In the evening, when her daughter had fallen asleep, in a small apartment in Bac Ninh province, Ms. Ngo Thi Mai (character name has been changed) dared to open her phone.
Not to chat, but to check if there are any more disturbing calls or messages. That habit lasted for many months, since the peaceful life of the two mothers and daughters began to be disrupted.
Ms. Mai, 36 years old, is a single mother of a 5-year-old girl. The first marriage ended after many years of conflict, leaving her with the responsibility of raising her child in silence.
Three years after the divorce, she never thought about starting a new relationship, until early 2025.
During a business trip to a northern border province, she met Mr. Hung - a partner in the joint project.
She shared: "Initially, the relationship only stopped at work. But the stressful working days, moving a lot, and the pressure of progress made them gradually share more. He knew she had just broken up with her husband and was raising a young child alone. She knew he had been divorced for more than 10 years and lived alone for a long time.
He was by her side slowly, listening, supporting work, and caring for very real things. Feelings arose naturally, as a compensation for old hurts. She thought, maybe I deserve another chance to be happy.
But when the relationship entered a serious phase, I discovered that Mr. Hung had a complex relationship in the recent past.
After the divorce, he was once attached to a woman 4 years older than him. They did not register their marriage but have a son together who is nearly 6 years old. He affirmed that the relationship has ended, no longer binding," she continued.
She tried to believe. But immediately after that, troubles began to appear. The woman continuously called, texted, and even went to Ms. Mai's residence, claiming that she was a "husband thief", "destroying the family".
She explained that she came later, that the relationship had ended, but all words were useless.
I am not afraid of being slandered. I am most afraid that my daughter will be dragged into these things," Ms. Mai shared.
There are evenings when the phone vibrates continuously, she has to turn off the phone so that her child can sleep peacefully. The life of the two mothers and children is gradually covered with feelings of insecurity.
What makes me upset is that at present, Mr. Hung really treats her and her children very well. Both families know and support the relationship.
He loved my daughter, took her to school, taught her to read, and cared for her like his own child. At times, I saw the image of a complete family, something she once thought would never happen again," Ms. Mai said, casting a distant gaze.
However, the shock of being concealed from the truth made her unable to completely open her heart. She was not ready to accept his stepchild, not because the child was at fault, but because of the obsession from the child's mother.
She is afraid that if she takes another step, those conflicts will drag on, affecting the peace of her daughter.
Mr. Hung repeatedly mentioned marriage. But Ms. Mai still hesitated. Not because she didn't love him, but because the second marriage with her was no longer a story of emotions, but a problem of responsibility.
According to psychologist Mai Viet Duc - Nhan Hoa Viet Psychological Counseling and Therapy Center, women after breakups often make love with vigilance.
When you have young children, all new relationships are considered under the safe lens for children. If your partner's past has not been resolved definitively, the person who enters later will hardly avoid prolonged anxiety.
Also according to experts, for women, happiness at this time is no longer a wedding, but the peace of the child who is sleeping soundly next to them.
