Chapter 25 — The 12th-Floor Kitchen Contract

As her pregnancy entered the seventh month, Diem Tram gradually reduced her direct workload, transferring more important responsibilities to Hoai Thu, who is now qualified to take on the main management role for both branches of the bakery. "I have complete confidence in your abilities," Diem Tram said during the official job handover. "I have proven my bravery throughout the past journey."

"I will try my best not to disappoint your trust," Hoai Thu replied, unable to hide her emotion at the absolute trust her close friend had given her.

At Cam Luong restaurant, Khang also began to adjust her work schedule so she could spend more time at home, carefully preparing for the upcoming birth of her daughter. Kien, who now takes on most of the day-to-day operational responsibilities, always encourages his friend to focus on his family during this important period.

***

One evening, while Diem Tram was preparing dinner, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her stomach, forcing her to sit down immediately. "Khang," she called, her voice somewhat panicked.

Khang immediately ran over, unable to hide his extreme worry. "Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked, kneeling beside her, his hands shaking with fear.

"I'm not sure," Diem Tram replied, her hand clutching her stomach, her breathing still unstable. "It's just a brief pain, but I'm a little worried."

Without hesitation, Khang immediately took her to the hospital for a checkup, even though he couldn't hide his restlessness the whole way. After a thorough examination, the doctor reassured them both that it was just a normal braxton hicks contraction, nothing to worry about, although he advised Diem Tram to rest more in the final stages of pregnancy.

***

"I'm sorry for scaring you unnecessarily," Diem Tram said when they both returned home safely, feeling a bit embarrassed by her own overreaction earlier.

"Don't apologize," Khang replied, squeezing her hand. "I would rather worry too much than be subjective to any unusual signs. The health of you and your child is always my top priority."

That small incident made Khang even more determined to spend more time with his wife in the last weeks of pregnancy. He arranged his work so he could work from home more, making sure to always be by Diem Tram's side whenever she needed him.

***

When pregnancy enters the thirty-eighth week, the whole family begins to carefully prepare for the upcoming birth. The birthing bag was prepared, the baby's room had all the details completed, and both were both nervous and excited waiting for the moment they would meet their first daughter.

"Are you scared?" Khang asked one evening, when the two were lying together, his hand gently placed on her belly, feeling the baby's gentle kicks.

"I'm a little worried," Diem Tram replied honestly, her hand holding his hand tightly. "But I'm also very excited to meet my baby. I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

"I will always be with you, throughout the birth process, from beginning to end," Khang promised, gently kissing her forehead. "You don't have to face anything alone."

True to his promise, when the first labor pains appeared in the early morning two weeks later, Khang immediately took Diem Tram to the hospital, not leaving her side for a moment during the anxious waiting process, holding her hand tightly through each pain, whispering words of encouragement and comfort continuously until the cry of their daughter's birth rang out, erasing all worries and stress, replaced by an indescribable burst of happiness. all in words.

***

The labor process lasted nearly eight stressful hours, with Khang never leaving the delivery room, constantly encouraging her, wiping the sweat from her forehead, and reminding her to breathe properly according to the doctor's instructions. "You did very well," he whispered in her ear every time a sharp pain came. "We're about to meet you, come on baby."

Outside the delivery room, Mrs. Cam and Mrs. Lam sat waiting in an indescribable state of suspense, continuously praying for their mother to have a healthy baby. "I can't sit still," Mrs. Cam said, standing up and pacing the hospital hallway. "She just hopes everything goes smoothly."

Finally, the cry of birth rang out, tearing through the tense atmosphere, replaced by a burst of happiness. Khang, who was allowed to stay in the delivery room, could not hide her tears of happiness when she first saw her small, red daughter crying in the doctor's arms.

***

"The baby is born," he whispered, his voice choked with extreme emotion, looking at Diem Tram lying tired but happy on the hospital bed. "Our daughter is so beautiful, she looks exactly like her mother."

When baby Diem My was placed in Diem Tram's arms for the first time, she felt a vast, unconditional love welling up in her heart, a feeling that no words could fully describe. "Hello, my daughter," she whispered, tears of happiness rolling down her cheeks, looking at the little face sleeping in her arms.

Khang sat down next to him, wrapped his arms around both mother and child, feeling the complete happiness of a small family that had just been officially completed. "Thank you," he said, gently kissing his wife's forehead. "For giving me the greatest gift in this life."

Outside the hospital room, when the news was announced, Mrs. Cam and Mrs. Lam could not hide their tears of happiness, hugging each other in overwhelming joy. "We have a new member in the family," Mrs. Cam said, her voice shaking with emotion. "I can't believe I'm so lucky to live to witness this sacred moment."

The whole family gathered together in that complete happiness, together welcoming the appearance of the smallest member, carrying with them all the love and hope of the two families who together wrote a beautiful love story, starting with a cold contract, but ending with a family full of happiness and love.

***

The first days of becoming parents brought Diem Tram and Khang countless new experiences, both surprising and full of happiness. Together, the two learned how to take care of their child, staying up all night to comfort the crying child, and watching the child sleep soundly with boundless respect and love.

"I never thought that love for a small creature could be so great," Diem Tram shared with Khang late one night, when they both sat together watching Diem My sleeping in her crib.

"I feel the same thing," Khang replied, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders, both immersed in the peaceful, warm moment of a small family that had just been completely formed.

Kien and Hoai Thu, now officially a happy couple, also visit regularly to help the new parents, bringing happy and warm moments to the whole small family. "The baby is so adorable," Hoai Thu said, unable to hide her excitement at holding Diem My in her arms. "I can't wait to one day be a mother like you."

Diem Tram smiled at that sincere sharing, glanced at Kien standing next to Hoai Thu with eyes full of affection, an affection that he did not try to hide. "I believe, that day will soon come to you," she said meaningfully, making both young friends blush at her observance.

Amid the busyness and fatigue of the first days of parenthood, Diem Tram and Khang still found complete happiness in every small moment with their daughter, clearly feeling that this small family is the most beautiful and meaningful achievement that the two of them have built together from an unusual beginning, but has led them to a sincere, profound love and a more fulfilling happiness than anything they ever dared to dream of.

Every night, when lulling her daughter to sleep, Diem Tram silently thanked fate for bringing her to the kitchen on the 12th floor of the Zenith building, to the man who became her husband, and now, to the little angel sleeping in her arms, completely completing the picture of happiness that she never dared to dream of during the most difficult days of her life, when her mother's small bakery was still at risk of complete collapse.