Chapter 2: The Weak-Willed Husband
Chapter 2: The Weak-Willed Husband
By the end of her first week in the Huỳnh household, Nhã Phương had learned something more important than where the silverware was kept.
She had learned that Minh Huỳnh loved peace more than he loved confrontation.
And in his family, that meant one thing.
Whenever his mother was wrong, Nhã Phương would be asked to understand.
Whenever his mother was cruel, Nhã Phương would be asked to be patient.
Whenever his mother crossed a line, Minh would quietly ask her not to make things worse.
He never told her to suffer.
He simply made suffering sound like the price of being a Huỳnh.
It began with something small.
A breakfast invitation.
Madam Huỳnh had invited several important relatives to the house that Sunday morning.
Nhã Phương had spent two hours helping the kitchen staff prepare everything.
She checked the menu.
Adjusted the seating arrangement.
Made sure the flowers were changed.
Even reviewed the guest list after discovering that one of the family members had a severe seafood allergy.
She handled everything without complaint.
When Minh came downstairs, he found her standing beside the dining table.
“You've been awake since five?”
“Yes.”
“You didn't need to do this.”
“I wanted to help.”
He smiled.
“You're trying too hard.”
She looked at him.
“What do you mean?”
“You don't have to prove yourself to anyone.”
Nhã Phương smiled.
“I know.”
Before he could say anything else, Madam Huỳnh entered.
She looked around the dining room.
Her gaze stopped on the flowers.
“These aren't right.”
Nhã Phương turned.
“I thought the white orchids would match the table.”
“My sister hates orchids.”
“I didn't know.”
“You should have asked.”
Nhã Phương immediately nodded.
“I'll change them.”
Madam Huỳnh walked toward the table.
“And the seating arrangement?”
“I arranged it according to age and position.”
“You put Uncle Long beside Minh.”
“Yes.”
“He should sit beside me.”
“I'll change it.”
Madam Huỳnh picked up a napkin.
“This isn't the fabric I requested.”
“I apologize.”
“You keep apologizing.”
Nhã Phương lowered her head.
“I'll fix it.”
Madam Huỳnh turned toward Minh.
“You chose a capable wife.”
The words sounded like praise.
But the expression on her face wasn't.
Minh smiled.
“Phương is very considerate.”
Madam Huỳnh nodded.
“She'll learn.”
Then she walked away.
Nhã Phương exhaled quietly.
Minh touched her shoulder.
“Don't take it personally.”
She looked at him.
“I don't.”
“You know how Mother is.”
“Yes.”
“She means well.”
Nhã Phương stared at him.
For a second, she thought she had misheard.
“Means well?”
Minh sighed.
“She wants everything perfect.”
“So do I.”
“I know.”
“Then why am I the only one expected to change?”
He didn't answer.
Instead, he smiled awkwardly.
“Let's not argue before breakfast.”
And there it was.
The first crack.
Not in the marriage.
In her understanding of him.
The guests arrived at nine.
By ten, the dining room was full.
Nhã Phương moved quietly between the tables.
She poured tea.
Checked dishes.
Welcomed relatives.
Remembered names.
She was good at this.
Very good.
Years of corporate work had taught her how to read people.
She knew who wanted attention.
Who wanted information.
Who wanted praise.
And who wanted someone beneath them.
Madam Huỳnh's older sister belonged to the last category.
She looked Nhã Phương over.
“So you're the new wife.”
“Yes, Aunt.”
“What does your father do?”
“My father is retired.”
“And your mother?”
“She runs a small tailoring business.”
The woman smiled.
“Small?”
“Yes.”
“How small?”
Nhã Phương remained calm.
“It's a family shop.”
“So nothing significant.”
The table became quiet.
Nhã Phương smiled politely.
“My mother is proud of it.”
The woman laughed.
“I didn't mean to insult her.”
“I know.”
Across the table, Minh heard everything.
He said nothing.
Nhã Phương continued serving tea.
Later, when the guests had left, she found him in his study.
“You heard what Aunt said.”
He looked up from his phone.
“Yes.”
“You didn't have to defend me.”
“I know.”
“Then why didn't you?”
Minh put the phone down.
“Because if I had, Mother would have gotten involved.”
“She already was.”
“She would have made it worse.”
Nhã Phương stared at him.
“So I was supposed to sit there and let her insult my mother?”
“I didn't say that.”
“You didn't have to.”
He stood.
“Phương, please.”
She looked away.
“I don't want a fight.”
“Neither do I.”
“Then what do you want?”
“Peace.”
She laughed softly.
“Peace for whom?”
He frowned.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you keep asking me to stay quiet because you don't want conflict.”
“That isn't fair.”
“Isn't it?”
He didn't answer.
She walked toward the door.
Behind her, Minh said:
“You're making this bigger than it needs to be.”
Nhã Phương stopped.
She turned around.
“That sentence is going to become a problem for you.”
“What?”
“Because one day, something will happen that is too big to ignore.”
She walked away.
Minh remained standing.
He didn't understand her warning.
Not yet.
The second incident happened three days later.
Nhã Phương had been invited to a charity luncheon with Madam Huỳnh.
She had spent the morning preparing.
When she entered the dressing room, she found a gown laid across the bed.
It was beautiful.
But it wasn't her size.
She called the housekeeper.
“Was this prepared for me?”
“Yes, Madam.”
Nhã Phương looked at the label.
Two sizes smaller.
“I can't wear this.”
The housekeeper looked frightened.
“Madam Huỳnh selected it.”
Nhã Phương sighed.
“It's okay.”
She changed into another dress.
When she arrived downstairs, Madam Huỳnh looked at her.
“Why aren't you wearing the dress?”
“It doesn't fit.”
“It fit when I ordered it.”
Nhã Phương smiled.
“Perhaps the sizing was wrong.”
Madam Huỳnh's expression hardened.
“Are you saying my staff made a mistake?”
“No.”
“Then?”
“I simply couldn't wear it.”
Madam Huỳnh looked at her for several seconds.
Then she said:
“Perhaps you should watch what you eat.”
The room went silent.
Nhã Phương's face remained calm.
“Yes, Mother.”
Minh was standing nearby.
He heard everything.
He walked over.
“Mother.”
“What?”
“That's unnecessary.”
Madam Huỳnh looked at him.
“I was joking.”
Minh hesitated.
Then he smiled.
“Of course.”
Nhã Phương looked at her husband.
There it was again.
He knew.
He knew exactly what his mother had done.
And instead of standing beside his wife, he had chosen the easier explanation.
A joke.
The car ride to the luncheon was silent.
Finally, Minh spoke.
“Are you angry?”
“No.”
“You're quiet.”
“I'm thinking.”
“About Mother?”
“Yes.”
He sighed.
“She didn't mean it.”
Nhã Phương turned toward him.
“You always say that.”
“Because it's true.”
“How do you know?”
“She's my mother.”
“That doesn't make you a mind reader.”
He looked frustrated.
“Why can't you just let things go?”
She looked at him for a long moment.
“Because you keep asking me to let go of things you would never tolerate if someone said them to you.”
He didn't respond.
She looked out the window.
“I'm not asking you to fight your mother.”
“Then what do you want?”
“I want you to acknowledge when she's wrong.”
He was silent.
“I can live with your mother's disapproval,” Nhã Phương continued. “I cannot live with my husband pretending it isn't happening.”
Minh looked down.
“I'll try.”
She nodded.
“That's all I've asked.”
That evening, however, things became worse.
A family meeting was called.
Nhã Phương entered the living room and immediately knew something was wrong.
Madam Huỳnh sat in the center.
Several relatives were present.
Minh stood beside the window.
A document lay on the table.
Madam Huỳnh pointed toward a chair.
“Sit.”
Nhã Phương sat.
“I've been told you've been interfering with household staff.”
Nhã Phương blinked.
“I haven't.”
“You changed the menu without my permission.”
“The chef told me several guests had dietary restrictions.”
“You rearranged the flower arrangements.”
“They were wilted.”
“You questioned the driver about the schedule.”
“Because he was late picking up one of the children.”
Madam Huỳnh's voice hardened.
“This is not your company.”
“I know.”
“You don't make decisions here.”
“I understand.”
“Then why do you keep behaving as if you do?”
Nhã Phương looked at Minh.
He remained silent.
That hurt more than Madam Huỳnh's accusation.
She turned back.
“I was trying to help.”
“Then stop.”
Nhã Phương nodded.
“Understood.”
Madam Huỳnh looked at Minh.
“Tell your wife.”
He finally spoke.
“Phương, just apologize.”
She stared at him.
“For what?”
“Just apologize.”
“For helping?”
“For making Mother uncomfortable.”
Nhã Phương felt something inside her go very still.
She looked around the room.
Nobody moved.
Nobody spoke.
Then she stood.
“I apologize.”
Madam Huỳnh nodded.
“Good.”
Nhã Phương bowed slightly.
“I apologize for believing I was allowed to contribute to this family.”
Then she walked out.
Minh followed.
“Phương.”
She didn't stop.
“Phương, wait.”
She turned at the staircase.
“What?”
“You didn't have to say that.”
She stared at him.
“You asked me to apologize.”
“I meant to Mother.”
“I did.”
“You know what I meant.”
“No.”
Her voice was calm.
“That is the problem.”
That night, Minh came into their room.
Nhã Phương was sitting at the desk.
She was removing her earrings.
“You're angry.”
“Yes.”
He closed the door.
“I'm sorry.”
She continued removing her jewelry.
“Why?”
“Because today was unfair.”
She looked at him.
“Thank you.”
He sat beside her.
“I'll talk to Mother.”
“When?”
“Tomorrow.”
Nhã Phương smiled sadly.
“You won't.”
He frowned.
“Why?”
“Because tomorrow you'll tell yourself that today wasn't important anymore.”
“That's not true.”
“You'll tell yourself that Mother was stressed.”
“Maybe she was.”
“And you'll tell yourself that if you confront her, she'll become upset.”
He looked away.
“And then you'll decide family harmony is more important.”
He didn't answer.
Nhã Phương stood.
“You're not cruel, Minh.”
He looked at her.
“That almost makes it worse.”
“Why?”
“Because I could forgive a cruel husband.”
Her voice trembled slightly.
“But I don't know how to live with a weak one.”
Minh's face changed.
She had never spoken to him like that.
“I love you,” he said.
“I know.”
“Then why are you doing this?”
“Because I love you.”
She looked directly at him.
“And because I don't want to wake up one day and realize I married a man who will always choose his mother's approval over his wife's dignity.”
He swallowed.
“I can change.”
Nhã Phương nodded.
“I hope you do.”
For several days, Minh tried.
He spoke more firmly.
He questioned decisions.
He told his mother that Nhã Phương deserved respect.
Madam Huỳnh responded by becoming colder.
Then came the night that changed everything.
A family dinner was being held for an important business partner.
Nhã Phương was instructed to wear a particular dress.
She did.
She prepared the guest list.
She greeted everyone.
She did everything perfectly.
Halfway through dinner, one of the investors praised her.
“Your wife is impressive, Minh.”
Madam Huỳnh's expression changed.
“She has had good instruction.”
Nhã Phương smiled.
“Mother has taught me a lot.”
The investor laughed.
“She must be proud.”
Madam Huỳnh looked at Nhã Phương.
“Proud?”
A pause.
“I'll decide that later.”
Several guests shifted uncomfortably.
Minh's jaw tightened.
“Mother.”
Madam Huỳnh ignored him.
Then she looked at Nhã Phương.
“Tomorrow morning, you will return to your parents' house.”
Nhã Phương froze.
“What?”
“You've misunderstood your position here.”
Minh stood.
“Mother, that's enough.”
She turned toward him.
“You wanted family harmony.”
He went silent.
Madam Huỳnh looked at him.
“Now choose.”
The room fell silent.
Nhã Phương stared at her husband.
This was the moment.
Not another insult.
Not another criticism.
Not another request to apologize.
A choice.
Minh looked at his mother.
Then at his wife.
May you like
His lips parted.
And for the first time since their marriage, Nhã Phương wasn't sure which woman he would choose.
