Chapter 5 — Three Calls at Dawn

He had seen that look countless times in the marketplace - that was the look when Co Da Dinh hit a target, with the ambition to have it. His blood immediately turned cold. Then it boiled again. He returned to the spare bedroom, closed the door, leaned his back against the door panel, listening to the deafening sound of his heart beating. He picked up the phone and opened the chat box with To Niem Vi. The last message was from three days ago, she said "I know how to smile today", he replied with a "yeah". He typed a few words: "What's going on downstairs?" Think for a moment, then delete it. Knocked again: "What do you mean by calling my brothers here?" Think for a moment, then delete it. Finally he threw the phone aside, lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He should have been angry. He should have rushed downstairs, kicked them out, declared that this is my house, my wife, my children. But he didn't. Because he is scared. He was afraid that if he rushed down, To Niem Vi would right in front of his brothers, uttering the words he always pretended not to hear ——“How long have you been home?” “How long have you been without holding your baby?” “When was the last time you said more than ten words to me?” “When you brought that woman home, did you think about me being your wife?” He closed his eyes. A vague laugh was heard downstairs - To Niem Vi was laughing. He had not heard her laugh for a long, long time. This realization was like a needle, piercing through the heart that he thought had long been numb.—Chapter 2: The Home Changed Owner Three days later. Luc Canh Tham decided to go home. Not because of homesickness, but because his assistant announced that Co Thi Group suddenly ended all cooperation projects with his investment company. The partner called to question: "Did you offend Co Da Dinh?" He did not offend Co Da Dinh. But Co Da Dinh is at his house. He drove home, thinking about how to solve this problem along the way. Arriving at the door, I discovered three cars parked in front of the driveway — Co Da Dinh's Maybach, Tham Tu Dien's Porsche Cayenne, and Giang Du's Wrangler. Three cars, parked neatly, looked like a declaration of war. He pushed the door open, the sight that met his eyes made him freeze on the spot. The living room is completely transformed. The previous cold minimalist style has been smashed in half. The walls are covered with alphabets and colorful pictures for children, the floor is covered with a thick crawling mat, and the tea table's sharp corners are covered with impact-resistant foam. In the corner of the room there is a play area for children, with rattles, cloth books, and stuffed animals stacked as high as a mountain. His house has been converted into a children's room. To Niem Vi sat on the sofa, massaging her child. Today she was wearing a clean white T-shirt, her hair tied in a ponytail, and her face was a little red - it looked much better than three days ago. Giang Du squatted next to her, holding a rattle in his hand, making a devilish face and teasing the baby: "Look here, honey, look at me, are you handsome?" The baby let out a loud laugh. "She's laughing!" Giang Du was so excited that he almost jumped up, "Did you see my sister-in-law? She's smiling at me!" "She's smiling at the bell." Tham Tu Dien walked out of the kitchen, holding a bowl of soup, placing it next to To Niem Vi, "Nim Niem, drink the soup first, while it's still hot." "Thank you." To Niem Vi raised her head and smiled at him. Tham Tu Dien's eyes stopped on her face for a second, then moved away. He turned around and went into the kitchen to clean up - familiar movements just like at home.