Tong Du Hoai stood frozen in front of the fireplace.

The flames continued to burn.

The pink diary slowly turned into ashes.

But for some reason, the scene in front of him felt colder than winter.

Those pages…

Those were the feelings Sam So Ninh had hidden from everyone.

Including him.

He remembered the first time he accidentally opened that diary.

At that time, he thought it was childish.

A few lines about a smile.

A few lines about a small gesture.

A few lines about how happy she was when he came home early.

He had closed the diary and put it back.

He never imagined that those simple words were the most precious thing she had ever given him.

Because Sam So Ninh never asked him for anything.

Not love.

Not promises.

Not even his attention.

She simply stayed beside him quietly.

And he thought that meant she would never leave.

“Why are you burning it?”

His voice was low.

But Sam So Ninh didn’t turn around.

She calmly placed the last piece of the diary into the fire.

“Because it has finished its purpose.”

Tong Du Hoai’s fingers tightened.

“What purpose?”

She looked at him.

For the first time, there was no warmth in her eyes.

“To remind me that I once loved someone who didn’t love me back.”

Those words made his chest tighten.

He wanted to deny it.

He wanted to say that wasn’t true.

But the image outside the glass door appeared in his mind again.

Khuong Kha Ngam’s arms around him.

Her question.

His answer.

Every second.

Every minute.

Anytime.

Anywhere.

I miss you.

He had said those words.

And Sam So Ninh had heard everything.

“That wasn’t what you think.”

The moment he said it, even he felt ridiculous.

Because what else could she think?

She had seen it.

She had heard it.

She had stood there watching her husband confess his longing for another woman.

Sam So Ninh smiled lightly.

“Then tell me.”

Tong Du Hoai opened his mouth.

But he couldn’t explain.

Because the truth was cruel.

He did miss Khuong Kha Ngam.

He had missed her for years.

But he never realized that while chasing the person he couldn’t forget…

he was losing the person who had always been there.

“You’re leaving.”

It wasn’t a question.

Sam So Ninh lowered her eyes.

“Yes.”

His expression changed.

“Where?”

“A place where I can live peacefully.”

“With who?”

She looked at him.

“Why do you care?”

The question silenced him.

Why did he care?

He had never asked before.

When she waited alone for dinner.

When she was sick but still prepared meals.

When she quietly followed him to every family event where nobody respected her.

He had always assumed she would be there.

Because she loved him.

Because she needed him.

But now…

She no longer needed him.

And suddenly, that frightened him.

“Are you pregnant?”

The room became silent.

Sam So Ninh’s hand paused.

For a moment, Tong Du Hoai thought he had guessed correctly.

But then she smiled.

A very tired smile.

“You finally noticed?”

His breathing stopped.

“How long?”

“Almost three months.”

Three months.

The number hit him harder than expected.

During those three months…

She had been carrying his child.

While he was secretly meeting Khuong Kha Ngam.

While he was preparing for another future.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Sam So Ninh looked at him.

“Would you have changed your plans?”

He couldn’t answer.

Because he knew.

At that time, if she told him she was pregnant…

he might have stayed.

But not because he chose her.

Because of responsibility.

And she didn’t want that.

“I didn’t want my child to become the reason someone stayed.”

Tong Du Hoai felt his heart sink.

For years, he had always believed he understood Sam So Ninh.

He was wrong.

He only understood the woman who loved him.

Not the woman who had finally stopped loving him.

The next morning, Khuong Kha Ngam came to the mansion.

She was wearing the same dress from the party.

She looked happy.

Until she saw Sam So Ninh’s luggage near the entrance.

Her smile slowly disappeared.

“You’re leaving?”

Sam So Ninh nodded.

“Yes.”

Khuong Kha Ngam glanced at Tong Du Hoai.

Then back at her.

“I didn’t expect you to be so generous.”

Sam So Ninh looked at her calmly.

“Generous?”

“Giving up so easily.”

A strange feeling appeared in Sam So Ninh’s heart.

Not anger.

Not jealousy.

Just exhaustion.

“I didn’t give up.”

She picked up her bag.

“I stopped fighting for something that was never mine.”

Khuong Kha Ngam froze.

Because those words were true.

Tong Du Hoai walked down the stairs.

Seeing Sam So Ninh carrying her luggage, his face changed.

“Where are you going?”

“Home.”

“This is your home.”

She looked around.

Then smiled.

“No.”

“It was only the place where I stayed while waiting for you to love me.”

Nobody spoke.

Even Khuong Kha Ngam became silent.

Tong Du Hoai stepped forward.

“Sam So Ninh.”

She stopped.

“I will explain.”

She turned back.

“Explain what?”

His voice became hoarse.

“Everything.”

She looked at him.

“Then explain why the woman you missed for five years came back…”

“And you still let me believe I was your wife.”

His face turned pale.

She continued:

“Explain why you could remember every detail about her…”

“But never noticed that your own wife was changing.”

Silence.

Then she placed a document on the table.

Tong Du Hoai looked down.

His eyes widened.

“Divorce agreement?”

Sam So Ninh nodded.

“Yes.”

For the first time, panic appeared in his eyes.

“You’re serious?”

She smiled softly.

“Very.”

And that was the moment Tong Du Hoai finally understood.

The woman who once waited for him no longer existed.

The diary he watched burn was not just a notebook.

It was the last piece of the old Sam So Ninh.

And he had personally watched it disappear.

But what he still didn’t know…

was that the child she carried was not only the reason she decided to leave.

It was also the secret that would change the entire Tong family forever.