Chapter 16 — Hundred Million in Exchange for Freedom

The moment the car door closes, all sounds are cut off. The car was quiet, only the sound of three babies breathing steadily. Ha Lo sat in the passenger seat, looking at me through the rearview mirror.

“Are you really not soft-hearted at all?”

I thought for a moment. “I used to be soft-hearted.”

“When?”

"Three years ago. Soft-hearted for three years. Enough."

She didn't say anything else. The car started and merged into traffic. The city outside the window floats under the sunlight, people travel bustling, traffic lights flash alternately. Everything is new. My life, from today, is a completely new page. The youngest girl stirred in the safety seat, her small mouth unconsciously puckered as if looking for milk. I gently touched my baby's cheek. Soft. Warm. It's mine.

“Let's go home and give you guys names.” I said softly.

Ha Lo interjected: "What name? Do you have any ideas?"

“The eldest brother is called To Niem An, the second brother is called To Niem Binh, and the youngest —”

I smiled.

“It's called To Niem Van.”

Ha Lo turned around: "Why Niem Van?"

“Remembering the past, it must never be over (Remembering the past, everything is not too late).”

She was stunned. Then he laughed, the corners of his eyes red.

“Great name.”

The car turned through an intersection, sunlight shone on the three children's faces through the side window. They sleep extremely soundly. Don't know anything. Unbeknownst to them, their mother had been imprisoned in a cold marriage for 3 years. I don't know that the father used 100 million to buy out his parental rights. I didn't know that my grandmother had forced my mother to drink bitter medicine all that time. They don't need to know. They just need to know one thing — Mom is here. Mom will always be here. That's enough. The third day after returning home, I received a parcel. It's a cement paper envelope again. No sender recorded. I opened it. Inside is not an invitation. It's a handwritten letter. Tran Dien's handwriting. Very long. Write on three full pages. The idea is — He knows it's wrong. He shouldn't have been cold to me for 3 years. He shouldn't have listened to his mother. He shouldn't be discouraged when Lam Tu Vien returns. He shouldn't say you're a burden. He wants to make amends. He wants to come back. He wants to be a father. He said he annulled his marriage with Lam Tu Vien. He said he had a big argument with Luu Thuy Lan and forbade her to come and bother me. He said — “To Duong, give me a chance.” I read all three pages from beginning to end. Look at each word. Then fold it up and stuff it into the envelope. Go into the kitchen, turn on the gas stove. When the fire flared up, I lit the letter into the fire. The paper curled up, turned black, turned into ash. The phone rang. Ha Lo's message:

"Diapers mom! Mommy and baby shop is having a big sale! Diapers buy 3 get 1 free! Can you close the order?"

I repeat one word: “Close.” Then lock the phone screen, go warm up milk for three pieces of gold. Outside the window, the sun is moderate. The date is also moderate. Everything fits beautifully. RUN OUT OF