I Sent My Mother $1.5 Million Pesos Every Month to Care for My Wife After Childbirth — Then I Came Home Early and Found Her Eating Spoiled Rice With Fish Heads

11. A Conversation I Should Have Had Much Earlier

I took Hue into the living room and asked her to explain everything from the beginning.

She told me that she had tried several times to speak to my mother privately.

She had asked for fresh meals and a little more help with the baby.

But each time, the conversation ended with criticism.

My mother told her that she was lazy.

She accused her of wasting money.

She even suggested that Hue should be grateful that someone was helping her at all.

Hue said she had considered calling me many times.

But she always stopped herself.

She knew how much I respected my mother.

She was afraid that telling me the truth would create a permanent conflict between us.

I felt ashamed.

I had believed that sending money was enough.

I had assumed that because my mother promised to help, everything was fine.

But I had not asked my wife how she was actually being treated.

I had not checked whether the food was fresh.

I had not noticed how much weight she had lost or how exhausted she looked.

I realized that I had failed to pay attention when she needed me most.