Chapter 1 — Mother-in-law Slaps Me, I Make The Whole Family Pay

On my birthday, my mother-in-law slapped me in front of the whole family.

“Your mother can't teach this girl, let me teach her instead.”

My husband stood next to me, looking indifferent, and advised me: "Mom only wants the best for you." I hugged my cheeks and burst out laughing. At that moment, the door opened. My mother carried the cake she bought for me and stood at the door. The smile on her face froze for a brief second. The next second, the cake fell to the ground. She rushed inside. A crisp sound rang out, tearing through the noisy atmosphere in the private room, overwhelming all the sounds of congratulations and toasts. The whole space felt like someone had pressed the pause button. My left cheek burned and hurt like it was being burned with red iron. Ears ringing, the harsh sound cut off all the surrounding whispers. I still see them. These so-called relatives had a different expression on each person's face: some were stunned, some were gloating, some pretended to be worried... like a pantomime that was both ridiculous and funny. As for the person who took action, my mother-in-law - Truong Thuy Hoa - was resting her hands on her hips, looking down at me from above. Her chest heaved violently, as if the slap just now had drained all her strength.

“Your mother can't teach this girl, let me teach her instead.”

Her voice was high-pitched, each word was like a poisoned nail, piercing straight into my ears. Teach me what? Teach me that at my own birthday party, just because I didn't have time to give a tissue to her "piece of gold" - my sister-in-law's grandchild - I had to be slapped in the crowd? Or teach me how to smile and obediently endure long days of being constantly scrutinized, degraded, and oppressed? I said nothing. Not even a single tear shed. Just slowly raised her head, looked at her face distorted by anger... then burst out laughing. Not a bitter smile. Not even a cold laugh. It's a smile so calm that it... makes people shiver. My reaction was beyond her expectations. She paused, a flash of panic flashing in her eyes.

"You... what are you laughing at? You unrepentant!"

She was about to continue speaking when my husband - Co Vi - pulled her back.

“Mom, stop it, Van Van didn't mean it.”

His voice was not loud, carrying the familiar tiredness of wanting to settle the matter. He didn't even look at me once. Don't ask if I'm in pain. Just followed my instinct to comfort my mother. Then turned to me, frowned, his voice carried a command that did not allow refusal.

"Lam Van, quickly apologize to your mother. She only wants the best for you, wants you to show off properly in front of your relatives."

Good for me? Using a slap on my birthday, in front of everyone... is "good for me"? I looked at Co Vi. The man I have loved since my college years. The person who always claims to be a good husband model. There was no pain or anger on his face. Just… uncomfortable. As if I wasn't the wife who had just been beaten, but just an unreasonable burden, making him lose face. In my heart, the last bit of warmth also disappeared with those words. It turns out that all these years ago... In this house, I'm just an outsider who needs to be "taught". At that moment, the room door "creaked" open. My mother — Tuong Lam — carried a box of exquisite cakes, with a radiant smile on her face.

"Van Van, happy birthday! Mom gave you a Black cake Forest is my favorite…”

Her voice stopped as soon as she saw the scene in the room clearly. Her eyes glanced over my red, swollen face, then over to my mother-in-law's overbearing appearance, finally stopping at Co Vi who was standing indifferently next to me. The smile on her face little by little froze... crumbled... then turned cold. The next second, without any warning. The beautiful Black Forest cake was thrown hard by my mother onto the shiny marble floor. Cream and chocolate chips scattered, like a messy, ragged snow. Amid everyone's terrified screams, my mother rushed forward like an angry lioness. Not a single redundant sentence. Another sound rang out. This time it was even stronger, more decisive. She waved her hand and slapped Truong Thuy Hoa's right cheek. The whole world... fell silent. Everyone was so stunned that they couldn't say a word. Truong Thuy Hoa was stunned, covered her face, and glared at my mother as if she couldn't believe it.

“My daughter, I can't even touch a finger. Who are you to dare touch it?

My mother's voice was not loud, but each word was as heavy as a hammer, carrying a majesty that did not allow intrusion. Her eyes were as cold as knives, piercing straight at the other person. After a few seconds of silence, Truong Thuy Hoa finally regained her senses and screamed loudly.

“Ah! Betrayed! How dare you glare at me! Gu Wei! Refuse! Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law are looking at me! Reflect back to me!”

She immediately turned around, cried and screamed, beat her chest and stomped her feet, just like a market woman. At this moment, Co Vi seemed to wake up from a dream and quickly rushed to intervene. But his body unconsciously blocked his mother's face, stopping my mother.

“Auntie… calm down, what are you talking about, why are you acting like that?”

His voice was filled with worry…but he was worried about his mother. I stood there, looking at this scene. My mother watched him shield Truong Thuy Hoa... Suddenly burst out laughing. A smile cold to the bone. She brushed away Co Vi's hand, pointed straight at my red, swollen cheek, her voice sharp as a knife:

“When she took action, why didn't you say 'something to say slowly'? My daughter was hit like this, are you blind?"

“I…” Co Vi choked on his words, his face turned red as if blood had been poured on him.

He opened his mouth, and in the end only uttered a weak sentence:

“Your mother… is also old…”

"If you're old, you have the right to do whatever you want based on that?" My mother interrupted, without any respect. “If you're old, do you have the right to slap others? What kind of morality does your family teach?"

I looked at Co Vi, my eyes gradually colder. For the first time, I clearly saw in his eyes... dissatisfaction with my mother. Not the slightest bit of pity for me. At that moment, I knew. Everything… is over.