Chapter 3 — Half a month in Paris with Bach Nguyet Quang, he lost his wife and daughter

Three days passed. Tong Tu did not return. Chau Duat An's last message still remained in the chat box. No reply. Not a trace. On the morning of the fourth day, assistant Tran knocked on the door of the general manager's office.

“General Chau.”

The man put a file on the table. His face looked a bit awkward.

“Finished investigating what the landlady did before leaving.”

Chau Duat An signed the final document in his hand.

“The owner has canceled all additional cards in her name.”

The pen in his hand stopped.

“The Porsche the lady used to use has been resold.”

“The boss also withdrew all the money from her personal account.”

“The owner has terminated the contract with the yoga instructor, nutritionist and postpartum care center.”

The office suddenly became quiet. Assistant Tran did not dare to raise his head. He has followed Chau Duat An for many years. For the first time, I felt like something was wrong with this. Because what Tong Tu did was not like an angry person. But like a person preparing to cut off his entire old life. Chau Duat An put down his pen.

“New address?”

“Still haven't found it.”

“Her friends?”

“No one knows.”

“Mother's house?”

"Do not have."

Chau Duat An's face gradually turned cold.

“Search further.”

Assistant Tran was just about to leave. Suddenly I heard a voice behind me.

“She really hasn't contacted anyone?”

“Completely disappeared.”

The door closed. In the office, only Chau Duat An was left alone. He opened the drawer. Take out the divorce petition. The paper had been folded many times. Don't know since when. He brought it to the company. Three days now. Every time I see the three words "Tong Tu". There was an uncomfortable feeling in my heart that was hard to put into words. The phone suddenly vibrated.

“Duat An, let's eat together tonight?”

“Don't go.”

The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

“Are you still looking for her?”

Chau Duat An did not answer. To Van smiled lightly.

“She's just angry.”

"Wait a few days and you'll come back on your own."

“Isn't it always like this before?”

One sentence made his eyebrows furrow. It's always been like that before. Even though he came home late. Even though he broke his promise. Even though he missed his birthday. Tong Tu will forgive. So this time too. It should have been like that. But somehow. He became more and more uneasy. Chau Duat An returned to the villa. The large house was so empty that it made people uncomfortable. He just walked in the door. Heard noises from the kitchen. Aunt Vuong is cooking soup. The familiar scent spreads everywhere. That is Tong Tu's favorite chicken soup. The day before. Every time he comes home from work. There is always this soup on the table. Chau Duat An suddenly asked:

“Aunt Vuong.”

“Yes, boss.”

“She really didn't leave any words?”

Aunt Vuong's movements stopped. After a while, he replied:

“No.”

“Don't blame me?”

“Not crying?”

“No resentment?”

“Neither.”

Chau Duat An was really angry. He slammed the glass on the table.

“No way!”

“She is a living person.”

“How can you say nothing?”

The sound echoed throughout the dining room. Aunt Vuong slowly raised her head. This was the first time she looked straight into this man's eyes.

“Do you really want to hear it, boss?”

Chau Duat An looked at her coldly.

“Auntie, say it.”

Aunt Vuong smiled bitterly.

“Then I ask you.”

“Do you know how much the young lady weighed at birth?”

Chau Duat An paused. Are not can answer.

“Do you know what music the young lady likes to listen to?”

“Do you know how many sleepless nights the mistress has had?”

Still silent. Aunt Vuong took a deep breath. The eye sockets gradually turned red.

“The day the young lady turned twenty-three days old.”

“That night the fever was over thirty-nine degrees.”

“The owner grabbed her child and ran to the hospital at two in the morning.”

“It's raining heavily outside.”

“The owner just gave birth less than a month ago.”

“The wound hasn't healed yet.”

“And yet I still have to carry my child to the emergency room myself.”

Chau Duat An's heart suddenly shook strongly. I've never heard of this before. Never knew. No one even told him. Aunt Vuong laughed bitterly.

“Do you know who the boss called at that time?”

Chau Duat An clenched his hands.

“Call seven times.”

“No one picked up the phone.”

The air in the room seemed to be drained away. A vague memory suddenly appeared in his mind. I'm in Paris. To Van was drunk. Crying over old things. He sat next to her and comforted her. The phone vibrates continuously. He just glanced at it. Then turn off the device. At that time he thought. It's not important that Tong Tu called. Maybe I just miss you. Maybe just want to chat. So you don't listen. Now I know. She is asking for help.

“What happens after that?”

His voice was hoarse. Aunt Vuong wiped her tears.

“Then the mistress held the child with one hand.”

“One hand holding an umbrella.”

“Take a taxi to the hospital yourself.”

“Infuse water until morning.”

“Miss's fever has subsided.”

“The new owner dares to sleep.”

“Sleep right on the hallway chair.”

“There is no one to care.”

“There was no one to catch her either.”

Each sentence and each word is like a sharp blade. Cut into people's hearts. Chau Duat An stood dumbfounded. First time in many years. He didn't know what to say. Aunt Vuong looked at the man in front of her. The voice was completely muffled.

“He always asked why the landlady didn't leave any words.”

“But some words have been said too many times.”

“Listeners don't want to hear anymore.”

“The speaker doesn't want to talk anymore.”

She turned and left the dining room. Leaving only Chau Duat An standing there. Outside the window. Night falls. In that luxurious villa. First time. The man who always thought everything was under control felt something called panic. He took out his phone. Open the chat box with Tong Tu. The finger stopped for a long time. In the end, just send one sentence.

“Where are you?”

Messages sent quickly. But responded to him. Still just endless silence. Sunlight penetrates through the large window. Streaks of pale yellow light fell onto the wooden floor. I opened my eyes. In my arms is a baby sleeping soundly. Her small face was as soft as a white dumpling. Light pink lips slightly puckered. Sometimes it even makes a lovely wheezing sound. I laughed. That feeling is very strange. Apparently he had just left the villa not long ago. But every morning I wake up here. I feel a little more relieved. No need to look at your phone to see if Chau Duat An has a text message. No need to think what time he will come home today. No need to guess where he is. There's no need to deceive yourself that he still loves you. Life is so simple that it makes people feel peaceful. I bowed my head and gently kissed my daughter's cheek.

“Bao Bao, good morning.”

The baby opened his eyes. Look at me for a moment. Then suddenly smiled. My heart immediately softened. All the previous suffering seems to have become worth it. After breastfeeding. I pushed the stroller for a walk in the residential area. This place is not a rich area. But very quiet. Downstairs there is a bakery. There is a small supermarket. There is a park. In the morning, there are also a few old people exercising. Everything carries the breath of life. Not like that luxurious villa. And there was no human breath. While I was sitting on the bench under the tree. The phone vibrates. It's lawyer Lam.

“Miss Tong.”

"The divorce petition from Mr. Chau's side has not yet been signed."

I'm not surprised.

“He won't sign that quickly.”

“Do you need us to keep pushing?”

“Not needed for now.”

After hanging up. I looked at my daughter sleeping in the stroller. His eyes gradually became gentler. I'm in no hurry. Three years of marriage. Half a month of waiting. Along with countless disappointments. It can't end with just one signature. But this time. I won't turn back anymore. On the other side of the city. Chau Duat An is sitting in the office. The desk is filled with documents. But he couldn't read a word at all. Since the conversation with Aunt Vuong. That image kept appearing in his head. A woman just gave birth less than a month ago. Holding a child with a high fever. Alone into the rain. There's no one around. There was no one to help. Who should have been there. In Paris again. The phone vibrates. It's assistant Tran.

“General Chau.”

“Is there any news yet?”

“Still haven't found the owner's current address.”

“But we found some photos from our last business trip to Paris.”

Chau Duat An frowned.

“It's a photo taken by the media department.”

“Sent to your inbox.”

After hanging up. He opened the email. Dozens of photos appeared. These are all photos from a business trip half a month ago. At first he only intended to browse. But then his eyes suddenly stopped. In a photo. To Van is standing next to him. Put on your vest. Smile gently. If viewed from another angle. The two of them looked exactly like a couple traveling abroad. Chau Duat An's hand tightened slightly. Continue scrolling down. Second plate. The two of them had dinner together. Third plate. Let's see the Eiffel Tower. Fourth plate. Take a walk by the Seine River. Every single photo. Before, he felt very normal. Because in your heart. To Van is a special person. It's an untouchable memory of youth. But this time. Look at those photos. He suddenly thought of Tong Tu. If you see these pictures. How will it feel? It will probably be heartbreaking.