Chapter 13 — Three Keys, One Broken Marriage

Trieu Vu spoke very seriously. There's even some excitement. The streetlights clearly showed the tiredness and anxiety on his face. But in my heart... There were no ripples.

“Trieu Vu, do you know when I am most disappointed?”

“It was that day.”

“When my dad slammed the table and told me to get out of the house.”

“You stood there…”

“Not a single word.”

“At that moment, I clearly understood in your heart who was in first place.”

“Now you say you have awakened, you want to change.”

“But all this…”

“At what price?”

“It was me who was forced to back down time and time again.”

“It's my pride…”

“Being tested to the limits by my whole family.”

Trieu Vu instinctively wanted to open his mouth to explain. But then I found myself unable to even say a word of rebuttal. What I said is the truth.

“Thanh Thanh… you were a coward that day.”

“Later I thought about it all night, the more I thought about it, the more I regretted it.”

“I want to scold you, I can beat you any way I want.”

“But about the divorce… can you give me a little more time?”

“Whatever you want, I can give you.”

“It's not just talk.”

“I will do it.”

“You can cut off the money thing with your parents.”

“From now on, just visit a little during the holidays.”

“If you don't want to go, we won't go.”

“As long as you don't get divorced…”

“You all listen to me.”

"Even when it comes to children, when you want to give birth, you will give birth. If you don't want to give birth, then don't give birth."

“I don't want to lose you.”

His voice gradually lowered, clearly carrying a pleading tone.

“Thanh Thanh… I really love you.”

“I know saying these words now sounds very cheap.”

“But what do you want me to prove…”

“I'm also ready.”

I suddenly felt very sarcastic. Speak up slowly.

“Trieu Vu, have you discovered something?”

“When you said these words…”

“I never asked you if you still love me now.”

Trieu Vu paused.

“You always emphasize how much you love me.”

“How willing are you to change?”

“But I forgot…”

“I am also human.”

“I will also feel cold.”

“There will also come a day…”

“Little by little, all the love that year was lost.”

“I never doubted whether you loved me or not.”

“But I know very well…”

“Who is the person you love the most?”

“I love myself more.”

“Love your original family more.”

Trieu Vu's face turned pale.

“Thanh Thanh, it's not like that…”

I replied very firmly.

“If you really love me like you say…”

“You didn't sneak the key out.”

“You weren't quiet at the dinner table that day.”

“Didn't I just say respect you…”

“Just used your limits as a safety cushion for my whole family to move forward and backward.”

“I'm used to having someone cover me from the wind and rain.”

“It was my mother before.”

“Then it's you.”

“Now I realize that you don't want to continue carrying the burden anymore…”

“Then I see you as cold and heartless.”

“But have you ever thought…”

“Are you just a normal person?”

“When I can't stand it…”

“I will also choose to let go.”

Trieu Vu's throat seemed to be choked with something, and it took him a long time to get out a sentence with difficulty.

“So now…”

“Are you still willing to give me one more chance?”

“If we move out.”

“If we cut them off completely.”

“If you give it later The key is only in the hands of the two of you.”

“If in front of you, I put everyone behind you.”

“We…”

“Can we start from the beginning?”

Under the streetlight, I lowered my eyes. The night wind blew a few strands of my sideburns, but I didn't bother to fix them. A long time later... I spoke softly.

“Trieu Vu.”

“I don't want to hear the words 'what if' anymore.”

“I don't want to hear any more promises.”

“I just know…”

“I'm very tired now.”

“So tired…”

“Just imagine how you will change later…”

“I also feel exhausted.”

“Our marriage…”

“No longer standing on the same starting line.”

“Now I want to chase.”

“Got off the track a long time ago.”

Trieu Vu stood dumbfounded on the spot.

“You really…”

“Didn't you leave any way out?”

“Even if it's just to give yourself a little time to breathe…”

I raised my head and looked straight at him.

“Yesterday we signed the house sale trust with the broker.”

“The house will also be sold soon.”

“My lawyer is also preparing documents.”

“Trieu Vu…”

“This is a decision I have thought very carefully about.”

“It's not a temporary impulse.”

“So stop trying to convince me.”

“You may not agree.”

“It may also be uncooperative.”

“Then go to court to settle it.”

“This outcome will not change.”

Trieu Vu looked at me, his eyes seemed covered with a layer of gray ash. He raised his hand, then slowly lowered it.

“Thanh Thanh…”

“You have really changed.”

“I wasn't like that before.”

I smiled faintly.

“Before, I always thought…”

“As long as you are good enough, patient enough…”

“Then my whole family will consider you family.”

“And now…”

“I just see reality clearly.”

“I don't want to continue being someone who can be sacrificed at any moment.”

“This is not a change.”

“But awakening.”

Having said this to this point, it no longer makes sense to continue hanging on. I looked at the clock.

“I'm leaving.”

"In the future, if there is any news related to selling the house, I will let you know."

“No need to continue waiting under my company.”

"Don't call me in the middle of the night."

“You have your life.”

“I have my own way.”