Chapter 2 — Only 8 Currency left in Card

The plane soared into the clouds. I looked out the window. The city gradually shrinks into tiny spots of light flickering in the night. Completely disappeared. I gently closed my eyes. It's not like I've never struggled. After three years of being married to Chu Thoi Uyen, it wasn't until today that I found out that he gave all his money to his mother-in-law to keep. At first, I objected.

“We are a family, money should be shared.”

I used to say that. But he replied eloquently:

"My mother manages finances better than you. What does a designer like you understand about investing?"

“At least part of living expenses should be kept.”

I used to give in.

"Don't you have a salary? It's okay to spend your money. I'll save your money to buy you a big villa later."

He painted such a beautiful scenario. Every time there was a tense argument, he would knock on the door and leave. Or look at me with eyes like I'm looking at a psychopath.

"Why are you so pragmatic? Spending money every day, is it customary?"

"Your mother worked hard to raise you this much. What's wrong with being filial to her?"

"What's the point of dividing a family so clearly?"

Repeating it so many times... I'm tired too. I used to think, as long as I try to make money, just take good care of this family... Then one day he will see my sacrifice. He will bring money back. We will live like other normal couples. But I was wrong. My patience... Became an excuse for him to be more and more extreme. My sacrifice... Turned into a reason for him to enjoy everything in peace, obviously. It's not that he doesn't understand. It's that he never wanted to understand. In his heart... His mother's money is money. As for my money, it's also his money. I'm just a long-term janitor of this house. You have to earn money to support the whole family while also being grateful for being "a bride". The plane entered the stratosphere. The passenger compartment gradually became quiet. I opened the project documents in Germany and took a look. It's a new art center project in Berlin. Full of challenges. It's also the opportunity I've always dreamed of. Because of my family, I was hesitant. And now, I don't have any problems anymore. Enough for me to complete this project. It's enough for a few things... Earth-shattering changes to happen. When the plane landed in Berlin, it was just dawn outside. The air is cool, with the faint smell of young grass after the rain. The company car was waiting outside the airport. After checking into the hotel and taking a hot shower, I stood in front of the giant ground-level glass window, looking at the unfamiliar city below. In my heart, there was only a feeling of relief as if I was alive again. I arrange my entire work schedule for the next few days. Email your assistant confirming milestones. Until everything was processed... I took out the phone that had been turned off for four days. Start the machine. The phone vibrated violently like a dying patient was making its last cry. The screen was immediately covered with a series of notifications. 59 missed calls. 129 unread messages. WeChat, SMS messages, bank notifications... Thick as a net of despair. Most of them come from Chu Thoi Uyen. There were also a few calls from the mother-in-law and unfamiliar debt collection phone numbers. I open WeChat. Latest message sent a while ago ten minutes.

““Hua Tham! I'll call you back right away!!””

"Hua Tham! I'll call you back immediately!!"

A string of exclamation points lasted so long that just looking at him made you feel his panic and anger. I pulled it up to continue watching. Four days ago.

"Wife, where have you been? Why didn't you answer the phone?"

"My mother burned her hand while cooking today. Remember to buy burn medicine tonight."

Three days ago.

"Hua Tham, what are you playing? Are you playing missing?"

“The home loan payment has failed, the bank is calling me!”

“Is there no money on your card?”

"Quickly transfer money! If you have bad debt, it will be a big problem!"

Two days ago.

"I called your mother, she said you were on a business trip? Where are you going? When will you be back?"

"My mother is hospitalized! Acute appendicitis, surgery, need to pay 20,000 hospital deposit! Where are you?"

"Hua Tham! Where did you die?!"

Yesterday.

"The debt collection party is at your door! They even used red paint to write on the door!"

“Everyone in the neighborhood saw it!”

“Where did you hide the money?!”

"How can there be no money left on your card?! Didn't you just receive your salary last month?"