For the first time in seven years of marriage, Giang Tri Le felt something he couldn’t control.

Panic.

Not because I was angry.

Not because I was fighting.

But because I wasn’t.

The woman who used to cry when he came home late…

The woman who used to wait outside his office just to see him for five minutes…

The woman who used to argue whenever Lam Man appeared between them…

Was now completely calm.

And that scared him more than any argument.

After leaving the hospital room with Lam Man, Giang Tri Le expected me to call.

He expected messages.

Questions.

Complaints.

Anything.

But my phone remained silent.

One hour.

Three hours.

Until midnight.

Nothing.

The next morning, his assistant handed him the report about my injury.

—Chief, Officer Nguyen’s fracture requires recovery for at least two months.

He frowned.

—Two months?

The assistant nodded.

—Yes.

A pause.

—But she refused family assistance.

Those words made his expression change.

Refused?

In the past, I would have asked him to come.

I would have depended on him.

But now…

I didn’t even mention his name.

That afternoon, Giang Tri Le returned to the hospital room.

He opened the door quietly.

I was sitting by the window reading a mission file.

Not waiting for him.

Not looking for him.

Just living my own life.

He stood there for several seconds.

Then said:

—You are really joining Fox Hunt?

I didn’t look up.

—Yes.

—Ten years?

—Yes.

His eyebrows tightened.

—You know what that means?

I turned a page.

—Of course.

—No contact.

—No family.

—No husband.

I finally looked at him.

—That’s right.

Those words were simple.

But they hurt him.

Because before this moment, he had never imagined a future where I didn’t include him.

—Duong Duong.

I put down the document.

—What?

He hesitated.

The great Chief Giang Tri Le, who could command thousands of soldiers, suddenly didn’t know how to speak.

—About Xiao Than…

My hand stopped.

Our son.

The name he rarely mentioned.

The child who died because of the mistake during the rescue operation.

The child whose death changed everything between us.

—What about him?

Giang Tri Le lowered his voice.

—You still blame me.

I looked at him quietly.

Then I smiled.

A very small smile.

—No.

He seemed surprised.

—You don’t?

I shook my head.

—Because blaming you means I still expect something from you.

Silence.

Those words were sharper than any accusation.

Giang Tri Le looked away.

Because he understood.

I was not angry anymore.

I was done.

—Duong Duong…

His voice became softer.

—Can we start again?

For a moment, I remembered the past.

The young soldier who held my hand when we first met.

The man who promised:

“I will protect you forever.”

The husband who once loved me.

But that person had disappeared slowly.

After Xiao Than died.

After Lam Man returned.

After every time he chose someone else first.

I looked at him.

—Do you know what hurts the most?

He didn’t answer.

—Not that you cared about Lam Man.

—Not even that you forgot me.

A pause.

—It was that when our son died, I was the only one who stayed broken.

His face changed.

—That’s not true.

—Isn’t it?

I looked directly at him.

—You buried yourself in work.

—You protected Lam Man.

—You punished everyone except yourself.

My voice remained calm.

—And I learned how to grieve alone.

The room became silent.

Then his phone rang.

Lam Man.

He looked at the screen.

For the first time, he didn’t immediately answer.

He looked at me instead.

I noticed.

And strangely…

I felt nothing.

—Answer it.

He frowned.

—You don’t care?

I smiled.

—No.

That answer hurt him.

Because he finally realized the thing he never expected.

My love had not disappeared because someone else took it.

It disappeared because he destroyed it.

The next day, the divorce mediation began.

Everyone in the military district was shocked.

Chief Giang’s wife.

The woman everyone thought would never leave.

Was ending the marriage.

The lawyer asked:

—Mrs. Nguyen, are you certain?

I nodded.

—Yes.

—Even after seven years?

—Especially after seven years.

When I walked out of the courthouse, Giang Tri Le was standing outside.

He looked exhausted.

Like he hadn’t slept.

—Duong Duong.

I stopped.

—What?

He stared at me.

—If you leave for Fox Hunt…

A pause.

—Will you really never come back?

I looked at him.

The man I once loved.

The father of the child I lost.

My husband who was about to become my ex-husband.

Then I answered:

—Maybe.

His eyes moved.

Hope appeared for a second.

Until I continued:

—But not because I am waiting for you.

I walked away.

That night, Giang Tri Le received a confidential military report.

The Fox Hunt mission had been approved.

The selected undercover officer:

Nguyen Duong.

The wife he thought would always stay.

The woman who had spent years chasing him.

Was now the person walking into a mission where he could never reach her again.

And attached to the final approval document was one more note:

“Officer Nguyen has requested complete identity separation.”

“All previous family connections will be terminated.”

Including husband.

Including Giang Tri Le.

For the first time in his life…

The powerful Chief Giang was afraid.

Because he finally understood:

The woman who once couldn’t live without him…

Had learned how to live without him completely.