Chapter 3 — I have a mother, no one is allowed to bully me

That cautious, cautious look was like a knife stabbing straight into my heart. I helped my child sit on the sofa.

"Good boy, tell me."

"The past two years... what happened?"

Uc Ninh bowed his head. Don't say a word. I remember very clearly. In the past, she liked talking to me the most. Every time I came home from school, he would pull me to sit and listen, chattering about school stories for an hour. But now... I feel like I've become a completely different person.

"I have a gift for you."

I opened my suitcase and took out a limited edition vintage camera. Since childhood, Uc Ninh has loved photography. All over the room are pasted photos taken by me. This machine... It took me a lot of time to find and buy it abroad. I accept it. Look at it for a few seconds.

"Thank you mom."

Not a bit of a surprise. Not the least bit happy. It's as if that gift... Has absolutely no meaning to me anymore. At that moment... Suddenly, there was a loud sound of car brakes outside. The main door was pushed open. Lam Uyen Nhi drove a red supercar straight into the yard. The tires rubbed against the stone floor, sending out sparks. She got out of the car. High heels of more than ten centimeters clicked on the tile floor. His whole body from head to toe was covered in branded goods, sparkling to the point of blinding eyes. As soon as he walked in the door, he saw me. Immediately a sweet smile appeared.

"Mom, are you home? Why didn't you tell me in advance so I could go to the airport to pick you up?"

Her eyes immediately stopped on the camera box in my hand.

"Isn't this a limited model? There are only fifty in the whole world!"

"Mom bought me one too? That's great!"

After speaking, he reached out his hand to take it. I immediately gave the box to Uc Ninh. At the same time, step up in front of your child.

"This..."

"It's a gift from Uc Ninh."

The smile on Lam Uyen Nhi's face has not changed.

"If we are sisters, why should we distinguish between what's mine or what's mine?"

"Right, Ninh Ninh?"

Uc Ninh did not respond. I just quietly put the camera box on the tea table. Then stand up. Quietly go out to the lobby. Grab a towel. Then bent down... Started cleaning the red supercar that Lam Uyen Nhi had just driven home. I was dumbfounded. I rushed forward and pulled my child's arm hard.

"What are you doing?"

"Who told you to wipe?"

"It's OK."

"I clean it every day."

"Do you wipe every day?"

I turned to look at Lam Uyen Nhi. She just shrugged. His face was as calm as nothing.

"It was Ninh Ninh's free will."

"No one forced her."

I pulled Uc Ninh back to the sofa. Tell your child to sit still and not do anything else. Lam Uyen Nhi took the phone upstairs. Before leaving, he softly hummed a happy tune. The sound of high heels pounding down each stair step.

"Cop... tap... tap..."

The sound echoed throughout the villa. Uc Ninh cowered in the corner of the sofa. With each sound of shoes... My shoulders trembled slightly. I see it all.

"What are you afraid of?"

"No..."

"It's just... I'm a little sleepy."

I don't force my child anymore. Just quietly take the child to the room. Pushing Uc Ninh's room door open... My legs once again froze. This room... used to be the biggest and brightest room on the entire floor. Before going abroad, I specially hired someone to completely remodel it. The wall is full of photos taken by me. The bookshelf is filled with books and awards trophies. The set is always placed on the table My favorite drawing tool. Now... There's nothing left. The whole room only had a bed, a wardrobe and a table left. Empty. Cold as a guest room.

"Where are your things? Where are your pictures? And your trophies?"

Uc Ninh gently pulled his sleeve.

"... Moved out."

"Move to where?"

"Uyen Nhi said her room is too small and wants to change rooms with me."

"My things... she said she would help me put them in the storage room."

I immediately pushed open the door of the room where Lam Uyen Nhi was currently staying. The door is not locked. The inside is lavishly renovated, just like the hotel's presidential suite. Large dressing table. Mirror close to the ground. The dressing room door is wide open. Inside are clothes from top luxury brands. On the dressing table, more than a dozen jewelry boxes are neatly arranged. I walked over and opened one. Inside is a pair of jade earrings. I recognized it immediately. That was the gift I left for Uc Ninh before going abroad. Open the second box. It's the diamond bracelet I bought for her. I turned my head and saw the ruby necklace again. It was hung loosely on a corner of the makeup mirror, with a few strands of hair still attached. A family heirloom passed down through six generations... She conveniently tossed it on the dressing table like an ordinary accessory. I took out each of Uc Ninh's items one by one. The more you take, the more you get. The entire limited edition model collection that Uc Ninh spent many years collecting. They are all located in Lam Uyen Nhi's room. Uc Ninh's belongings... Not a single item remained. I tightened the ruby necklace in my hand then turned around to look for my daughter. Uc Ninh is still sitting in his empty room. I sat on the edge of the bed, my hands obediently placed on my knees.

"Did you give these...you voluntarily gave them to her?"

The child did not respond.

"... Yes."

"Do you think mom will believe it?"

Uc Ninh bowed his head lower. I squatted down and gently held my child's hands. Those hands were cold. Full of calluses.

"Mom is home."

"From now on..."

"You don't need to be afraid anymore."

That night, I didn't sleep. I sat in the living room, opened my phone, and scrolled through Lam Uyen Nhi's entire social network account from start to finish. Every post... is using Uc Ninh's stuff to show off. Uc Ninh's car. Uc Ninh's necklace. Uc Ninh's room. A gift from Uc Ninh. Is this what sisters share? This is blatant robbery. Early the next morning, I didn't go to the company but drove straight to the university that Uc Ninh had previously studied at. I met Ms. Tran, my child's academic advisor. As soon as she saw me, she was a bit surprised.

"Miss Tham? Have you returned home?"

"Miss Tran, I want to know everything related to Uc Ninh's withdrawal from school."

Ms. Tran stood up and closed the office door.

"Sister Tham, actually I always wanted to find you to talk about this, but I couldn't contact you."

"Uc Ninh... did not voluntarily drop out of school."

I was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"More than a year ago, Uc Ninh suddenly repeatedly asked to leave school. After that, he quit completely."

"I once asked her, she said her family did not allow her to continue studying."

"I also called your husband, Co Dien Chu."

"He said it was Uc Ninh who didn't want to study anymore."

"The two sides say completely different things."

"Correct so."

Ms. Tran nodded slightly.

"But I also discovered something."

She hesitated for a few seconds.

"A while before Uc Ninh dropped out, a lot of rumors suddenly appeared in the school about her."

"People say she went to school with her family's money."

"And saying that the achievements are all fraudulent."

"Rumors spread very quickly."

"Almost the whole school knows."

"Who spread the news?"

"Unable to find source."

"But there is one detail."

"Right around that time, Lam Uyen Nhi often went to school to look for Uc Ninh."

"Every time she drove very ostentatiously, dressed prominently, then stood in front of Uc Ninh's classmates and said half-truths and half-falsities."

"For example..."

"'My sister actually doesn't want to go to school, her family is forcing her.'"

"'Before, at my sister's house, I didn't want to study, I always hired a tutor to do my homework for me.'"

My nails dug deep into my palms.

"There's one more thing."

Ms. Tran lowered her voice.