Chapter 15 — Mother-in-law stayed for three years, biological mother for half a month

Right after that. Another message appears.

"Your mother just called some relatives and said that she tricked you into coming back."

"She's waiting."

I looked at the screen. A cold feeling spread across my spine. Until now. Even the last bit of hope I had for my mother was gone. She truly views illness as a tool. See love as a weapon. See your son's anxiety as something that can be exploited. Tu Tinh saw the message. She gently closed her eyes. Say nothing. I didn't say anything either. The two of us sat quietly in the living room. The scent of roses still lingers in the air. The pot of soup is still hot on the stove. The late afternoon sunlight still gently falls on the floor. Everything is very warm. There are only people's hearts. Extremely cold again. First time in my life. I understand a painful truth. There are relatives. Just because blood doesn't give you the right to hurt you forever. And there are limits. Once erected. Then we can't back down any further. Because behind that limit. It's the family that I almost lost once. She heard it too. Hear every slander clearly. Every defamatory sentence that Vuong Cam said about her. I saw Tu Tinh's shoulder tremble slightly. Not out of fear. But out of anger. I hung up the phone. Slowly walked in front of her. But I don't know what to say. Sorry? I have said those three words too many times. To the point where there was no weight left. I can only hug her tightly.

“Sorry.”

“I'm making you suffer again.”

Tu Tinh did not push me away. She rested her head on my chest. A moment later. I felt my shoulders gradually getting wet. That strong woman finally cried. When my mother makes things difficult for me. She didn't cry. When forced to leave home. She didn't cry. When I saw the bill for nine thousand yuan. She also didn't cry. But this time. She burst into tears again. Because of the smears behind my back. Rumors spread among relatives. Much more cruel than a face-to-face argument. It's also a lot more painful. I hugged her tightly. My heart felt like it was being cut by a knife. First time in my life. I just hate my mother. I just hate myself again. Hate weakness. Hate the escape. I hate that I let the woman I love the most have to suffer everything. A very long time later. Tu Tinh just raised his head. Red eyes. But his gaze was extremely determined.

“Chu Nghi.”

“Let's book tickets.”

I was stunned.

“Still...still coming back?”

She replied without hesitation.

“We must definitely go back.”

“This time it's not a medical visit.”

“Let's go back to clarify everything.”

"I can't let other people throw dirty water on me for no reason."

"I can't let you have a reputation for being unfilial."

“There are battles.”

“We can't hide.”

“If you hide.”

“It's like admitting it's all true.”

“We must return.”

“You have to say it clearly in front of everyone.”

“So everyone knows what the truth is.”

I looked at her. Look at the fire burning in those eyes. Now I understand. My wife has never been a weak person. She is not a sheep waiting to be slaughtered. Which is a female lion. When someone wants to hurt your family. Hurting someone you love. She will reveal her sharpest claws. A hot stream of heat flowed through my chest. Bring warmth. Also carries unprecedented courage. We Can't continue to step back anymore. Patience only makes the other person encroach. We must return. Not to beg. Not for compromise. But to set boundaries. To declare a stance. To protect my own family. I squeezed her hand.

“Let's go back together.”

“Let's face it together.”

“Let's end this.”

12. Boundaries We do not book tickets on the same day. Tu Tinh said. We can't let them think we're panicking. We can't let them lead us by the nose. We need to prepare. The two booked high-speed train tickets for Friday night. Saturday will be a full day to deal with everything. In the two days before departure. We prepared very carefully. Tu Tinh printed out her mother's entire transfer history. Three years in a row. Five thousand yuan every month. Not once was missing. Thick stack of paper. Each payment clearly shows the date. Obviously, it cannot be denied. I also contacted the restaurant owner. Thanks to him, he reprinted all consumer bills for the half month my mother was at home. Attached is store confirmation. Final number. Nine thousand yuan. Bright and dazzling. I also asked a friend who worked at the hospital to ask for a copy of my mother's medical records. It clearly states: