Chapter 17 — The Day You Abandoned My Mother and My Child in the Middle of the Airport

Tham Niem stands on stage. Shaking hands with Chairman of Dinh Thinh Group. She wore a wine red suit. Hair loose on shoulders. Professional smile. Radiantly beautiful. First comment written.

“Who is this woman?”

“So temperamental.”

Second comment.

“New Chairman of Minh Trach Group.”

“I heard that she used to be a housewife.”

"My husband cheated on me so I got back up."

Third comment.

“Deserve it.”

“Tra male does not have a good ending.”

Ly Minh Trach slammed the phone down on the table. Tilt your head up and take a big sip of Nhi Oa Dau wine. Alcohol makes the throat burn. Not as painful as those comments. He took another sip. Pick up the phone. Open the message frame with Tham Niem. Final news. Still the same sentence: It's a red exclamation mark. Tham Niem blocked him. Never blocked her. He stared at that exclamation mark for a long time.

“Are Niem Niem asleep yet?”

Red exclamation mark. He knocked again.

“I know you can't see.”

“But I still want to talk.”

Red exclamation mark.

“I left the company today.”

“The office is very empty.”

“My photo.”

“I'll take it away.”

“Put it in the trunk.”

Red exclamation mark.

“Nim Niem's stuffed rabbit.”

“Does she really not need it anymore?”

“That's my favorite thing.”

Red exclamation mark. Delete then type again. Just send one sentence.

“Tham Niem.”

“I regret it.”

Red exclamation mark. He threw the phone aside. Drink up all the remaining wine. Empty wine bottle. Also empty. The decline of Ly Minh Trach. Arrived faster than he thought. After the share transfer news is announced. His reputation in the business world. Collapsed overnight. The projects have been negotiated. Suspended one after another. Partners continuously withdrew capital. Banks began to press for debt repayment. The houses are in his name. Distrained by the court. The car was also towed away. Even credit cards. Also frozen. He started selling things. Cufflink. Items that once symbolized his status. Now change it into wads of cash. Then very quickly. Turned into rent again. Electricity and water bills. Money calls for food. Less than a month. He went from being a CEO to owning more than a hundred million in assets. Turned into… An unemployed person. During that time. He once called To Man. To Man answered the phone. The voice is still very sweet.

“Minh Trach.”

“I'm at the hospital for a prenatal check-up.”

“I'll call you back later.”

Second time. To Man did not listen. Just text back.

“Minh Trach.”

“My mother said.”

“Let's not see each other for now.”

“Not good for the baby.”

Third time. To Man blocked his number. He called Aunt Vuong. Aunt Vuong faltered.

“Sir…”

“I quit my job.”

“Miss To said.”

“Don't need me anymore.”

He called his mother again. On the other end of the line. His mother cried as she spoke.

“Minh Trach.”

“You must not fall.”

“I still have to take care of my mother.”

“Mom's health is not good now.”

“I need to quickly think of a way to start over.”

“I'm out of money.”

“If you run out of money, think of a way.”

“I know so many people.”

“Go borrow.”

“No one will lend me a loan.”

His mother was silent for a few seconds. Say one sentence. Making Ly Minh Trach completely desperate.

“So don't call me anymore for now.”

“It's also very difficult.”

She hung up. Everyone... Disappeared. Just like before. He used to ignore Tham Niem. Everyone is also ignoring him. Ly Minh Trach started losing sleep. Lying in bed every night. In his head, it was like a movie was playing. Scene by scene over the past five years. Continuously showing up. He remembers the first time Tham Niem cooked for him. She made four dishes. A very salty dish. One dish was burned. One more dish... Forgot to add salt. He only ate one piece. Put down chopsticks.

“Don't cook next time.”

“It's okay to order food.”

I remember the first time Niem Niem learned to walk. The baby staggered step by step. Go towards him. I'm answering emails. I didn't even bother to raise my head. He remembered Tham Niem's birthday. That day he went on a business trip. To one sentence:

“Happy birthday.”

Didn't say either. The next day. Tham Niem texted him.

“Yesterday was my birthday.”

He just answered.