Chapter 5 — The Husband's Secret

"Grandma said my sister is still very young, you can give her a superhero card." Tham Nghien forced her voice to be very low. "Not right now." "Why?" "Because his mother still doesn't know." The boy didn't speak anymore. After a while, the boy asked in a low voice. "Does his mother hate me?" Tham Nghien did not answer immediately. He hugged the boy a little tighter. "No." I leaned my back against the wall, my nails digging deep into my palms. What right do you have to answer for me? What right do you have to let a child ask such a question? Tieu Du is not at fault. Yuan Yuan is also not at fault. The person at fault is the one who dragged the two children into the lie. Aunt Khuong came out of the clinic to buy medicine. I turned around and walked into the grocery store next door. She didn't see me. After she returned, I stood outside the glass door again. Tham Nghien is on the phone. His voice was very cold. "Don't send her any more pictures." "I told you, I'll deal with it on Friday." I don't know who was on the other end of the line. Tham Nghien's face became more and more unsightly. "What happened in the past cannot be turned over if you just want to turn it over." He hung up, holding the phone tightly in his hand. A few minutes later, he carried Tieu Du and left the clinic. Aunt Khuong carried water and followed behind. I followed for a while. They went into an old dormitory behind the kindergarten. The third floor window was slightly open. On the balcony are drying a few pairs of small children's socks and a blue uniform jacket. I stood downstairs and heard Tieu Du's voice from up there. "Dad, did you bring mom's photo?" Tham Nghien said. "No." Tieu Du asked again. "So will your sister know mom?" The house was silent for a few seconds. Then came Aunt Khuong's trembling voice. "Don't ask anymore." The next moment, a gust of wind blew open the curtains. I saw a black and white photo placed on the living room cabinet. The young woman in the photo smiles very gently. The thin necklace she wore around her neck was exactly the same as the wedding anniversary necklace Tham Nghien gave me.06I didn't go upstairs. At that moment, I didn't even have the courage to take another step. I'm afraid the door will open. I'm afraid Tham Nghien sees me. I'm also afraid that child named Tieu Du will see me. I'm even more afraid that I will lose control in front of a child. When I got home, the aunt upstairs was holding Vien Vien and waiting for me at the door. "Why is your face so poor?" I picked up Vien Vien. "The medicine has taken hold, I'm a little dizzy." The aunt told me to rest. I smiled and thanked her. When the door closed, I hugged Vien Vien and sat down on the floor of the mysterious entrance. His little hand touched my chin. I lowered my head to look at my child, she grinned at me. That smile was so pure that it made my heart ache. I pressed my face into my child's soft hair. "I won't let anyone take you and fill someone else's hole." The words blurted out, and I was stunned. It turns out I'm no longer simply afraid of Tham Nghien's affair. What I'm afraid of is that you brought Aunt Khuong into my house, not simply to take care of Vien Vien. He put a person familiar with Tieu Du next to Vien Vien. He let Aunt Khuong know Vien Vien's daily activities, meals, and health status. These things are strung together, so cold that they make me tremble. In the afternoon, that strange number sent a text message again. At nine o'clock tomorrow morning, the side door of the old building of Nhan An Hospital. Only you are allowed to come alone. I stared at that line, answering two words. Who are you? The other party did not respond. A few minutes later, another photo was sent. The photo is the yellowed cover page of a medical record. The pregnant woman's name is Lam Van Duong. Newborn, male. Signature of family member, Tham Nghien. In the relationship column, write husband. Hand

I let go, the phone fell onto the phone. Vien Vien was startled by that sound and cried. I quickly picked up my child and comforted him. "It's okay, it's okay." But my voice was so hoarse that it didn't sound like myself. In the evening, when Tham Nghien came home, he was carrying a bag of apples in his hand. He said. "Aunt Khuong said you want to eat." I looked at the bag of apples. "What did she tell you?" "Yes." "Aren't you coming to the company today?" Tham Nghien's eyes softened a bit. "Yes." I smiled faintly. "Just casually asking." He placed the bag of apples on the dining table. "Have you been too sensitive lately?" This sentence was like a thorn. If I had heard this sentence before, I probably would have started to doubt myself. Am I thinking too much? Is the postpartum mood not good? Maybe things aren't that serious? But now it won't be like that anymore. I saw you in the clinic. Saw the child in his arms. Saw that black and white photo. I won't find excuses to justify your lies anymore. The next day, I took Vien Vien to her mother's house. I just said go to the hospital for a follow-up examination. My mother saw that I didn't look good and asked why Tham Nghien didn't come with me. I told him he was busy. Even when I uttered this word, I felt ironic.