Chapter 14 — Two Million Yuan Ends Eight Years of Marriage

I brought a little bit of drunkenness and joy back home. Chu Niem was asleep. I covered my child with a blanket and stood there looking at him for a long time. Perhaps, Ly Triet is right. It's time for me to move on. For myself, and also to give my children a more complete home. Life always knows how to bring surprises. Just when I thought things were about to turn a new leaf. An unexpected person... appeared again. On the weekend afternoon, I took Chu Niem to the park. Ly Triet also came and brought her child a toy. Three people played flying discs on the grass, laughter echoed far away. Beautiful sunshine, light wind. Everything is perfect like a picture. Until I got up to buy water. A figure so familiar it made me nauseous. Chu Van Bac. He was wearing an old faded shirt... He was wearing an old faded T-shirt, his jeans were full of stains. Long, messy hair, unshaven beard, body as thin as a stick, dull eyes filled with fatigue and emotionlessness. He looked like a street wanderer. If that face wasn't familiar, I probably wouldn't have recognized it. I almost couldn't believe it, this was the man who used to be so enthusiastic, who once stood above my head and gave orders. He also saw me. His eyes glanced over me, then stopped at Ly Triet, who was playing happily with Chu Niem in the distance. In that moment, those lifeless eyes suddenly burst with all kinds of emotions. Surprise, jealousy, indignation. But the most... is regret and despair. He saw my new life. See my happiness. Seeing a man a hundred times better than him, standing in the position he once occupied. Seeing my son smiling brightly with another person. I saw his lips tremble slightly. He took a step towards me, as if he wanted to say something. I didn't give him a chance. I withdrew my gaze, turned around, and walked straight towards the water counter. I don't want to give him even an extra glance. He stood there, stiff. Like a statue abandoned by the world. After buying water, I returned to the lawn. Ly Triet immediately realized something.

"What's up?"

He asked, his voice filled with concern. I shook my head, smiling.

"Nothing."

“It's just… seeing a stray dog that shouldn't be here.”

When I turned around again, the figure had disappeared. Like it never existed. Chu Van Bac's appearance was like a stone falling into a calm lake. A wave rippled, then quickly quieted down. After the initial moment of surprise, my heart returned to calm. Only the instinctive feeling of disgust at the sight of long-forgotten trash remains. I returned to the lawn, Ly Triet immediately noticed the change on my face.

“What's wrong with you?”

He stopped and looked at me more closely.

“Your face doesn't look very good.”

I shook my head and gave them water.

"No problem."

“Probably just a little low blood sugar.”

I don't want to ruin the present moment because of that person. He doesn't deserve it. Ly Triet did not ask further. But his eyes flashed with understanding. Maybe he saw it too. It's just that he chose to stay silent. He opened the water bottle cap and gave it to Chu Niem. Then he naturally stood next to me, slightly shifting his body, blocking the gaze from behind. A very small movement. But it warms my heart. That is the difference between the two men. A person who always pushes you forward, letting you bear the consequences of his selfishness. And people There, instinctively shields you, blocking all damage. I looked at Ly Triet's steady back and Chu Niem's clear smile. The ripples in my heart completely disappeared. Chu Van Bac's appearance only made me more certain. How right was the decision to leave that year? Leaving that mud puddle was the greatest luck of my life. That night, when Chu Niem was sleeping. I received a call from Ly Triet. He didn't ask about the afternoon. Just gently ask.

“Are you feeling better?”

Just six words. But warm enough like an ocean.

“Um, it's better.”

“Thank you, Ly Triet.”

“For me, there's no need to say thank you.”

There was light laughter on the other end of the line.

“I'm just… a little worried about you.”

“I'm also afraid he will come back to bother you and Niem Niem.”

My heart trembled slightly.

“He doesn't dare.”

My voice was calm and sure.

“Now… he's just a dog who lost his home.”

“He only dared to hide in the dark and peek, but other than that he couldn't do anything.”

“But cornered dogs… will also bite people.”

Ly Triet's voice became serious.