Chapter 2 — When I Don't Need Them Anymore

Because he wanted To Uyen Ninh to stay at the Co family's house, to stay in a place within his reach. I refuse. Determined to come, leaving no way out. I cannot accept the person who has taken over twenty years of my life, continues to take over my parents, and even takes over my fiance. In the end, To Uyen Ninh was still taken away. I thought Luc Canh Tham would take that opportunity to cancel the marriage. But he didn't. Not because he doesn't want to. But because the old man of the Luc family banged the table in anger.

"Once the real Thien Kim returns, the marriage contract must also return. If he dares to cancel the marriage, then every business deal between the Luc family and the Co family will be recalculated."

So he stayed. The engagement is still there. People are still there. Only the heart is no more. Marriage continued from the age of twenty to twenty-five. I held on to such an empty shell for five years. Until three months ago, we met To Uyen Ninh again at the hospital. She worked as a warehouse manager for a fashion company. While delivering goods, she fainted and was taken to the emergency room by her colleagues. Mother Co hugged To Uyen Ninh who was lying on the hospital bed with a pale face, crying and trembling.

“Nien An, let Uyen Ninh go back, see how she is living.”

Ba Co also stood beside him and advised:

“It won't affect your position, I guarantee it.”

I don't look at them. I looked at Luc Canh Tham. He stood next to the hospital bed, looking at To Uyen Ninh without blinking once. I recognized something in those eyes. It's heartbreaking. It's repressed love. It's a feeling he suppressed for five years and didn't dare express it. Even though I spent all five years of my youth, I still could not change even one ten-thousandth part. The night I returned from the hospital, I did two things. First, contact a lawyer to prepare a "Declaration of severance of parent-child relationship" and "Agreement to annul marriage". The second thing is to call the immigration broker company and request urgent processing of permanent residence procedures. As long as the procedure is completed at the end of the month, I will completely leave this place. This baby... Consider it the last unexpected incident before leaving. Solve it all at once. Before the anesthetic completely took effect, the last thought quietly fell. Luc Canh Tham. From now on... Everyone goes their own way. Don't know how long it's been. A sharp pain pulled me back to consciousness. I opened my eyes. Not disease prevention. I was locked in a storage room. The curtains were tightly closed, only a thin ray of light crept in from the crack in the door. The lower abdomen aches intermittently, warm liquid constantly flows down the legs. The pants were almost completely soaked. I banged on the door.

“Is there anyone?”

The throat is hoarse, almost unable to make a sound. There were footsteps outside. Then came Co's mother's voice.

“Nien An, stop calling.”

Immediately after that came Co's father's voice:

“This is the consequence of my own doing.”

"He agreed to have an abortion with his mouth, but when he turned around, he had someone lock Uyen Ninh in the garage for two hours. There was no heater in the garage, and it was minus 3 degrees outside. When she came out, her lips were already blue."

"We just locked you here for one day to reflect on yourself. It's already out of respect for you as our own son."

It felt like I was being poured a basin of cold water from head to toe. Lock To Uyen Ninh in the garage? After leaving the operating room, I was taken straight to this room, where did I have the time to lock her up? me?

“I didn't do that!”

I shouted with all my might.

“Tell To Uyen Ninh to come confront me!”

To Uyen Ninh's soft voice rang out from outside the door, carrying weak sobs.

“I'm okay… really… just a little cold, a little scared…”

"Parents, don't lock me up anymore, I don't blame you..."

"Look! This is Uyen Ninh's temperament!"

Co's mother's voice became even more angry.

"Look at your child, he has such a cruel mind. We only locked him up for one day without food or water, which was already too light."

"One day? Don't let me eat or drink?"

My voice trembled.

"I just had an abortion and I'm still bleeding down there. I need to go to the hospital."

“Still pretending!”

Ba Co interrupted impatiently.

"You just want to trick us into opening the door. Don't dream! Be obedient in there!"

I gritted my teeth and said every word:

“I have fear of enclosed spaces.”

“Fake it again!”

Then, the sound of footsteps gradually faded away. I turned the other way. Luc Canh Tham is definitely out there too.

“Luc Canh Tham…”

My voice was now very light.

"Trust me this once. Just this once."

"If you really want to harm To Uyen Ninh, then why did you agree to let her return? Why did you still agree to abort the baby?"

It was quiet outside for a few seconds. Then his voice came. Calm, cold, without any temperature.

"Nien An, if you do something wrong, you have to suffer the consequences. It's only for one day, just bear with it."

That string... is broken. I don't know when it started to crack. Since maybe five years ago, it has been worn down little by little. But at this moment, it completely broke off. The dark room became more and more stuffy, as if the air had been drained from it. The pain in the lower abdomen became more and more intense, and the blood flowed more and more from the lower body. I crouched on the ground, banging on the door, calling for someone. No one responded anymore. I don't know how long it took, I completely lost consciousness. When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital. The nurse next to me was adjusting the infusion line. When she saw me regain consciousness, she calmly said:

"After surgery, there are signs of infection and require hospitalization for a few days. Tell your family to come."

"I don't have any family members. Could you help me hire a nurse?"

Before I finished speaking, the hospital room door was pushed open. Luc Canh Tham walked in. He was holding a thermos in his hand, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbow, looking like he had just run over in a hurry.

“What do you mean by not having family?”

He frowned.

“You're still here.”

He placed the thermos on the bedside table.

"Nien An, what happened that time was because we overreacted. But what you did to Uyen Ninh was really wrong. Now we have been punished, we won't do it again."

He pulled up a chair and sat next to the bed.

"I've already taken care of everything from the company. I'll be here in the next few days to take care of you. After the abortion, you have to take good care of your body, otherwise it will cause illness in the future."

I looked at him. Look at that deliberately gentle face. I couldn't believe even the words he said himself. I don't feel anything anymore. Just as I was about to say "no need", the phone next to the bed rang. It was a video call from Co's mother. I picked up the phone. On the screen, bright yellow sunlight. Behind is the blue sea and long white sand beach. Co's mother, Co's father and To Uyen Ninh are standing in the center of the frame.

“Nien An, it's good that you're awake.”

Co's mother's voice carried a bit of guilt I'm sorry.

"This time Uyen Ninh was scared a little, so my parents took her to Tam A to rest and relax. The hospital probably won't be able to take care of you, so please take care of yourself."

She paused for a moment then continued:

"You know, what happened last time, you were wrong. Think of it as making up for Uyen Ninh this time, don't think too much."

On the screen, To Uyen Ninh leaned close to Co's mother, smiling with satisfaction. Just one word. Co's mother clearly didn't expect me to be so calm and was stunned.

"Ah... Canh Tham is next to you, right? Give him the phone."

I handed over the phone. Luc Canh Tham took it and went to the window. He spoke in a low voice, I couldn't hear everything clearly. But a few key words still caught my ear.

“Uyen Ninh wants me to come too…”

“Her emotions are still not quite right…”

“She said she wanted to meet you…”

I saw hesitation on his profile. And no matter how much concern is hidden, it cannot be hidden under that layer of hesitation. He hung up and came back. There were hundreds of things on his face that he wanted to say again.