Chapter 2 — You use Filial piety to tie me down, I use divorce to end it

At night, Chu Minh Khai did not go into the extra room. I heard him pull out the sofa bed in the living room and spread the blanket over it. The sound of turning over. Sigh. Over and over again. Maybe he thought I was waiting for him to come in and apologize, or come down and make up. But I don't. I put on my headphones, transferred the training materials to the tablet, and started previewing the lesson. Until late at night, he finally couldn't help but pushed open the door and walked in. The door is not locked. He stood at the door, looking at me sitting in front of the desk, his eyes extremely complicated.

“Tinh Tinh, do you have to do that?”

His voice carried a tired look, deliberately lowering his posture. I took off one earphone and turned my head to look at him.

“How?”

“You know what I'm talking about.”

He walked in, conveniently closed the door, his voice was very low, as if afraid of being heard by a non-existent third person.

"Mom is coming tomorrow. Now that you're making a fuss with me like this, what will she think? What will outsiders looking in think?"

"Outsider?"

I laughed.

“Are there any outsiders in this house?”

“Hua Tinh!”

He suddenly raised his voice, then immediately pressed it down.

"Don't play catch-up games with me! I know you're not happy, I admit, I haven't discussed this carefully with you yet, so I'm wrong."

He started apologizing. So proficient that it looks like he has practiced countless times.

"But you also know my mother's condition. She is paralyzed and cannot be without someone to take care of her. I brought her here to show filial piety, of course."

“You are my wife, shouldn't you support me?”

It's this type of argument again. Use filial piety to force me. Using the name "your wife" to tie me down.

“I support your filial piety.”

I looked at him, saying every word clearly.

“But I have no obligation to sacrifice my own life for your filial piety.”

As if his tail had been stepped on, he immediately became angry.

“Is it considered a sacrifice to tell me to sleep in the living room for a few months?”

"During the day I go to work, but at night I have to take care of my mother, who is more tired than me! I haven't complained yet, you just changed the sleeping place and that's called a sacrifice?"

I looked at him coldly. He never saw my efforts. I can't see this house because I take care of it. Not seeing his clothes, eating, and activities worries me every bit. What he saw… There was only his own “filial piety”. And the “hard work” he claims to have put in.

“Chu Minh Khai, the bedroom is our room.”

“Every piece of furniture inside was chosen by us together when we got married.”

“Wedding photos hanging on the wall, did you see them when you were packing?”

He was silent. That giant wedding photo still hangs above the bed. In the photo, we laugh extremely happily. And now... Right below that photo, is the sleeping area of his mother and the caregiver. How ridiculous.

"I'll move every single thing of yours out. The dressing table, the wardrobe, even the book you keep in the nightstand."

“When you did those things, did you ever think that place was also my home?”

“Or in my eyes, this is just my home.”

"And you... are just a person staying in my house, you have to obey me unconditionally?"

My voice is not loud. But each word is like a nail, firmly pinned to the class his mask of hypocrisy. His face was pale. Lips moved slightly, but not a word could be said. Because what I said... It's all true. In his heart, this house is his. His mother's position is forever above mine.

“I'm tired.”

I turned around and put my headphones back on.

“Go out, I still have to study.”

He stood behind me for a long time. Maybe he didn't expect that someone who is always gentle like me could be so tough. Finally, he turned around, forcefully pulled the door open and walked away. Outside the living room came the sound of tossing and turning filled with suppressed frustration. I looked at the computer screen full of text, but I couldn't read a single word. It was as if a large rock weighed down on my chest, choking me to the point of having difficulty breathing. From the moment I decided to protest, we couldn't go back to the way we were before. The next morning, I woke up very early. Chu Minh Khai was still sleeping on the sofa bed, his eyebrows furrowed. I didn't wake him up. Make yourself a simple breakfast, finish eating and get ready to go out. As he dragged his suitcase to the door, he woke up.

“Where are you going?”

He jumped up, his hair disheveled, his eyes filled with blood.

“Go to the company for a meeting, then go straight to the airport.”

I calmly answered.

“Don't go!”

He rushed to block the front door.

“Hua Tinh, I tell you, if you dare to step out of this door today, we're really done!”

That was his last threat. Using our marriage to force me to bow my head. I looked at him and suddenly felt a little sad.

“Chu Minh Khai.”

I called him by both his first and last name.

“We… already ended.”

From the moment he decided to clean our bedroom, everything was over. From the moment he took it for granted that I would sleep in the living room, everything was over. From the moment he used filial piety as a weapon, stabbing me again and again... Everything was over. His body stiffened. His eyes gradually turned from anger to surprise, and finally disbelief. I didn't give him a chance to continue. I opened the door, picked up my suitcase and walked out without looking back. Behind him came his almost uncontrollable screams. But I didn't stop walking. Step into the elevator and watch the familiar door of that house slowly close before your eyes. I personally closed my past. And also officially opens a new life.