The afternoon sun filtered through the thin voile curtains, casting a faint golden shadow on the pure white cloth covering the wooden table. The strong aroma of Guatemalan coffee mingled with the scent of vanilla from the steaming fresh milk cake. Ngọc Lam clenched her hand under the table as Hạnh – the woman in the smoky silk dress, wearing a princess-cut diamond ring – slowly swirled the delicate porcelain teacup.

"My husband likes chamomile tea infused with licorice." Hạnh's voice flowed like honey through fingers, "You know? He says this is the tea that helps... detoxify." Her phoenix eyes narrowed as she looked directly at the puffy edge of Ngọc Lam's blouse, "But there are things that are rotten from the marrow, no tea can detoxify."

The third parties are the filth that tarnishes their marriage.

Ngọc Lam tightened the tablecloth beneath her, her voice grinding like a wicked woman:

"You should ask him if there's any tea that can cure infertility?"

Hạnh smiled: "We've been married for 10 years, and still no children. He says he needs time... but I know that's impossible."

Ngọc Lam choked back bitterness, her nails digging into her palm. She was merely "time" in Thành's eyes.

She pretended to reach for a glass of water, letting a hot drop of tea fall onto her dress. "You served tea without asking if I can drink licorice if I'm pregnant?"

Hạnh calmly took a sip of tea:

"That fetus was confirmed to be a boy, right?"

Ngọc Lam proudly rubbed her belly, as if regaining her confidence, and looked at Hạnh defiantly:

"What you cannot give him, I can. You should quickly divorce him so he can have a complete family."

The room suddenly darkened as Hạnh slammed the teapot onto the silver tray, still maintaining her calm demeanor to softly say: "That fetus will never call you 'mother.'"

Ngọc Lam felt as if someone had stabbed her in the heart, shouting at the maid:

"Are you so jealous that you've gone mad? Sister Trân, see the guests off."

...

When Ngọc Lam went into labor, she was taken to a high-end private hospital.

The smell of antiseptic alcohol hit her nose as Ngọc Lam writhed on the delivery table. Her left hand gripped the blood-stained bed strap, her right reaching for the phone that vibrated incessantly: "20 missed calls to Thành."

"It's coming...!" The nurse's voice rang out amidst the cries of the newborn. Ngọc Lam stretched her trembling hand towards the figure in a white coat holding the baby, but before she could touch the rosy skin, the door slammed open.

"Sorry, Ms. Ngọc." The familiar cold voice of Thành's assistant echoed, "According to clause 12 in the contract dated March 15, party B voluntarily waives postpartum custody."

"Don't give my child back!!!"

The cries of pain rang out but were separated from the outside.

Ngọc Lam fainted from the agony and panic.

The next morning when Ngọc Lam woke up, the stark white room struck her eyes, cold and sterile; she could not see her child. When she frantically pressed the call button for the nurse, the sound of the door opening echoed.

Ngọc Lam felt her head spinning as she listened to the accusations from the police.

The computer screen cast a sickly green light over the thick file of documents. The officer tapped his finger on the line "Transfer 50 billion to the offshore account." Her signature was here, her company seal was here.

Ngọc Lam pressed her hands on the table, sweat soaking her hospital gown: "I never touched the accounting system! These signatures are..." – She suddenly choked up when she recognized her handwriting among the villa transfer documents.

Ngọc Lam felt her head spin; she felt like she was falling into a nightmare with no escape. Everything happened too fast, too suddenly, leaving her no time to process. She stared at the black and white papers in front of her, the forged signatures, the enormous numbers, and a wave of helplessness surged within her. She knew she had been set up in a sophisticated trap, but how could she prove her innocence?

"I didn't do this!" Ngọc Lam yelled, her voice shattered and full of despair. "I was framed! It must be that woman. It's Hạnh... she did everything! She was jealous when she saw me giving birth to Thành's child. She stole my baby, and now she wants me to die in prison!"The police officer looked at her with a cold gaze, showing no sympathy. "Ms. Ngoc, we are just following the procedure. If you want to prove your innocence, find a lawyer. But with what we have here, you'll be facing a long prison sentence."

Ngoc Lam fell back in the chair, her hands clutching her head. She remembered the peaceful days with Thanh, the sweet promises, and the puzzling smile of Hanh during their last meeting before she gave birth. She knew she had been too naive, too trusting of a man who only saw her as a game. But now, she had not only lost everything but also had to face a dark future.

(Read and discuss to motivate me to post okay)