Chapter 17 — The Husband's Secret

His eyes fell on that line. Don't let my child become the one who hurts another child. He looked for a long time. It was so long that I thought he was going to say something. But in the end he just raised his head to look at me. "Diep An, I know what this page says." My heart turned cold. "So you always knew." His eyes were red. "I have no other choice." I said. "I do." "I just didn't choose to do it." His figure staggered slightly. Aunt Khuong suddenly stepped forward. She stood between Tham Nghien and my mother-in-law. The voice was very small, but very clear. "Old lady, you also saw this page that year." My mother-in-law's face changed greatly. "Shut up!" Aunt Khuong did not shut up. "Miss Lam, before leaving, held my hand and said." "She said, don't let Tieu Du owe someone else's life." "She said, a child cannot live like that." My mother-in-law waved her hand to slap her. Tham Nghien promptly stopped it. Everyone in the hallway looked this way. My mother-in-law's hand stopped in mid-air, finally showing a confused look. At this moment, Tham Nghien's phone rang. He answered the phone, his face gradually turned pale. "Is Tieu Du bleeding again?" "I'll be right here." He hung up the phone, turned around and was about to leave. After taking a few steps, he stopped again. He turned his back to me. "Diep An, if Tieu Du really leaves." "I don't know if I will hate you for the rest of my life." I looked at his back. "Then remember." "If Vien Vien is forced into the hospital bed by you guys." "I will hate you for the rest of my life." Tham Nghien did not turn back. He walked quickly toward the end of the hallway. I thought this drama temporarily ended here. But half an hour later, Attorney Trinh received a notification from the court system. Tham Nghien applied for temporary visitation. The reason is that the mother maliciously prevents the father-child relationship. And attach an explanation. At the end of the written explanation. The father suspected that the mother's mental state was unstable and unfit to take care of the newborn alone. 16When I saw that statement, I did not cry. I just stood in front of the hospital door, feeling the sunlight so bright that it hurt my eyes. I thought Tham Nghien would at least not force me to this extent. But he began to write my fear into my illness. Write my defense into my mistake. Lawyer Trinh finished reviewing the documents and immediately called an acquaintance to confirm. She hung up the phone and told me. "This is just an application, there is no verdict yet." "But he is clearing the way." "If he confirms that you have postpartum emotional disorders, the next step may be to request an increase in visitation time, or even request unilaterally taking the child for a check-up." I asked. "What should I do now?" She said. "Do two things." "First, go to a formal hospital for a psychological evaluation." "Second, synthesize all the evidence into a timeline." I nodded. "Go now." Lawyer Trinh looked at me. "Don't be afraid to do the assessment." "Just because you protect your child, doesn't mean you have a problem." I whispered. "I know." "I just didn't expect him to write about me like that." Leaving the hospital, I went to the obstetrics and pediatrics psychology clinic. The doctor asked me about my sleep, eating, and emotions. Ask me if I intend to harm myself or my children. I answer each question one by one. When mentioning Vien Vien, I finally couldn't help but cry. I said. “I'm just very afraid that she will be taken away.” “I'm afraid that if I close my eyes, she will disappear.” The doctor gave me a tissue. She didn't look at me with pity. She spoke very seriously. “Your fears are grounded in reality.” “This is not an unfounded loss of control.” When the evaluation report came out, the written conclusion was very clear. There are currently no signs of acute onset of mental disorders. Have

enough practical capacity to care for newborns. Recommendations to increase family safety support. I held those papers and felt like my heart was lifted a little. In the evening, I returned to my house in the southern city. My mother is breastfeeding Vien Vien. Vien Vien saw me and immediately reached out. She recently learned an obscure syllable. Like the sound of calling for mother, or maybe just a cry. But when I heard it, my tears almost fell. I picked her up. "Mommy's home." She used her tiny hand to touch my face. I kissed the child's palm. "Are you good today?" My mother said next to me with red eyes. "She keeps looking for you all the time." I hugged Vien Vien and sat down. "Wherever I go from now on, I will try to take her with me." My mother sighed. "You will be very tired then." I said. "A little tired, it's better than living in fear." At night, Lawyer Trinh sent me a timeline template. I started writing from Aunt Khuong's words "brother". March 17, steamed egg recording. The paper bag at the door and his handwriting. Convenience store receipt. Photo of Thanh Duong kindergarten. Obstetric nurse profile. Hospital disclaimer. Police station minutes. Take note of being open late at night. Third page of the letter. Application for temporary visitation.