Chapter 2 — The Father Awakens Too Late

He is like a good husband and a good father. If it weren't for the memories of ten years later, I would still believe it. At ten o'clock, dad's assistant came running. His expression was very unsightly.
"Director Bui, Ms. Ly is sitting in the company lobby holding her child. She said that if she doesn't meet you today, she will tell everyone whose child Chu Chu is."
Mom's hand immediately turned cold, dad got angry.
“I've never even touched her hand, where did she get the courage to say those words?”
"Where's the security guard? Let's deal with it."
The assistant's voice trembled.
"Director Bui, she carried the child to the railing on the second floor of the hall. The live broadcast room had several thousand viewers. She said if you didn't show up, she would hold the child and jump down."
Dad's face completely changed.
“Tung Nghi, I believe you, you and she do not have that relationship.”
Mother's voice was cold and scary.
“So why does she dare to cause such chaos?”
Dad couldn't answer, so I hugged his leg.
“Dad, don't go.”
Dad squatted down and lifted my face.
“Tri Tri, dad is going to solve the problem.”
I shook my head.
“Mom will be hurt.”
“Dad will be home soon.”
Come back now. Mom looked at him.
“Bui Nghien Tu, if you step out of here today, we will truly end.”
Dad's eyes turned red. He stood in place for more than ten seconds. I can see that he wants to stay. But in the assistant's phone, Ly Uyen Nguyet's cries became louder and louder.
“Bui Nghien Tu, if you don't come, I will show you the dead Chu Chu!”
Dad's face completely changed. He turned around and went out. Walking to the elevator door, he turned to look at his mother again.
“Wait for me.”
Mother did not answer. The elevator door closed, my mother held onto the wall and slowly squatted down.
“Tri Tri.”
When she called my name, her lips were frighteningly white. When grandmother ran over, mother had already started vomiting blood. The nurse pushed the emergency bed over.
“The family signed it!”
Grandma's hands were shaking so much that she couldn't hold a pen. I climbed up on the chair, took the medical record out of my mother's bag and handed it over.
“Write down grandma's phone number.”
The nurse looked at me.
“Where is dad?”
I shook my head.
“Dad won't answer the phone.”
Mother was pushed into the emergency room. I sat outside the door, my palms covered in cold sweat. In my previous life, I also sat like that, only there was no one around at that time. In this life, my grandmother hugged me, patting my back over and over again.
"Tri Tri, don't be afraid, your mother will be okay."
More than an hour later, dad ran into the hospital. The shirt was wrinkled, the cuffs were stained with blood, I didn't know whose blood it was. Seeing me, his face immediately turned pale.
“Where is your mother?”
I pointed towards the emergency room. Dad rushed forward and was stopped by the nurse.
“What are you to the patient?”
“I am her husband.”
The nurse turned over the registration board.
“The emergency contact is not you.”
Dad stiffened in place. Grandma stepped forward and slapped him hard.
“Bui Nghien Tu, what kind of husband are you?”
Dad doesn't avoid it. He looked at me, his voice hoarse.
"Tri Tri, I didn't mean it. Miss Ly came to the company to cause trouble, I had to clarify everything."
I looked at the blood on his cuff.
“Have you made it clear?”
Dad's lips moved slightly. Not yet. He went to the company. Protecting Ly Uyen Nguyet, hugging Chu Chu who was crying and trembling. Turn off the live stream. But he forgot, his mother was also waiting for him. The emergency room door opened and mother was pushed out, her face as white as paper. Dad rushed forward.
“Chanting Nghi.”
Mom opened her eyes and looked Seeing him, tears slipped from the corners of my eyes. She didn't scold him, she just spoke softly.
“Bui Nghien Tu, I don't need you anymore.”
Dad's whole body stiffened. Mom held my hand.
“Tri Tri, mom, listen to me.”
I burst into tears and rushed to her side.
“Mom, let's go to grandma's house.”
Dad reached out to touch the hospital bed, but grandmother immediately pushed him away.
“Don't touch her.”
That night, mother did not come home. Neither do I. When dad returned, not a single light was turned on in the house. There were no mother's shoes left at the door. There is no longer my rabbit in the children's room. On the dining table is a divorce agreement. Next to it is a picture, originally showing my father, mother and me. Dad's part was filled in with a black crayon. The paper was also torn. Below is a row of crooked letters. Dad, divorce is not something to scare children. This time it's real. The phone rang, it was a voice message I sent from my mother's phone.
“Dad, you always say you don't need me and mom.”
“Now you and mom don't need dad anymore.”
“It's not a threat, Dad, it's true.”
Dad held the phone and slowly squatted down to the ground.
5
The next day Dad went to Grandma's house. He didn't sleep all night, his eyes were full of blood. In his hand, he carried his mother's toiletries, my cream cake, and the red bean cake my grandmother liked to eat. He stood outside the door, his voice hoarse.
“Mom, I want to see Tung Nghi.”
Grandma blocked the door.
"When it hurts and wants to see you, will you let it see you?"
Dad bowed his head.
“You are wrong.”
“It's too late.”
Grandma was about to close the door, but he reached out to block it. The door clamped onto the back of his hand, instantly turning red. He did not avoid it. Mother walked out of the room, her face still pale. Seeing her, dad's eyes immediately turned red.
“Chanting Nghi.”
Mom just asked:
“Have you signed the agreement yet?”
Dad was silent.
“Don't sign.”
Mom nodded.
“Then sue.”
Dad placed the bag of toiletries next to the door.