My ex-wife and I broke up 2 years ago, not because we stopped loving each other, but because of  the pressure from my mother who was too strict, always finding fault with the fact that she “couldn’t have children” .
She left in silence. I didn’t try to hold on because… at that time I thought: “Maybe our fate is over.”

Unexpectedly one day, an old classmate texted me:

– “It seems like your ex-wife is in the maternity hospital, alone.”

I was stunned.
“Saint?” – Meaning give birth?

I dropped everything and ran to the hospital.

When I got there, I stood outside the hospital room door, my heart pounding.
She lay there, emaciated, her eyes closed.
There was no one beside her except a piece of paper taped to the head of the bed.

Before I could read it carefully,  my new wife — somehow — rushed in.
Her face was red, her voice shrill:

– “You’re good! Pretending to be on a business trip, but it turns out you’re visiting your ex? Are you planning to come back?”

The nurse quickly intervened, and the patient next to her also looked over.

I was embarrassed, stepped back, and was about to pull her out when my eyes  accidentally caught the words on the paper pasted on the headboard :

“Name of hospital guarantor: Nguyen Thi L — Husband and wife: Tran Minh T. Deposit amount: 80 million. Note: twins — cesarean section.”

I was stunned.
My name was there clearly — but what did I know?

I turned to look at my ex-wife, who had opened her eyes now, her gaze calm.

– “I was planning to never say it. But now… yes, the two children are yours.”

“You thought I couldn’t have children, right?”
“It’s not that I can’t — it’s that I don’t want to give birth to a child for a family that doesn’t respect me.”

At this time, my new wife stammered:

– “How long have you been hiding this from me?”

Before I could react, my ex-wife said softly:

– “Don’t worry. I don’t need you to accept the child. I just want you to know that once you lose something, don’t expect to get it back. Especially… trust.”

I turned away,  my mind spinning.
It turned out that  I had lost all three: my ex-wife, my two children… and my dignity as a decent man.