Chapter 2 — Mother-in-law Slaps Me, I Make The Whole Family Pay

Without saying another word, I turned around, walked through the chatting crowd, and went straight to our bedroom. My movements were so calm that it was scary. Open the cabinet, pull out the suitcase. This suitcase... I have prepared it for a long time. Inside are identification documents, passports, bank cards, all the most important things... and some simple clothes. I knew this day would come. I just didn't expect... it would fall on my birthday. Co Vi chased after him. Seeing me packing my luggage, his expression immediately changed, finally revealing a bit of panic. He rushed forward and grabbed my wrist with such force that it hurt.

“Lam Van, have you done enough?!”

His voice was low but each word was harsh, full of frustration.

"Your mother is old, I don't know what kind of temperament she has! Can't you just be patient with her for a little while? Today is your birthday, don't do such embarrassing things!"

I slapped his hand away, so hard that he had to take a step back. I looked at him, laughed... but tears kept flowing. I spoke slowly, each word chillingly clear.

"From the moment she slapped me, and you stood still and ignored me... you've been embarrassed to the core, Co Vi."

“This marriage… this house… is rotten to the core.”

Outside, my mother still did not lose her strength. She alone confronted the entire Co family, her words were as sharp as a knife, revealing every little thing from the past.

“My daughter did not marry here to become a sin!”

"He has his own career and self-esteem! On what basis do you torment him like that?"

"Every day you talk about giving birth to a son, saying your daughter-in-law doesn't know how to give birth... Is your son a prince?"

"Forcing him to quit his job with a salary of hundreds of thousands per year, stay at home and work for free, but also use his expertise to serve your company, not even giving him a share... now he dares to move his hands and feet?"

“The Co family's facial skin is so thick that it can build a city!”

At first, the relatives still watched the play, but gradually everyone's faces showed embarrassment, then one by one they found an excuse to leave. I dragged my suitcase out of the bedroom. There were only a few people left in the living room, the atmosphere was as tense as a guitar string. I went to my mother and gently pulled the hem of her shirt.

“Let's go, mom.”

Tuong Lam turned his head to look at me. The anger in her eyes immediately disappeared, leaving only heartache. She nodded, took off her high heels, carried the shoes in one hand, and held my hand in the other. Back straight, head held high, walk straight out the door. Co Vi tried to move forward to block it. But my mother's eyes were so cold that it stopped him on the spot.

“Get away.”

Her voice was so cold it seemed like it could freeze the air. The heavy door opened. Outside air rushes in. That's when I realized... I can breathe again. Behind him, there was Truong Thuy Hoa's crazy curse, and Co Vi's helpless call. I don't turn around. Once… not either. Arriving at my mother's house — the apartment I lived in for more than twenty years before getting married — a familiar feeling immediately embraced me. The living room light is a warm yellow color. Unlike mine and Co Vi's house, it's always a cold white light, so bright that people feel cold. My mother didn't say a word. She opened the medicine box, took out an ice pack and ointment, and carefully applied it to my face. As soon as the cold air touched my skin, I retreated slightly because of the pain. Mom's hand stopped. She looked at the red handprint clearly printed on my face, her eyes immediately turned red. But she doesn't ask anything. Don't ask me why I waited so long. Don't ask why you didn't tell her sooner. Just quietly use a cotton swab to dab the medicine, little by little, gently applying it to the wound. The movements were so gentle that... it was like touching the most precious thing in the world.

“From today onwards, I will not let you suffer any more resentment.”

Her voice was very low, choked in her throat. I couldn't hold back anymore, I rushed into her arms and burst into tears. The past three years, all the resentment, suffering, unwillingness and despair... In that moment, it all poured out. Mom hugged me and patted my back, just like when I was a baby. That night, I slept very deeply. It was the most peaceful sleep in three years. I left the phone on silent and threw it outside the living room. The next morning when I woke up, I picked it up and looked at it. Dozens of missed calls. All belong to Co Vi. Wechat was also bombarded with his messages. At first, he blamed me for making a big deal out of it, saying I didn't understand, and even let my mother make a fuss.

"Lam Van, do you have to do so much? My mother just touched you once, and you let your mother come to your house and cause trouble like this?"

"Do you know how our relatives look at our house now? I've lost all my face!"

Later, the tone softened a bit and turned to question why I let my mother interfere in family matters.

"What's going on between us and our wife, why let your mother interfere? What does she understand?"

"I'll come back here immediately, we'll figure it out ourselves."

In the end, it turned into a fake apology. Said his mother knew he was wrong, told me to respect him out of gratitude.

"Van Van, my mother was just confused for a moment. She's old now. Don't accept her anymore, okay?"

"I'll apologize on her behalf, please go home... we can't live without you in the house."

I didn't show any emotion and read every message. Then, press delete. One message... I also didn't answer. I opened my computer, entered a long password string, and logged into an encrypted data vault. The screen lights up. Inside are countless dense folders. That's been my entire passion for the past three years. These are all project files, UI designs, UX user experience reports, and all work chat and email history between me and Co Vi. Every line, every word, points to a cold truth. The entire UIUX of the core products of “Sang Vi Technology”… Even the original idea… It's all from me. But when he went out, Co Vi was a "genius founder" who built his business with nothing. And I - Lam Van - am just "the woman standing behind silently supporting". A shadow… not even worthy of being mentioned by name. My finger hovered over the cold mouse, opening a folder. Inside is a screenshot from three years ago — When I rejected an offer from a leading domestic technology corporation. At that time, Co Vi had just received an angel investment and was eager to make it big. He held my hand, his eyes shining like stars.

"Van Van, don't join a big corporation that makes gears anymore. Stay and help me, let's build our own empire together. I promise, the company belongs to the two of us."

“Sang Vi Technology — My ‘Tails’, your ‘Van’.”

The promise at that time... was so sincere that it made people believe it absolutely. I believed. Like a fool.