I held the phone tightly.
On the other side, Co Nghiep Thanh was still trying to explain.
—Tieu Tuyet, don’t misunderstand me. Tan Nguyet just came back from abroad. She has no one here. I only helped her temporarily.
I laughed softly.
A temporary help.
A man who hugged another woman on a plane.
A man who promised another woman he would raise her child.
A man who lied to his pregnant wife.
And he called that temporary.
—Then why didn’t you tell me?
He was silent.
That silence was already the answer.
I looked at the pregnancy report in my hand.
The little life inside me had just appeared.
The child I had been waiting for.
The daughter he always said he wanted.
But at this moment, I suddenly didn’t know whether I should share this happiness with him.
Because the person standing beside me in the hospital hallway was no longer the man I married.
—Nghiep Thanh.
My voice was unusually calm.
—When did you know Tan Nguyet was pregnant?
His breathing changed.
Only one second.
But I heard it.
—Tieu Tuyet…
—Answer me.
Another long silence.
Then he whispered:
—Two months ago.
Two months.
The exact day he sent me away for training.
The exact day he began hiding his meetings with her.
I closed my eyes.
Two months.
I had been working hard every day, counting down the days until I could return home.
I bought gifts for him.
I imagined his surprised expression when he saw me suddenly appear.
But during those two months…
He was protecting another woman.
That night, Co Nghiep Thanh finally returned home.
I was sitting in the living room.
The pregnancy report was placed on the table.
He entered carefully.
For the first time, he looked nervous in front of me.
—Tieu Tuyet…
I raised my hand.
“Don’t explain yet.”
He stopped.
I pointed at the chair opposite me.
“Sit down.”
He sat.
Just like a person waiting for judgment.
I looked at him.
Four years of marriage.
A son.
A company built together.
A life that I thought was solid.
Then I asked:
—If I hadn’t seen you today, when would you have planned to tell me?
His lips moved.
No answer.
That was enough.
I smiled.
—You didn’t plan to tell me.
—No.
He immediately denied.
—I was going to tell you.
—When?
I looked directly at him.
—After Tan Nguyet gave birth?
His face changed.
Because I was right.
He lowered his voice.
—Tieu Tuyet, you know her situation.
—Her husband abandoned her. She has no one.
I looked at him.
Then laughed.
A laugh without any happiness.
—So you became her family?
—You became the father of her child?
—You became the person who promised to take care of her forever?
He was speechless.
I continued:
—Do you remember what you said when we got married?
His eyes lowered.
I remembered clearly.
Four years ago, on our wedding day, he held my hand and said:
“From today on, no matter what happens, I will stand beside you.”
I believed those words.
I believed them until today.
But some promises are not broken because people forget.
They are broken because people find someone else more important.
Suddenly his phone rang.
The screen lit up.
Tan Nguyet.
He immediately wanted to turn it off.
But I saw it.
A message appeared:
“Nghiep Thanh, the baby seems uncomfortable. I’m scared. Can you come?”
His hand froze.
I looked at him.
—Go.
He looked surprised.
—What?
—She needs you.
—Tieu Tuyet…
I smiled.
—Don’t worry. I won’t make trouble.
—After all, you already chose.
He stood there for a long time.
Then he left.
Just like that.
Leaving me alone in the living room.
The next morning, I went to my lawyer.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Not because I hated him.
But because I finally understood something.
A woman who keeps forgiving everything will eventually lose herself.
I put the marriage certificate on the table.
—Prepare the divorce agreement.
The lawyer looked surprised.
—Are you sure?
I touched my stomach gently.
Then looked at the documents in front of me.
—Yes.
—But there is one more thing.
The lawyer waited.
I smiled.
—Help me protect my child’s rights.
Three days later, Co Nghiep Thanh came home.
But this time, he wasn’t alone.
Tan Nguyet stood beside him.
Her eyes were red.
Her voice was soft.
—Tieu Tuyet, I’m sorry.
I looked at her.
The woman who sat beside my husband on the plane.
The woman whose child he wanted to protect.
Then I looked at Co Nghiep Thanh.
He avoided my eyes.
I suddenly felt nothing.
No anger.
No sadness.
Only exhaustion.
—You don’t need to apologize.
Tan Nguyet was stunned.
I continued:
—Because the person who owed me an explanation was never you.
It was him.
Co Nghiep Thanh’s face changed.
I placed the divorce agreement on the table.
—Sign it.
The room became silent.
He stared at the papers.
Then looked at me.
—Tieu Tuyet… you’re pregnant.
I froze.
He knew.
For a moment, I thought he would be happy.
But his next words made my heart colder.
—Can we talk about this after Tan Nguyet gives birth?
I stared at him.
And finally understood.
Even my unborn child…
Had to wait behind another woman.
I picked up the pen.
Signed my name.
Then pushed the document toward him.
—No need.
—You already made your choice two months ago.
Co Nghiep Thanh looked at my signature.
His face slowly turned pale.
Because only then did he realize…
The woman who once waited for him at home…
Had finally stopped waiting.
