Chapter 7 — Forcing My Mother to Sleep on the Sofa, Do You Think I Will Resist?

The comments section exploded.

"You're so cool! Congratulations on escaping your suffering!"

“This is truly independent women!”

"Reading this makes my blood boil! Dealing with such people must use the law!"

Sunlight falls on my shoulders. So warm that it makes people want to close their eyes. I took a deep breath. The air today… smells of freedom. My life after divorce is like a picture that has just been re-painted from the beginning. As for the lives of Tran Minh and Ly Thuy Phuong... they plunged straight into the hole they themselves dug. Tran Minh, due to divorce and violence scandals, no longer has a place in the company. Not long after, he quietly quit. Burdened with a large debt and compensation, and unable to find a decent job, he could only rent a cramped, dark room and survive by doing seasonal work. Ly Thuy Phuong is even more miserable. The slanderous verdict and public apology in the newspaper caused her to lose face. In the old house, in her former circle of friends, she could no longer raise her head. Everywhere I go, people point at me behind my back. People who used to gather to play cards and dance with her now had no time to avoid her. She went to her relatives for help. But everyone saw clearly her true personality. No one wants to be involved with that "family destroying machine" anymore. The person who was once considered their pride and support - Tran Minh - has now become the most useless person in Ly Thuy Phuong's eyes. In the cramped rented room, arguing became a familiar sound every day. Ly Thuy Phuong blamed him for being incompetent and destroying her dream of "a mother of the world". Tran Minh hated her for being so gossipy, ruining both his marriage and his future. The mother and daughter turned to bite each other. The so-called love that once seemed unshakable eventually crumbled under the pressure of reality. Tran Minh could not pay compensation on time, I immediately asked the court to enforce it. His bank account was blocked, and part of his salary was deducted. His life came to a standstill. As for Ly Thuy Phuong... Perhaps because of excessive frustration, her body really began to collapse. Had to go to the hospital three days, two meals a day. But Tran Minh still has to worry about himself, where will he get the money and energy to take care of his grandmother. The two of them were caught in a spiral of illness and poverty, the more they struggled, the deeper they sank. Occasionally, I still hear news about them from some old acquaintances. I just smiled faintly. There was no wavering in my heart. Letting go is not forgiveness. Which is completely ignored. How they live has nothing to do with me anymore. Tran Minh once called me with a strange number. His voice was hoarse and tired, asking me to respect his old feelings and help, even if it was just to delay the time to pay compensation. I said nothing. Then block it. Once it's over, it has to be over cleanly. I won't give them any chance to come back and bother my life. They can only live in the consequences they create. Slowly rotting. There's no turning back. I quit my job at my old company. Not because of the rumors, but because I want to start over. With my profile and experience, I quickly moved to a potential startup, held the position of project director, and my salary doubled. My career, opened a whole new chapter. The first thing I did was renovate my house. I knocked down the heavy walls and replaced them with wide glass windows that let in light. The whole house is transformed into a space filled with sunshine and greenery. I specially designed for my mother a room facing south, with large windows and a soft seat. On beautiful sunny days, she can sit there reading books, drinking tea, and enjoying the warm light. Mom officially moved to live with me. The smile on her face grew more and more, and her spirit also improved. We go to the supermarket together, try new recipes, and on weekends go to exhibitions and concerts. I used the money I earned to take my mother traveling everywhere. We stood under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, walked among the blue and white houses in Santorini, walked on the white snow in Hokkaido. Mom held the camera, smiling brightly like a child.