Chapter 2 — Three Years of Patience, One Day of Flipping the Cards

I took my father back to the old apartment he was renting. Forty square meters. One living room, one bedroom. The wall is peeling off piece by piece. The window does not close tightly. In winter, the wind is cold and drafty. That is the current situation that everyone knows of the Tham family. Three years ago, the Tham family company went bankrupt, liquidating all assets. From a small business owner. My father became an old man living on his pension. At least, that's how it looks. I poured him a cup of warm water. He sat on the sofa, using a towel to apply to the cheek that had just been slapped.

“Tieu Khanh.”

He called me.

“Don't act impulsively.”

My hand that was wringing the towel stopped.

“Dad, it's okay.”

He put down the towel. The red handprint on his face was clearly visible. The blood stains at the corner of his mouth had also dried.

“That girl is still young, she doesn't have much strength.”

“It's just a loud slapping sound.”

I squatted in front of his knees. Say nothing. He reached out and patted my head like when I was a child.

“Are you wondering why Dad showed up at that restaurant?”

I nodded.

“It was Co Canh Tham who asked dad to come.”

"He said he wanted to discuss things between the two of us, so he told dad to wait at that restaurant."

He put the cup of water on the tea table. The voice was calm as if telling a story about the weather.

“Dad came and waited for forty minutes.”

“He didn't show up.”

“The one who appeared was that girl again.”

My fingers tightened on the towel. This is a trap. Co Canh Tham deliberately arranged for my father to go there. Then let To Uyen Ninh appear and humiliate him.

“Dad, you shouldn't go.”

“But he is my husband and children.”

"He said he wanted to discuss my matter, do you have any reason to refuse?"

Dad looked at me. There was no anger in his eyes. There is only deep calm to the bottom.

“Tieu Khanh, dad asked you something.”

“Dad, ask.”

“Do you still want to continue that marriage?”

I don't answer. He did not ask further. Just pick up the glass of water and take a sip. I got up and went to the kitchen to cook him a bowl of hot porridge. When brought out. He had already fallen asleep leaning on the sofa. Breathing is very light. The red hand mark on his face became even more dazzling under the light. I put the bowl of porridge on the table. Tiptoe out. Just down to the apartment complex. The phone suddenly rang. Co Canh Tham. I picked up the phone.

“Nem Khanh.”

His voice was lazy. In the background, there was the sound of clinking glasses and music.

“Is your dad home yet?”

“So he must have told you?”

“What?”

He spoke softly as if discussing what to eat tomorrow.

“I originally planned to meet him in person to talk to him.”

“But thinking back, we should still let Uyen Ninh explore first.”

“My dad is too stubborn.”

“If you don't put some pressure, he won't advise you to cooperate.”

I stood under the streetlight. The shadow stretched across the ground.

“So I let To Uyen Ninh beat him.”

“Just to create pressure?”

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds. Then Co Canh Tham burst out laughing.

“That sounds so harsh.”

“It's just that while we were talking, there was a little conflict.”

“Nien Khanh, don't take the problem seriously.”

“You and Uyen Ninh are sincere to each other.”

“I already know how this marriage will turn out.”

“For a long time now, only the name remains.”

“Get a divorce once and for all.”

“It's what's best for everyone.”

I took the phone away from my ear. Quietly look at the call duration constantly increasing on the screen.

“Nem Khanh?”

“Do you hear me?”

“I heard.”

“So what's your attitude?”

I curled my lips slightly. His eyes were cold as ice.

“I will give you the answer tomorrow.”

I hung up the phone directly. I still stood in place. At that moment, a black sedan came quietly from the opposite alley. The car stopped about three meters away from me. The back door window slowly lowered. A middle-aged woman wearing a black suit stuck out half of her face.

“Miss, the boss asked me to come pick you up.”

I glanced at her.

“Go tell him not to come pick me up.”

“Tell him to rest early.”

The black car parked quietly in the darkness for a few seconds. Then the car window raised. Leave silently. No one around noticed the car's appearance. Nine o'clock the next morning. Co Canh Tham returned. But don't have to return alone. Walking behind him was his mother, Tien My Hoa. With the Co family's personal lawyer. Three people walked boldly into the house. Sit in a row on the living room sofa. It looks like he came to handle work. Tien My Hoa wore a dark red cheongsam shirt. The jade bracelet on her wrist accidentally hit the tea table, making a clear jingling sound. She took out a stack of documents from her bag. Throw it straight down on the table.

“Nien Khanh, sit down.”

I stood at the living room door. Don't move. Tien My Hoa was not angry. She opened the document herself. Point to an inside page.

“Divorce agreement.”

“Did Canh Tham tell you?”

“All conditions are clearly stated here.”

“The house belongs to Canh Tham.”

“The car belongs to Canh Tham.”

“Savings are divided in the ratio three to seven.”

“You get three parts.”

“It doesn't count as mistreating you.”

“Mom, let me talk.”

Co Canh Tham sat next to his mother. Adjusted the sleeve buttons and looked at me.

“Niem Khanh, you yourself also understand.”

“This marriage cannot continue anymore.”

“Everyone knows how my family is doing.”

"That year when I got married, it was because of the relationship between our families that I took care of you."

“Now I see what happened between you and Uyen Ninh.”

“No need to continue wasting time.”

“Take care of me?”

I slowly repeat those three words.

“Isn't that right?”

Tien My Hoa's voice immediately rose.

“When the Tham family went bankrupt, it was our Co family who helped.”

"Your father's debt is also handled by Canh Tham."

“For three years you have been staying at our house.”

“Spending our money.”

"Now the divorce also gives you three parts of your savings."

“If you change to someone else, you won't get a penny.”

The lawyer pushed up his glasses. Right time to speak up.

“Miss Tham, the terms of the agreement are very clear.”

“If you don't have any opinions, you can sign today.”

I looked at the agreement. Tien My Hoa lost patience.

“What are you looking at?”

“Are you not literate?”

“I have a question.”