I looked at the message from Tham Nghien for a long time.
“Come back this afternoon.”
“Put your feelings aside and apologize to Duong Duong.”
I almost laughed.
Feelings aside?
The person who was abandoned in front of all the guests was me.
The bride who stood alone at the end of the red carpet was me.
The woman who watched her fiancé leave their wedding ceremony to comfort another woman was me.
But somehow, I was the one who needed to apologize.
I turned off my phone.
For the first time in many years, I didn’t rush to explain myself to him.
I didn’t try to make him understand.
I didn’t try to save a relationship that only I was protecting.
That morning, my father came into my room carrying breakfast.
He placed the food on the table and looked at me quietly.
—Ninh Ninh, have you decided?
I nodded.
—Yes.
—I’m not marrying him anymore.
My father didn’t look surprised.
He only sighed.
—Your mother and I saw it coming.
I froze.
—You knew?
He looked away.
—A father can tell when his daughter is slowly becoming unhappy.
My eyes became red.
For years, I thought everyone believed I was lucky.
Tham Nghien was successful.
He was gentle.
He was admired by everyone.
People told me I had found a good husband.
But nobody saw how many times I waited alone.
Nobody saw how many times he canceled plans because Bach Duong needed him.
Nobody saw how many times I convinced myself to be understanding.
Because I loved him.
But love couldn’t keep a person beside me who had already chosen someone else.
At noon, my father’s assistant arrived with documents.
The first was about the wedding house.
The second was about my investment in Tham Nghien’s company.
I looked through every page carefully.
When we started the company together, he always said:
“Our success belongs to both of us.”
But after he became successful, he slowly changed that sentence.
It became:
“My company.”
Not ours.
My father tapped the table.
—The money your mother and I invested was never a gift to him.
—It was an investment.
—If he forgets who helped him get here, then he should learn the difference between gratitude and taking advantage.
I signed the documents.
For the first time, I felt like I was taking back something that belonged to me.
Not money.
My dignity.
That afternoon, Tham Nghien came to my parents’ house.
He didn’t come alone.
Bach Duong followed behind him.
The moment I saw her standing beside him, wearing the same expression she had at the wedding, I understood.
He still didn’t think he had done anything wrong.
—Ninh Ninh.
His voice was softer than before.
—Can we talk?
I sat down.
—Speak.
He looked uncomfortable.
—Yesterday was just an accident.
An accident.
I smiled.
—Which part?
—Leaving me alone at my wedding?
—Kissing another woman on stage?
—Taking her to our house?
His face changed.
—You know Duong Duong is fragile.
There it was again.
Always her.
Always her pain.
Always her feelings.
I looked at Bach Duong.
—And what about mine?
She lowered her head.
—I never wanted to hurt you.
I nodded.
—Maybe you didn’t.
—But he did.
Tham Nghien frowned.
—Don’t involve her.
I looked at him.
—You protected her immediately.
—You always do.
The room became silent.
Then I placed the divorce agreement on the table.
His expression changed instantly.
—What is this?
—The end.
He stared at the papers.
Then laughed lightly.
—You’re angry right now. You don’t mean this.
I shook my head.
—No.
—I’m finally thinking clearly.
His smile disappeared.
—Ninh Ninh, don’t be unreasonable.
—We have been together for so many years.
I looked at him calmly.
—Exactly.
—That’s why I’m disappointed.
—Because after all these years, you still don’t know me.
He stepped closer.
—Do you really want to throw everything away because of one misunderstanding?
I looked at the man in front of me.
The man I once planned my entire future with.
Then I answered:
—No.
—I am ending everything because this was never only about yesterday.
His face froze.
Because he knew.
He knew all the moments he had chosen someone else.
The forgotten anniversaries.
The canceled dates.
The empty promises.
The wedding was only the final proof.
Before leaving, I placed one more document in front of him.
His eyes scanned the page.
Then his expression completely changed.
—What is this?
I smiled.
—The document proving that I own 35% of your company.
For the first time, Tham Nghien looked afraid.
Because he finally realized something.
The woman he thought would always wait for him…
was the same woman who had helped build everything he had.
And now she was taking it back.
But before he could say anything, his phone suddenly rang.
He answered.
After a few seconds, his face became pale.
—What did you say?
Everyone in the room looked at him.
His hand tightened around the phone.
Then he slowly looked at me.
—The board meeting tomorrow…
—You called it?
I smiled.
—Yes.
—Because tomorrow we need to discuss your position in the company.
And for the first time since I knew him…
Tham Nghien looked at me like he was afraid of losing me.
But this time…
I wasn’t afraid of losing him anymore.
