The story began on a cold, late winter morning, when Mr. Lâm—a sixty-year-old man—held with trembling hands the title deed for the land he had just transferred to his son. He was a retired civil servant who had dedicated his entire life to saving and working hard until he was finally able to build a spacious house on the outskirts of the city. That house was his greatest asset—the place where his children and grandchildren would gather, and the home he would rely on in his old age.

Out of love for his son, he decided to transfer the property title to his eldest son, Hùng, and his wife. He simply thought, “If they have the papers, they’ll feel secure in their business, and there won’t be any disputes later on. Besides, I believe my son will always be filial and fulfill his duties as a son.”

But to his surprise, just as he left the notary’s office, Hùng’s words pierced his heart like a knife:
— “From now on, don’t come into this house. This house belongs to my wife and me. You have no place here anymore.”

Mr. Lâm froze. He couldn’t believe what he had heard. The very house he had built with sweat and effort had suddenly become a “foreign home” for him.

After transferring the title to the house, his son kicked him out—but they didn’t know he had $10 billion hidden away…

Before he could explain, Hùng urged his father to pack some personal belongings. Mr. Lâm quietly took a small bag filled with some old clothes. Only a few knew that inside that bag—along with worthless items—was a savings book containing over 10 billion đồng, his entire life savings, which he had kept secret.

The cold wind weighed heavily on her steps. She left the house with sad eyes and a deep bitterness in her heart.

Mr. Lâm set out in the dark twilight. With nowhere to go, he walked until he found a teahouse by the roadside, where he sat idly for several hours. The landlady, seeing his tired figure, thought he was a lost old man and occasionally asked him,
“Uncle, where are you going at this late hour?”
He tried a weak smile:
“Ah… I’m just looking for a place to stay.”

After a few days, he rented a small room on the edge of the village. It was barely ten square meters and damp, but for him it was a refuge. Every day, he cycled silently to the market to buy vegetables; sometimes he sat in a street café watching people go by.

Oddly enough, he never touched that 10 billion savings account. He lived a simple life, as always. To outsiders, he looked like a poor, sad old man—but inside he carried a secret no one knew.

On countless sleepless nights, Mr. Lâm often wondered:
— “If my son knew I still had money, would he treat me differently? Or would he just see me as a handbag?”

She didn’t blame life, nor was she quick to blame her son. She understood that times change, and so do people’s hearts. But she believed that one day the truth would come out—and only then would she know who truly loved him and who saw him only as a burden.

One day, he visited an old friend—Mr. Thành, a close former colleague. After hearing the story, Thành became angry and saddened:
“You did well to hide that money. Don’t tell him. When the time comes, use it to live comfortably. Don’t suffer anymore.”

Mr. Lâm offered a weak, bitter smile, though his eyes held determination. Perhaps he was beginning to realize that in old age, one shouldn’t blindly trust anyone—not even one’s own children.

Time passed, and news of Mr. Lâm’s situation spread throughout the village. Some felt sorry for him, others criticized him:
“He’s a fool, he transferred everything to his son.”
“The elderly trust easily, and betrayal always leaves them wounded.”

Meanwhile, at home, Hùng and his wife fell into a financial crisis. Their business collapsed, and debts piled up. They had thought the house would be a “shield,” but now the bank was relentlessly hounding them. Hùng began to think about his father—not out of love, but because he suspected he might be hiding money somewhere.

One afternoon, Hùng went to the small room his father rented. He knocked on the door, his voice pleading:
“Dad, I made a mistake. I’m sorry. Come home with me. The house isn’t the same without you.”

Mr. Lâm looked at his son, his gaze deep and unfathomable. He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he silently poured a cup of tea and placed it on the table. In the small, cramped room, the clock chimed, striking the hearts of both father and son.

In the old wooden cabinet, the 10 billion savings book remained untouched. He hadn’t spent it, nor had he told anyone about it.

Would he give it to her to help his son in adversity — or would he keep it to live out his final years peacefully?

No one knows the answer—not even he himself. The only certainty is that from that moment on, father and son find themselves at a crossroads, torn between love and greed.

The story ended with the image of Mr. Lâm sitting silently, his hand resting lightly on his teacup, his eyes gazing out the cloudy window…