The sound of New Year’s Eve fireworks had barely faded when, on the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lan’s in-laws’ house was bustling with visitors. Relatives crowded in to give their greetings, laughter echoing through the yard. On the ancestral altar, fruits and bánh chưng still gave off a faint trail of incense. Amidst this festive scene, Lan – a daughter-in-law of three years – curled up in her room, face pale from the fever that had gripped her since last night.

Lan had always been gentle and devoted to her husband’s family. Yet her mother-in-law, Mrs. Hồng, had never approved of her. She would often sneer:

“What kind of girl are you? Clumsy, slow, and useless in the kitchen. I don’t know how your parents raised you to become such a disappointment as a daughter-in-law!”

The most painful part was that Lan’s husband, Tuấn, had never once defended her. To him, his mother’s words were law.

That morning, Lan tried to gather her strength to prepare the family meal, but her fever left her too weak to lift her arms. Seeing this, Mrs. Hồng scowled in front of the relatives:

“Unbelievable! You can’t even prepare the very first meal of the year properly. A daughter-in-law like you only shames this family!”

Tuấn looked uneasy, but his mother’s next words cut like a knife:

“Tuấn, take her back to her parents! Let them discipline her properly before she dares step foot here again. This house doesn’t need a useless daughter-in-law!”

Tears filled Lan’s eyes as she looked at her husband, silently pleading. But Tuấn only grabbed her hand coldly and pulled her away under the gaze of their relatives.

“Go back to your parents. Let them teach you how to behave. I don’t want Mother upset on New Year’s Day.”

Lan’s heart broke in silence.

At her parents’ house, Tuấn arrogantly declared:

“Your daughter is useless. Sick or not, she couldn’t even prepare a New Year’s meal. Please teach her properly before sending her back!”

Lan’s father turned red with anger but, for the sake of the New Year, said nothing. Tuấn left, smug, while his mother gloated:

“Leave her there. In a few days, her parents will come begging us to take her back.”

🌸 A WEEK LATER…

But days passed — the 5th, the 6th, the 7th — and there was no word from Lan or her family. Mrs. Hồng grew uneasy:

“Tuấn, maybe you should go check. Why is it so quiet on their side?”

Obediently, Tuấn went. But when he asked about his wife, her parents calmly placed a document on the table.

“This is the divorce petition our daughter has already signed. She asked us to give it to you. Right now, she’s enjoying her days… in her own home.”

Tuấn froze.
“Her… her own home? What do you mean?”

Lan’s father sighed:

“Before marrying you, she already bought her own house and had savings. Out of kindness, she agreed to live with your mother because she thought you were her only child and didn’t want her to feel lonely. But sadly, you and your mother treated her cruelly.”

Shaken, Tuấn followed the address they gave him. He found himself before a spacious three-story house in the heart of the city. Nervously, he rang the bell. The door opened to reveal a very different Lan — healthy, radiant, her hair cascading down, wearing a soft nightdress. She sat calmly on the sofa, sipping coffee while watching TV.

When Tuấn entered, she barely looked up, her voice cold:

“So, you came? I was waiting to speed up the divorce process.”

Tuấn was rooted to the spot. He had never imagined his gentle, patient wife could now be so resolute. Stammering, he said:

“Lan… I—I’m sorry. I didn’t know you had your own home, your savings. I thought…”

Lan cut him off, her eyes unwavering:

“You thought what? That I had nowhere to go, so you could cast me out whenever you wanted? That I was poor and helpless, so I’d endure it forever? Sorry, Tuấn… you were wrong. I choose divorce. From now on, I live my own life.”

The door closed behind him, leaving Tuấn standing in silence, staring at the home that could have been theirs — but was now a shattered dream.

The story of the wife cast out on New Year’s Day, only to shock her husband a week later with the truth, is a powerful reminder: never underestimate a gentle woman. For when she finally decides to let go, she walks away with her head held high.