Chapter 3 — Our Three Year Marriage Is Over

When it was almost time to give birth, I went to the hospital in advance to prepare. The day my child was born, my best friend stood beside the bed, holding the baby and sobbing. I weakly hugged my baby and named him Tong Nguyen. When my child turned one year old, I decided to leave everything to open my own company. Although the company is not large, after so many years working with Da Than, running a small company is not too difficult for me. Even though I encountered many difficulties, in the end this company is mine. I suddenly felt lucky because at that time I did not give up my career just because I married Da Than. That evening, after feeding my baby, I received a call from my assistant. As soon as I picked up the phone, I heard his excited voice: "Ms. Tong, the company just has a big investor who wants to cooperate!" Hearing that, my eyes lit up: "Is this news certain?" "Yes, exactly! Tomorrow afternoon the investor will personally come to our company." Looking at my daughter sleeping soundly, my heart was filled with emotions. If I can sign this contract, my daughter will no longer lack milk money. The next morning, after feeding my baby milk, I rushed to the company. Upon arrival, the assistant announced that the investor had arrived. Even though I have signed many big contracts, because this is my own company, I still feel a bit stressed. I grabbed my computer and walked to the door of the meeting room. Through the glass, I saw a familiar face — it was Da Than. It turned out that the company that the assistant said was a big partner was his company. I was confused but still tried to stay calm. The assistant stood next to him and whispered: "Ms. Tong, hurry up, the investor has been waiting for you for a long time!" I gritted my teeth, pushed the door open and walked in, the smile I had prepared in advance appeared on my face. After all, who would refuse to cooperate when there is a chance to make money? Compared to face, I still find milk money for my daughter more important. Going with Da Than were a few old colleagues. When they saw me, they immediately started talking: "It's really you, Tong Can! You're so good, you opened your own company! Is the company short of people? I'm jumping ship!" There was only Da Than, sitting in the middle, not saying a word. He just looked at me quietly, his eyes dark, his emotions unclear. He looks very haggard. I smiled and calmly said: "If you don't come to discuss cooperation, but just want to see how my company is, then..." "It's true that Ms. Tong really knows how to talk." A former colleague smiled and said, "Of course we came to discuss cooperation. It was even suggested by Mr. Da." As soon as he finished speaking, he was glanced at by Da Than, his face immediately changed, he smiled bitterly: "Just kidding, actually I dragged Mr. Da here." Whether Da Than was dragged by anyone or not, it doesn't matter to me. I didn't respond, just looked at the only empty chair next to Da Than, very close to him. Without hesitation, I walked over, sat down and expertly opened the computer. Da Than clasped his hands in front of him, was silent for a moment, then raised his eyes slightly and asked an innocuous question: "Didn't use perfume today?" The phrase “what does it have to do with you?” As soon as it reached my mouth, I swallowed it back, trying to smile: "Is something wrong, Mr. Yes?" "You smell like...," he paused for a moment, then looked at me, "the smell of milk." My hand stopped while typing on the keyboard, but I immediately regained composure: "Probably because I had breakfast this morning and accidentally spilled milk on myself." "Is that so?" Da Than seemed to want to ask more, but before he could say anything, I saw him slightly frown in his eyes. When I looked up again, his expression returned to its usual coldness. Maybe I was looking at it wrong. At that moment, another assistant walked over holding a file of documents: "Ms. Tong probably hasn't rested enough lately, to

I present the cooperation plan today.” He smiled and said: "Oh, Mr. Tieu Tong is really difficult to please." Hearing the three words "Tieu Tong", my pupils suddenly shrank. "Mr. Tieu Tong? Tieu Tong is my friend," I pointed at the screen, trying to change the subject: "Let's focus on the cooperation plan first." The assistant didn't seem to understand, looked at me for a while but in the end didn't say anything. No one asked further, so I breathed a sigh of relief. After breaking up with Da Than, our life was stable, no one interfered with anyone. But what if you find out that I have a child and the child is only one year old, with his personality? I will definitely investigate thoroughly. If I let him know that the child is related to me, things will become extremely complicated. That night, when I returned home, Ms. Truong, the person taking care of my child, reported that the child had a cold and a mild fever. Apparently, the child was healthy yesterday, but because of work being so busy recently, I couldn't spend much time taking care of the child, even with Ms. Truong's help. I was extremely regretful and rushed the child to the hospital Too hastily, when I entered the hospital gate, I almost crashed into a stretcher that had just been brought out from the ambulance. When I heard the doctor say that my baby was okay, my heart gradually calmed down. We were at the hospital until dawn before leaving. I hugged him and staggered out all night. I was so foggy that I didn't notice that I bumped into someone A familiar voice rang out above his head: "Tong Can?" I raised my head and saw Da Than's face. My heart suddenly tightened. Dead. He looked at me, then at the baby I was holding, stunned for a few seconds, then laughed angrily: "So when you said I wasn't alone, did you mean this?" "Is that what you meant?" Da Than asked, his eyes seemed to freeze, making me feel a lump in my throat, almost unable to stand. “That's right...that's right,” I tried to avoid his eyes, but still added: “But don't worry, just stay with your little girlfriend. This child is just mine, I won't bother you." Afraid he wouldn't believe me, I emphasized further: "It's true." Da Than did not answer, his eyes looked intently at me as if trembling, but the corner of his mouth showed an angry smile: "When you were pregnant, why didn't you tell me?" "We are divorced, the child has nothing to do with you," I paused, then continued: "Besides, aren't you already living happily with your little girlfriend?" Do I have to go and ruin that lovebirds?”“Girlfriend?” Da Than tilted his head, smiled and sighed: "Who said that?" "I saw it with my own eyes. Dare to do it and don't dare to admit it?" "So it's because of this," his voice was not loud, I couldn't hear clearly, but a trace of regret flashed in his eyes, or maybe I saw wrongly. At this moment, the daughter in my arms suddenly cried. We glanced at each other, both silent. I started to comfort my child, then suddenly a pair of hands appeared in front of me: "Let me hold her." I glanced at Da Than slightly, then continued to coax my child: "On what basis do you rely?" "Based on the fact that I am his father," Da Than replied concisely. The answer was so reasonable that I could not refute it. In the next second, he gently took the baby from my arms, his movements were proficient and very gentle, as if he was very used to it. I stood there stunned, it wasn't until I got in the car that I woke up. "When did you learn?" Da Than was silent for a moment, his voice hoarse: "Two years ago." I choked on my words, feeling like I was hit by something. Da Than bent down to comfort his child, his eyes were full of unspeakable joy, I loved that gentleness

long time no see. He took my mother and me home. My daughter fell asleep in the car, and we were both silent the whole way. I don't know how you plan to handle this, but I don't really care. With or without him, my mother and I will still live well. When I came out of the shower, he was still sitting on the sofa in the living room. It's been more than a year since we've seen each other, but there's no stranger between us like I thought. "Aren't you going home?" I asked. “I want to stay a little longer, to be with you and the baby,” he answered. I almost choked on my words. Could it be that Da Than had suffered some shock? It's been a long time since we talked to each other so calmly. Some people also say that when you are with the right person, your emotions will become stable. He and his current lover are probably very happy. I looked at him and casually asked: "So why did you come to the hospital today?" Da Than did not look up, just answered briefly: "Something happened." "What are you doing at the hospital?" "A friend is sick, I came to visit." He bent down and looked at the photo frame on the table, where there were photos of me and my daughter. His gentle eyes gradually melted, and he slowly said: "Stomach cancer, I can't live much longer." I curled my lips: "I didn't know you had a friend like that." Hearing that, Da Than raised his head, his voice was slow but extremely gentle: "I'm about to die, it doesn't matter if you know it or not." "How big? Probably the same age as me, right?" Da Than asked. I was a bit stunned, then shook my head and sighed: "That's a pity." "No regrets," Da Than said half-jokingly, "He deserved it." Hearing that, I couldn't help but protest: "You can joke about this? If you mistreat your child, I will not forgive you." I thought he would start making mistakes in every word and sentence like before, then argue with me again. But this time he just smiled helplessly: "Okay, there won't be a next time." Hearing his gentle voice, my heart softened a bit, but it was morning, he should go home. I wiped my wet hair and glanced at the door: "Go home, your girlfriend must be worried."