I believe that when you’re in love, all you need is mutual respect and understanding for a relationship to thrive. However, my marriage taught me a valuable lesson that love alone is not enough.
My mother-in-law was a difficult and domineering woman. In her eyes, I could do no right. She looked down on my family for being less well-off, and from the very beginning of my marriage, I felt like an outsider.
I tried my best to be a good daughter-in-law. I woke up early every day to clean the house before work and rushed home in the evenings to cook and do the laundry. Even when I was pregnant, I didn’t dare rest, juggling both work and household chores. Yet, all my efforts went unappreciated by my mother-in-law.
My husband, who initially offered comfort, eventually became indifferent. When I gave birth to our daughter, my mother-in-law didn’t show any concern. I had hoped my husband would be supportive, but during my confinement, the time when I needed him the most, he would come home at 1-2 am without any explanation.
That’s when I realized my love for him had faded. As soon as my confinement period was over, I initiated a divorce and fought for custody of my child.
I divorced my husband and gained custody of my child. (Illustration)
To support myself and my daughter, I had to send her to my mother’s care and throw myself into my work. I was always the first to arrive and the last to leave the office. My dedication paid off, and a few years later, I was promoted to a management position.
With my career stable, I met Hung, a long-time client. He was also divorced and childless, and he loved my daughter as his own. He didn’t make grand promises, but he consistently showed his care and support in the little things.
We eventually married without any grand celebrations, opting for a simple, intimate ceremony with our families. But it was this simplicity that brought me a sense of peace and fulfillment I had never known before.
Married life with Hung was happy and content. My daughter smiled more, and I felt myself becoming gentler and more relaxed than ever before.
One day, I heard that my ex-husband had remarried. Out of curiosity or a need to validate my choices, I drove to his wedding.
The ceremony was held in a simple tent in a residential area. My ex-husband was stunned to see me and stammered:
– What are you doing here? You look even younger than before.
I smiled gently and replied:
– Having a good husband and a happy marriage can do wonders. You, on the other hand, look older and more haggard than ever. Why is that?
He could only manage a forced smile, and I turned my attention to his new bride, a woman with a sharp and harsh appearance.
I attended my ex-husband’s wedding. (Illustration)
During the reception, an old neighbor filled me in on my ex-husband’s life. Apparently, after our divorce, he had dated several women, but none of the relationships worked out. Finally, a relative introduced him to his current wife.
They had been married for a year, and now that she was pregnant, they were having this wedding. Her three brothers were known to be aggressive. Whenever she was unhappy about something, they would come to the house and cause a scene, leaving my ex-mother-in-law too scared to speak up.
As for my ex-husband, he couldn’t save a dime of his 15 million VND monthly salary because his wife spent it all on gambling. On top of that, they were currently in debt, forcing him to take on extra work.
Hearing about my ex-husband’s situation, I couldn’t help but smile, not out of schadenfreude, but because I felt relieved. We all make our own choices in life, and after all the pain I had endured, I had finally found the happiness I deserved.
A few days later, my ex-husband messaged me:
– Can you lend me some money?
Reading his message, I felt neither anger nor resentment. We had once been an important part of each other’s lives, but now we were on separate paths.
I declined his request, not out of spite or grudge, but because I believed that sometimes, not helping is a form of helping. He needed to learn to stand on his own two feet and take responsibility for his actions.
Closing the message, I turned my attention back to the present. In the garden, my daughter was playing happily with my husband. The gentle sunlight and their laughter filled me with warmth. I knew I had truly moved on to a new chapter in my life, one filled with love, respect, and peace.
True happiness, I realized, isn’t about having it all but about letting go of what no longer serves us. And I had finally let go.
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