Chapter 8 — Exposing the Bad Father

“What about in the end?” Mom paused for a moment. “Finally, he said I never considered him my husband.” “Said I was too strong to force him to become like this.” I sat on the puzzle board. The small house in my hand suddenly collapsed. Bad people do bad things, but still blame others for being too good, too strong, too unwilling to bow down. A stream of comments gently appeared. 【Remember.】 【It's not your fault.】 【It's not your mother's fault either.】 Mom walked over and hugged me. "Tu Tue, mom and dad will divorce." Actually, I knew it a long time ago. But when I heard that sentence, my heart still ached. Like a torn piece of paper. No bleeding. But there is still sound. I asked: "After the divorce, will he still come to my birthday?" Mother's eyes turned red. "If you don't want to, he won't come." I said in a low voice: "I don't want to." She hugged me tightly. "Okay." She didn't say that after all, he is your father. Not saying children aren't allowed to hold grudges. Not saying blood ties cannot be severed. Mom can only speak. That night, my mother celebrated my birthday to make up for it. There are no board members. There are no reporters. There are no relatives of the Pho family. Only my mother, grandmother, lawyer Han and the aunts and uncles who have been with my mother for many years. The cake is smaller than the original cake. The cream layer is also not spread flat. But it was a cake made by my mother herself. Mom lit six candles. Grandma said: "Tue Tue, please make a wish." I looked at the candles, still feeling scared. A stream of comments gradually appeared before our eyes. 【This time you can make a wish.】 【No medicine.】 【No La Khai.】 【No master bedroom.】 【Mom will not fall off the rooftop.】 Tears immediately welled up in my eyes. I closed my eyes. I wish my mother lived to be a hundred years old. Wish all the bad guys were locked up. I wish that every birthday from now on, I can eat cake in peace. Not long after, the results of the judicial paternity assessment were announced. I am indeed Pho Thua Nghien's biological daughter. Mom only looked once and then put the report in the drawer. I asked my mother: "Mom, don't you show it to them?" She squatted down and looked at me seriously. "Tue Tue, it's not because of this piece of paper that I am your daughter." "Even if one day, any piece of paper has different words written on it, I will not leave you." I only understood half of it. But I know I'm not a dirty word in their mouths. I am my mother's Tue Tue. People from the Pho family came to cause trouble several times. Grandma said she missed her granddaughter. I stood behind the curtains on the second floor looking at her. I remember that day she scolded me for not being from the Pho family. Recall that she protected the child in Diep Thu Le's womb. I told my mother: "I don't want to meet her." The comment was very light. 【You can refuse.】 【Children also have their boundaries.】 Mom said: "Then we won't see you." After that, dad was officially prosecuted. Diep Thu Le was also taken for investigation. Because he proactively reported, La Khai became an important witness. The filming team submitted all original documents. Lam Thi issued an internal notice, explaining that Pho Thua Nghien was suspected of appropriating company assets, falsifying evidence, violating Lam Van Duong's honor and many other issues, and had dismissed him from all positions. Grandma returned to the board. Every day my mother is very busy. Mom smiles less than before. But when I return home, my mother always hugs me. Sometimes the mother also carries the cold smell of the meeting room and fatigue. But as long as my mother hugs me, I will know. Mom is still here. That was enough.10One year later, on my seventh birthday. The villa has been renovated. The main bedroom was converted into a sunny office by my mother. The walls are painted a light cream color. Window side placed

my easel, half of the bookcase is my comics, the other half is my mother's management books. Mom said: "Places that have been dirty don't necessarily have to be locked." "It's also possible to change it to start over." I nodded. Actually, I'm still scared. I'm afraid of sweet tea. Afraid of cameras. Afraid of a sudden knock on the door. I'm afraid someone will bring my mother a drink. Psychologists say this is a post-traumatic reaction. It's not because I'm cowardly. After that night, I had nightmares many times. In the dream, Dad stood on the stairs, telling everyone: “Let her see.” Then, the door was kicked open. My mother lay in bed, no matter how much I called her, she wouldn't wake up. Every time I wake up, my head is drenched in sweat. Mom will turn on the night light and hug me. "Tu Tue, mom is here." "The door is locked." "No one came in." "That day is over." Comments will also appear. 【Touch mom's hand.】 【Mother's hand is still warm.】 【Breathe and count to five.】 【It's now.】 【Not that night.】 I followed. Once. Twice. Many times. After that, the dreams became less frequent. On my seventh birthday, my mother did not hold a big party. Mom only invited my two closest friends from kindergarten, my grandmother, a Korean lawyer and some familiar aunts and uncles from the company. There is no sweet tea on the table.