren, every bit carefully, completely different from before. Even though I still have some entanglements in my heart from old things... But seeing her genuinely take care of me and my child, the knot in my heart... gradually loosened. On my baby's first month, many relatives and friends came, the atmosphere was bustling and bustling. In the middle of the party, Cao Trung Dan held a glass of wine, walked in front of me, right in front of everyone, and said:

"La Mai, I have suffered losses in the past five years. I was wrong before You don't know right from wrong, letting me suffer too much pain. From now on, I will spend my whole life treating you well, my children, and protecting my family. Thank you for giving me the opportunity… thank you for staying.”

Having finished speaking, he drank the entire glass, his eyes red. I looked at him, couldn't help but blush, smiled and nodded. After the party, we took our children home. Sunlight fell into the living room, warm and gentle. The baby lay in the crib, sleeping soundly. Cao Trung Dan hugged me from behind, rested his chin on my shoulder, and said softly:

“La Mai, having you and me... is so nice.”

I rely on him. My heart is as light as water. As warm as the sun. At this point, I truly understood— Between people, whether it's intimacy or marriage... we all need boundaries. In the past, I always thought that if I take a step back, the world will be wide open, if I hold back a little, I will be at peace. I used to believe that as long as I was sincere enough, patient enough... I would receive respect and harmony in return. But after all, I learned— Not all patience is appreciated. Not all compromises bring peace. Your patience, in the eyes of others, is sometimes just weakness. Concessions are unlimited, only allowing others to gain ground. Whether they are mother-in-law or daughter-in-law... Or husband and wife... Or brothers... It's all the same. You must have your own limits. Must have your own principles. You can be gentle… but that gentleness must have thorns. You can be tolerant... but that tolerance must have an end. What belongs to you, you can voluntarily give away. But no one has the right to rob. No one is allowed to take it. You can help others. But you can't change yourself. Can't hurt yourself. Within limits— You give me one meter, I give one meter in return, that is warmth. Out of bounds— You take a step forward, I won't take a step back, every inch must be clear. Look at your baby sleeping soundly. Look at the man standing next to you. These days… will only get better and better. Because I've learned how to hold my own. How to protect your small family. And how to love— the worthy person.