Chapter 10 — Husband Says First Love Doesn't Feel Safe, I Always Change the Locks

Chu Nghien's face turned pale.

“Tri Y, that was a long time ago.”

“But you always keep that promise.”

He wants to explain. I interrupted.

“No need to say more.”

"Your things are at Lam Nguyet's place."

“Your people can go there too.”

“The lock will not open for you again.”

I turned around and went into the house. He raised his hand to block it.

“I don't agree.”

I looked at the hand blocking my face.

“Let go.”

He didn't let go. In the next second, Tieu Vu's voice rang out from inside the house.

“Dad, don't hold me.”

Chu Nghien felt like his hand was burned and immediately let go. Tieu Vu stood inside the door. In his arms he held a small stuffed rabbit. Red eyes. Seeing his daughter, Chu Nghien's whole body panicked.

“Tieu Vu, dad is not there.”

The girl slowly walked towards me.

“Dad, every time you say no, mom gets sad.”

Just that one sentence. More effective than all the arguments between me and him. Chu Nghien stood still in place. It was like suddenly not knowing how to face my own daughter. I held Tieu Vu's hand. Before closing the door, she softly said:

“Dad, please go take care of that girl.”

“I have a mother.”

The door closed. This time, Chu Nghien did not knock on the door anymore. After that day, life in the house was much quieter. No more phone calls in the middle of the night. There are no more times when the mother-in-law suddenly appears. There was no more sound of Chu Nghien complaining because he couldn't find socks. There are no more scenes where he criticizes the bland food, criticizes the oily soup, criticizes me for taking care of too much. Tieu Vu and I finally have days where we truly feel like a home. In the morning I take my child to school. In the evening, mother and son had dinner together. On weekends, we go to the park together to pick up leaves. She tore up the picture "Dad standing outside the door". Then draw a new picture. In the painting there is still a door. But inside the door there were only me and the baby. There are flower pots by the window. The child wrote:

“Mom is at home.”

I stuck the picture on the refrigerator. The day the painting was posted, Chu Nghien came again. He's gotten a little thinner. Beard and mustache not shaved. Clothes are also wrinkled. In his hand he carried a bag of wontons.

"Tri Y, I'll buy what Tieu Vu likes to eat."

I took a look. It's the pre-purchased frozen variety.

“Tieu Vu doesn't like to eat this kind of food.”

He was stunned.

“Didn't she say she wanted to eat wontons?”

“She wants to eat the kind I packed myself.”

He lowered his head to look at the bag of wontons, looking confused.

“You can study.”

I nodded.

“Once you finish studying, you can make your own food for her.”

His eyes lit up.

“So can I come in today?”

I shook my head.

"Cannot."

His eyes immediately darkened.

“Tham Tri Y, is it fair for you to treat me like this?”

I almost burst out laughing.

"Fair?"

“Chu Nghien, you left me alone to shoulder all these years.”

“Now ask me if it's fair or not?”

He hastily said:

"I'm not looking for Lam Nguyet anymore."

“How many days?”

He choked up.

“Five days.”

I nodded.

“A person who has just quit smoking for five days cannot claim that he or she will live a long life.”

He was silent. After a moment, he said in a low voice:

“Lam Nguyet is not suitable for you.”

I looked at him. Finally understood why he came here. Not because he realized how important my daughter and I were. It's because of the party Lam Nguyet's side is no longer the same as before.

“What is not suitable?”

He doesn't want to talk. But I can guess. Lam Nguyet wants someone who always appears whenever she calls. Want surprises on your birthday. Want someone to help pay the rent? I want someone to fix my plumbing, comfort my emotions, and support all the difficulties in my life. But she doesn't want a real man to move in with her, bringing all sorts of troubles. Previously, in Lam Nguyet's eyes, Chu Nghien was a needed hero. But when the suitcase actually arrives at her door, he becomes a burden. I smiled softly.

“She doesn't need you anymore?”

Chu Nghien's face immediately became ugly.

“Do I have to say that?”

“If not, what should I say?”

“Has she loaded up on enough sense of security to start cleaning out the cache?”

His face turned completely black.

“Tham Tri Y, I came here to reconcile, not to hear you insult me.”

I looked at him.

“You are wrong.”

“Now you feel humiliated because there is no one left to save your face.”

“In the past, I saved face for you too much.”

“That's why I forgot how unsightly what I did was.”

He tightened the bag in his hand and then let it go.

“I know I was wrong.”

I calmly asked:

“Where did you go wrong?”

He opened his mouth: