Chapter 1 — The Final Flip: When I No Longer Have Patience

My husband hid the baby in the trunk of the car, I pretended to be blind - arrived at my husband's house, opened the "blind box" in front of all of them. As soon as I sat down in the passenger seat, I heard a very slight noise in the trunk of the car, like someone turning around. My husband immediately turned on the music and turned the volume up all the way. I smiled coldly in my heart, but on the outside I remained as calm as ever.

“Drive slowly, the Tet food in the back is very fragile.”

His hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. During five hours on the road, I silently collected and organized all the evidence, clearly down to every detail. As soon as I entered my husband's house, I stood right at the door and made three phone calls in succession. Then, looking around the room full of relatives, I spoke calmly:

"Everyone, don't touch anything. There's a 'goods' in the trunk, let's check it out together."

“It's a new year, we should have fun together.”

The mother-in-law rushed forward to stop him. Unfortunately... it's too late. As soon as I sat down in the passenger seat, I heard someone moving around in the trunk. But I heard clearly. Chu Minh immediately turned on the music and turned the volume up all the way. The rumble of rock shook the eardrums, masking all other sounds. I smiled coldly in my heart, but remained calm on the outside. The car slowly entered the highway lane. I looked at the scenery outside the window receding at breakneck speed, my tone as light as air.

“Drive slowly, the Tet food in the back is very fragile.”

His hands on the steering wheel trembled slightly. In the rearview mirror, his eyes looked panicked, but his mouth still tried to remain calm.

“It's okay, I've got it all fixed.”

"Really?" I smiled softly. “That's great.”

For the next five hours, I didn't say another word. Chu Minh tried to open his mouth several times but was stopped by the cold look on my profile face. He didn't know, I didn't need to ask anymore. In the three years of marriage, how much I have spent for this house, and what he and his whole family have drained from me, I have a clear notebook in my heart. A notebook full of blood and tears. He still thinks I'm that stupid woman from the past who only needs one coaxing sentence to spill all his heart and soul. He's wrong. My heart, which has long been crushed by his lies over and over again, along with my mother-in-law's bottomless entreaties, has been ground harder than permafrost in Siberia. I bowed my head, my fingers quickly scrolling across the phone screen. Bank statement. Chat messages. Photo of transfer. I have all the evidence from the past five years neatly organized in an encrypted folder. I opened it, looked at each photo, each number. Everything is ready. Five hours later, the car left the highway and drove into the village that I once thought of as "home". From afar, I saw Trieu Hong's mother-in-law standing in front of the door, waiting. Chu Minh stopped the car and immediately changed his expression to that of a filial child.

“Mom, we're home!”

Trieu Hong smiled brightly like a flower, walked quickly, his eyes fixed on the trunk of the car.

"Oh my son, you're finally home! Are you tired? What delicious things did you bring home this year?"

I don't move. I was still sitting in the passenger seat, quietly watching the "deep love between mother and son" scene before my eyes. Chu Minh came around and opened the car door for me.

“Tu Cam, get out of the car, mom is waiting.”

There was a hint of pleading in his voice. I raised my head and smiled at him. That smile makes he shivered. I got out of the car and stood in front of my husband's imposing two-story house. In the living room, the lights were bright and there was loud laughter. The whole family there, from aunts and uncles to near and far relatives, were all present. Everyone is waiting to see how many "Tet gifts" this "stupid daughter-in-law" brings home this year to give to them. I was in no hurry to enter. Right in front of Chu Minh and her mother-in-law, I stood at the door and calmly made three phone calls in a row. First call, call Uncle Phuong in the village. He is an old, reputable accountant who likes to judge what's right and what's wrong.

"Uncle Phuong, I wish you a happy new year. I have a few things to ask. There's a problem with the 'Tet goods' I brought back with Chu Minh. I hope you'll come over and testify for me so I can decide clearly."

Second call, call my brother.

"Brother, I've arrived at Chu Minh's house. Come over too. Yes, bring two people."

The third call, I paused for a moment, then dialed a phone number that I had saved for a long time but had never used. The other end of the line quickly picked up the phone.

"Hello, Mr. Bach, right? I'm Tu Cam. Happy New Year. I'm calling to tell you, your daughter, Bach Lo, is currently in the trunk of my car. We are in Chu Minh's hometown, the address is..."

I hung up. Chu Minh's face was pale, not a drop of blood left. Trieu Hong's mother-in-law finally realized something was wrong, her smile stiffened on her lips.

“Tu Cam, you… what are you doing?”

I don't pay attention. I walked into the living room, looked straight at the group of relatives who were chatting, every word was clear:

"No one is allowed to touch anything. There is something in the trunk, everyone check it out."

My eyes scanned each face.

“This year, none of you will be at peace.”

Trieu Hong screamed and rushed forward to stop me. It's late. As soon as Trieu Hong's hand touched my arm, he was thrown away by a strong force. My brother, Tu Phong, brought two people from the factory and blocked the door at just the right moment. He was one meter eighty-five tall, standing there like a wall.

"If you have anything to say, don't move your hands or feet."

His voice was not loud, but his eyes were so cold that it made Trieu Hong shiver. The whole room immediately fell silent. The whispering also disappeared. All eyes turned to me. There is surprise, there is curiosity, there is also gloating. Chu Minh hurriedly rushed forward, trying to force a smile on his face that was more ugly than crying.

“Wife, don't make a fuss anymore, I'll go home and talk about it.”

“The relatives are all watching.”

I looked at him, just finding it funny.

“Now I remember that relatives are watching?”

“When you put yourself in the trunk, why didn't you think about it?”

“Chu Minh, aren't you tired of acting like that?”

Every sentence I said was like a needle, pricking straight into his shaky shell of dignity. His face turned from white to blue, then purple. Trieu Hong regained his composure, immediately changed his tone, and began to cause chaos.

"Tu Cam! That unlucky thing! As soon as he stepped into the house, he made a mess!"

She sat down on the ground, beating her thighs and crying.