I don’t know how long I lay at the bottom of the stairs.
Maybe ten minutes.
Maybe thirty.
The house was silent again.
Upstairs, Tram Phi was still comforting Ha Phi Phi.
He never came down.
I laughed.
At first there was no sound.
Then the laugh slowly turned into tears.
Not because my ankle hurt.
Not because my grandmother’s painting was ruined.
But because the man who once carried me off an airplane because I felt dizzy had just pushed me down a staircase and walked away.
Something inside me finally died.
I reached for my phone.
The first person I called wasn’t Tram Phi.
It was Vuong Cuong.
He answered almost immediately.
—To To?
My voice came out weak.
—I think I hurt my ankle.
There was a pause.
Then his voice changed completely.
—Where are you?
I gave him the address.
—Don’t move.
The call ended.
Twenty-five minutes later, the front door opened.
A tall man walked inside wearing a dark coat.
I recognized him instantly from Ha Phi Phi’s old photograph.
Vuong Cuong.
Except the man standing in front of me looked nothing like a mute driver rescued from the mountains.
His eyes were cold.
His posture was straight.
And when he saw me on the floor, something frightening flashed across his face.
—Who did this?
I didn’t answer.
He bent down carefully.
—Can you move your foot?
I shook my head.
He took off his coat and wrapped it around me.
Then he carried me up.
The movement made the floorboards creak.
The bedroom door opened.
Tram Phi stepped out.
His face changed when he saw Vuong Cuong holding me.
—Put her down.
Vuong Cuong stopped.
—Why?
Tram Phi’s voice turned icy.
—Because she’s my fiancée.
I looked at him.
For some reason, hearing that word now was almost funny.
Vuong Cuong lowered his eyes toward me.
—Your fiancée?
Then he looked back at Tram Phi.
—Interesting.
He reached into his coat and pulled out a red booklet.
Marriage certificate.
My name.
His name.
Vuong Cuong.
He held it up.
—According to the law, she’s my wife.
The entire hallway went silent.
Ha Phi Phi appeared behind Tram Phi.
Her face turned pale.
—Brother Cuong…
He didn’t even look at her.
Tram Phi stared at the certificate.
—That registration is fake.
Vuong Cuong smiled faintly.
—Then you should ask yourself why your own people arranged it.
Tram Phi’s face changed.
For the first time, panic appeared.
I finally understood.
He had expected me never to find out.
Expected Vuong Cuong to remain silent.
Expected the whole ridiculous arrangement to disappear after he was done appeasing Ha Phi Phi.
Just another lie that To To would eventually forgive.
Vuong Cuong looked at me.
—Hospital first.
Tram Phi stepped forward.
—I’m taking her.
I held Vuong Cuong’s collar.
—No.
One word.
Tram Phi froze.
I looked at him.
—You stay here.
Then my eyes moved to Ha Phi Phi.
—Take care of the person you chose.
Vuong Cuong carried me out.
This time, Tram Phi did not stop us.
My ankle was badly sprained, but fortunately there was no fracture.
At the hospital, Vuong Cuong sat outside while the doctor examined me.
When I came out, he handed me warm water.
I looked at him.
—Who are you really?
He was silent.
Then he placed a business card in front of me.
Vương Cường — Executive Director, Vương Aviation Holdings.
I stared at it.
Everyone in aviation knew that company.
It owned training centers, airport service companies and major shares in several airlines.
I looked up.
—You’re not a driver.
—No.
—You’re not mute.
—No.
—Then why were you working for Ha Phi Phi’s family?
He leaned back.
—Investigation.
That answer was so simple it almost made me angry.
—Investigation of what?
—Her father.
He explained quietly.
Ha Phi Phi’s family had been involved in illegal procurement contracts connected to aviation services.
Vuong Cuong had deliberately entered their circle under a false identity to gather evidence.
He pretended not to speak because it encouraged people to talk freely around him.
Then he added:
—I didn’t expect Tram Phi to use my false identity to register a marriage with you.
I stared at him.
—How could he even do that?
Vuong Cuong’s expression cooled.
—Ha Phi Phi’s father had people in the local registration office.
—Tram Phi wanted her to believe I had already married someone else, so she would stop threatening to harm herself whenever I appeared near her.
I felt sick.
So that was it.
To calm Ha Phi Phi, Tram Phi had turned my legal identity into a prop.
—And you allowed it?
His jaw tightened.
—I found out afterward.
—Why didn’t you tell me immediately?
—Because the investigation wasn’t finished.
I laughed bitterly.
—Everyone has a reason to use me.
Vuong Cuong went silent.
Then he said:
—You’re right.
That surprised me.
No defense.
No excuses.
He continued:
—I should have told you sooner.
He looked directly at me.
—That’s why seven days from now, when my work is finished, I’ll give you every piece of evidence.
—After that, if you want an annulment, I’ll sign immediately.
I looked down at my hands.
—And the wedding you promised?
He smiled slightly.
—Only if you still want it.
For the first time in days, I almost smiled too.
The next morning, Tram Phi came to the hospital.
He carried flowers.
Fruit.
Medicine.
The kind of apology people bring when they still believe the person inside the room belongs to them.
He stopped when he saw Vuong Cuong sitting beside my bed.
His expression hardened.
—Why are you still here?
Vuong Cuong didn’t answer.
I did.
—Because I asked him to stay.
Tram Phi stared at me.
—To To.
I looked at the flowers.
—Put those somewhere else.
—I’m sorry about last night.
He paused.
—But you scared Phi Phi.
I closed my eyes.
Even his apology had her name inside it.
—Leave.
His face changed.
—Don’t be unreasonable.
I opened my eyes.
—You pushed me down the stairs.
—You nearly attacked her.
—She destroyed my grandmother’s painting.
—It’s an object.
I laughed.
—And I’m what?
He froze.
I continued:
—A person?
—A fiancée?
—Or just something convenient that always waits for you?
His jaw tightened.
—I’ve already explained everything.
—No.
My voice was calm.
—You’ve only explained Ha Phi Phi.
He went silent.
Then his eyes dropped toward my hand.
The temporary medical bracelet sat beside another red string.
Vuong Cuong had tied it there when helping me walk.
Tram Phi’s expression darkened.
—Take that off.
I stared at him.
—Why?
—Because I don’t like seeing another man’s things on you.
I almost laughed.
—You registered me as another man’s wife.
That sentence hit him hard.
He immediately said:
—That wasn’t real.
—The government database disagrees.
—I’ll correct it.
—I don’t want you to.
His face went blank.
—What?
I looked directly at him.
—Don’t correct anything.
—To To—
—You wanted to marry me off to Vuong Cuong?
I smiled faintly.
—Then congratulations. This time I’m accepting your arrangement.
His face went completely white.
Seven days later, Vuong Cuong’s investigation ended.
Ha Phi Phi’s father was arrested.
Several officials were suspended.
And the fake paperwork surrounding my marriage was exposed.
Vuong Cuong gave me a thick folder.
Inside was everything.
Messages.
Payments.
Recordings.
And one conversation between Tram Phi and Ha Phi Phi that I read three times.
Ha Phi Phi had asked:
—If To To discovers the registration, what will you do?
Tram Phi answered:
—She’ll be angry for a few days.
—Then?
—Then she’ll forgive me.
—Why are you so sure?
His response was simple.
—Because she loves me more than she loves herself.
I stared at that sentence until my eyes blurred.
Then I closed the folder.
Vuong Cuong asked quietly:
—Do you still want the annulment?
I looked at him.
—Yes.
He nodded.
No disappointment.
No pressure.
He had already prepared the papers.
That made me smile.
—But not today.
He raised an eyebrow.
—I need one thing first.
Tram Phi’s promotion review was held two days later.
Senior captains.
Executives.
Flight operations directors.
Almost everyone important was there.
I walked into the conference room with a cane.
Tram Phi’s face changed when he saw me.
—To To?
Ha Phi Phi was sitting in the back.
Her expression immediately tightened.
I placed the folder on the table.
—I’m here to submit evidence regarding Captain Tram Phi’s misuse of private connections, falsification of civil records and interference in a corporate investigation.
Silence.
Tram Phi stood abruptly.
—What are you doing?
I looked at him.
—Leaving you properly.
He stared at me.
—We can discuss this privately.
—You made my marriage public property the moment you gave it to another man without my consent.
Several executives exchanged looks.
Ha Phi Phi tried to leave.
Vuong Cuong appeared at the door.
She stopped.
Her face lost all color.
By the end of that meeting, Tram Phi’s promotion review was suspended.
A formal investigation opened.
Ha Phi Phi was removed from duty pending review.
And for the first time, Tram Phi could no longer solve everything by telling people that To To would understand.
Outside the conference room, he caught up with me.
—Was it worth it?
I stopped.
He looked exhausted.
—Everything we’ve had for years… you’re throwing it away over this?
I stared at him.
—No.
—Then what are you doing?
I smiled.
—Returning it.
He frowned.
—Returning what?
—Your freedom.
I glanced toward Ha Phi Phi.
—Now whenever she cries, you can run to her.
—Whenever she threatens to jump, you can save her.
—Whenever she wants you, you don’t have to cancel another appointment with me.
His eyes reddened.
—And you?
I looked at Vuong Cuong waiting at the end of the corridor.
Then back at Tram Phi.
—I’m finally saving myself.
Two months later, my marriage to Vuong Cuong was legally annulled.
He signed without hesitation.
When we left the registry office, he handed me another document.
I looked at it.
It was a blank marriage application.
I laughed.
—Again?
He smiled.
—This time no one filled it in for you.
He placed a pen beside it.
—No tricks.
—No fake signatures.
—No one deciding for you.
I stared at him.
—And if I say no?
—Then I’ll take you home and never mention it again.
Simple.
Respectful.
Free.
I looked at the blank line.
Then I smiled.
—Ask me again in a year.
Vuong Cuong laughed.
—Deal.
A year later, he did.
Not in front of reporters.
Not at an expensive restaurant.
Not with a dramatic proposal.
He took me to the small gallery where my grandmother’s restored painting was displayed.
He had spent months finding a restoration expert.
The damaged image would never look exactly the same.
But the cracks had been carefully repaired.
Visible.
Still beautiful.
Vuong Cuong stood beside me.
—To To.
I looked at him.
—Would you like to register our marriage properly this time?
I laughed through tears.
—Yes.
This time, I walked into the registration office willingly.
No anger.
No revenge.
No one using my name to calm another woman.
Just me.
My choice.
My signature.
Years earlier, Tram Phi believed I loved him more than I loved myself.
He was right.
That was why he thought he could abandon me ninety-nine times and still find me waiting on the hundredth.
But eventually, even the most patient heart learns.
The day he pushed me down those stairs, Tram Phi thought he was teaching me a lesson.
He was.
Just not the one he intended.
He taught me that loving someone should never require lying on the floor while they walk away.
And once I learned that…
he never had the chance to lose me twice.
