Chapter 7 — My Husband's Sister Said I Was Just A Decoration

One day before the big birthday, according to regulations, I personally review each dish that will be offered at the banquet. Right in front of me, Tong Minh Thuc opened the sample food box and gently picked up a piece of yam cake. This is the first appetizer that will be presented on each banquet table. She looked at him for a long time, the corners of her lips curled slightly.

“You are so thoughtful.”

I calmly replied:

"There will be a lot of guests tomorrow. If you're not feeling well, there's no need to force yourself to attend."

Tong Minh Thuc smiled, leisurely placed the piece of yam cake back on the plate in the food box, then lowered his voice, each word carrying a cold smile: "Of course I will go." It's the day of Mrs. Ta's birthday. From early morning, Tong Minh Thuc was present. That day, she dressed extremely elegantly and simply, only deliberately tying a light-colored silk ribbon around her waist. The hand occasionally gently stroked the lower abdomen, as if unintentionally but intentionally. The guests had not yet filled the tables, but several ladies saw this scene and leaned over to whisper, guessing that the Ta family was about to have more good news. There wasn't much of a smile on Mrs. Ta's face, she only faintly instructed her servants to put an extra soft mattress for her. When Tong Minh Thuc finished sitting down, she slowly raised her eyes and looked towards me. At that time, I was still meticulously reviewing each banquet table. Seeing that look, I immediately signaled Cam Khe to bring the pre-prepared appetizer cake and respectfully offered it to her table. In front of many guests, she calmly accepted it and nodded slightly.

“Thank you, sister.”

The sound is not high, but just enough for the surrounding tables to hear clearly. I just nodded slightly in response, not saying another word. Waiting for the birthday party to officially open, Ta Tan Uyen and Mrs. Ta raised their glasses at the same time, honoring the first glass of wine. During the entire party, Tong Minh Thuc hardly touched any other dishes. I just saw her leisurely pick up a piece of tapioca cake and place it on the plate in front of her, bite half of it, then slowly savor it bit by bit. Before she had finished drinking half a cup of tea, she suddenly clutched her stomach. The maid standing next to her was the first to cry out in panic:

“Miss, what's wrong with you?”

Tong Minh Thuc immediately bent down, one hand clutching the edge of the table, his face instantly turned pale.

“It hurts... My brother... my stomach hurts so much.”

Ta Tan Uyen immediately put down the wine cup in his hand. I remained standing in place, from beginning to end, not moving at all. Soon, underneath the hem of Tong Minh Thuc's dress, a red streak of blood gradually seeped out. The maid was so scared that she burst into tears:

"Blood! The lady is bleeding!"

The hall immediately became chaos. One lady was frightened and covered her mouth with her hand. Tong Minh Thuc raised his head, tears continuously rolling down his face and looked at me:

"Sister, I know you don't like this child, but why are you so cruel? This is my and my cousin's child."

Ta Tan Uyen immediately turned to look at me. In those eyes there was both skepticism, anxiety and impatience that he tried to suppress but still could not hide.

“Tan Van, was the breakfast cake brought by you?”

I never opened my mouth to explain. I slowly walked out into the middle of the main street and knelt down in front of Mrs. Ta.

“Please old man I ordered the convoy to be confiscated."

Ta Tan Uyen's eyebrows immediately furrowed.

“Now we have to save people first.”

“The robe is right outside.” I calmly replied. “Of course people must be saved, but the matter must also be investigated. Today the guests are all here. If we don't investigate clearly, tomorrow it will only be rumored that the Ta family's ancestors cannot tolerate the Ta family's unborn bloodline."

The hall immediately became quite quiet. Old lady Ta looked at me attentively.

“How do you plan to investigate?”

“Please give me orders, old lady. Today, the backyard does not allow anyone to enter or leave without permission. Everything the lady has used, from the breakfast cake, scented sachet, medicine bowl to pregnancy medicine residue, is not allowed to be touched. People in Nhan Dong hospital also had to separate each person for questioning."

Ta Tan Uyen lowered his voice.

"Tan Van, don't spread bad things at home."

I raised my head and looked straight at him.

"General feels that if we investigate clearly now, we will lose face, or if tomorrow everyone says that the Ta family's main wife harmed the Ta family's bloodline, then we will lose even more face?"

He was suddenly speechless when I asked him. Old lady Ta slowly placed the rosary in her hand on the table.

“Closed.”

The manageress immediately led her people to blockade the entire backyard.