The moment To Nha Cam said those words, the room fell completely silent.

“Chi Vien and I truly love each other…”

Her voice trembled.

Her eyes filled with tears.

The same expression that had fooled everyone for years.

The same expression that had made people believe she was fragile, innocent, and helpless.

But this time, I saw through it.

Because I had already lived this life once.

I knew exactly what came next.

In my previous life, when she cried like this, Tong Chi Vien would immediately protect her.

He would tell me I misunderstood.

He would say I was being unreasonable.

He would ask me to sacrifice just a little more.

And I would.

Again and again.

Until there was nothing left of me.

But this time, I simply stood there and waited.

I wanted to see what choice he would make.

Tong Chi Vien looked at To Nha Cam.

Then he looked at me.

His expression was complicated.

For a moment, I saw panic in his eyes.

Not because he loved me.

Because he finally realized I was no longer the woman who would quietly accept everything.

“Enough.”

His voice was cold.

To Nha Cam froze.

“Chi Vien…”

“I said enough.”

He stepped back.

“This is not the place to say such things.”

Her face changed.

Because she never expected him to stop her.

Neither did I.

But I knew something.

Tong Chi Vien had spent his entire life controlling situations.

On the battlefield.

In the military region.

With everyone around him.

But now he was facing something he couldn’t control.

Me.

“Uyen Thu.”

He looked at me.

“Take the children home.”

I almost laughed.

Home?

That word sounded strange coming from him.

“Which home?”

His expression tightened.

“Our home.”

I looked around.

The home where I had spent six years waiting.

The home where another woman lived like she belonged.

The home where my children would grow up watching their mother silently suffer.

“No.”

My answer was simple.

And firm.

His eyebrows lowered.

“Uyen Thu.”

“I said no.”

For the first time, Tong Chi Vien looked at me like he was seeing a stranger.

Maybe because he was.

The Lam Uyen Thu from his memory was gentle.

Patient.

Always understanding.

The woman who would apologize even when she was hurt.

That woman was dead.

She died the day I realized my children and I were never anyone’s first choice.

“I gave you the house.”

I looked directly at him.

“I gave you your freedom.”

My hand tightened around my daughter’s shoulder.

“But I will never give you my children.”

His face changed.

“You think I won’t fight for them?”

“No.”

I shook my head.

“I think you will.”

That surprised him.

“Because you are their father.”

I paused.

“But being a father is not just about winning custody.”

My voice became colder.

“It is about being there.”

Silence.

Eight-year-old Tieu Quan quietly held his sister’s hand.

The children didn’t understand everything.

But they understood enough.

They knew their parents were no longer the same.

Then suddenly, Tong Chi Vien’s expression softened.

“Uyen Thu…”

His voice lowered.

“Did something happen?”

I stared at him.

That question was almost funny.

Something happened?

Yes.

Everything happened.

I died once because of him.

I spent my entire life regretting my choices.

I watched my children lose their future because I was too afraid to fight.

But I couldn’t tell him that.

So I only said:

“I finally woke up.”

His eyes narrowed.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I understand now.”

I picked up my suitcase.

“I don’t need a husband who remembers me only when I leave.”

His breathing became heavier.

Because that sentence hit exactly where it hurt.

Behind him, To Nha Cam suddenly stepped forward.

“Uyen Thu, don’t pretend you are so noble.”

I turned.

She smiled coldly.

“You say you don’t care about Chi Vien, but you are still using the children to tie him down.”

The old me would have cried.

The old me would have tried to explain.

The old me would have begged someone to believe me.

But now?

I simply looked at her.

“You are wrong.”

She frowned.

“I am not using my children to keep a man.”

I looked at my two children.

“I am protecting my children from losing their mother the same way they lost everything else.”

Her expression changed.

For the first time, she looked uncertain.

Then my phone rang.

I glanced at the screen.

A familiar name appeared.

My father.

I answered.

“Dad.”

His voice came immediately.

“Uyen Thu, I heard what happened.”

I looked at Tong Chi Vien.

He was watching me carefully.

My father continued:

“Come home.”

A small smile appeared on my lips.

Because in my previous life, I had refused my family’s help.

I thought relying on others meant weakness.

I thought a good wife had to endure everything alone.

I was wrong.

“Okay, Dad.”

I hung up.

Tong Chi Vien looked at me.

“Your father is involved now?”

“Yes.”

His face became serious.

Because he knew.

This time was different.

This time I wasn’t leaving with nothing.

This time I wasn’t the abandoned wife everyone pitied.

I was Lam Uyen Thu.

The daughter of Lam Quoc Khanh.

And I was taking back everything I had lost.

As I walked toward the door, Tong Chi Vien suddenly grabbed my arm.

His voice was no longer angry.

It was desperate.

“Uyen Thu…”

I stopped.

“Don’t leave like this.”

I looked back.

“Then how should I leave?”

He opened his mouth.

But no words came out.

Because for the first time, he had no answer.

And behind him, To Nha Cam watched silently.

Her gentle mask was slowly cracking.

Because she finally understood something.

The woman she had spent years trying to replace…

Was no longer fighting for Tong Chi Vien.

She was fighting for herself.

And that was far more dangerous.