Tong Niem An thought she had already let go.

She thought three years in Seattle had been enough.

Enough time to forget the boy who once stood outside her bedroom door during thunderstorms.

Enough time to forget the man who promised her brother he would protect their family.

Enough time to forget the person who broke her heart in the cruelest way.

But when she saw Pho Dinh Xuan again…

she realized some wounds did not disappear.

They only learned how to stay quiet.

The car drove through familiar streets.

Outside the window, the city looked almost the same.

But Tong Niem An was different.

Three years ago, she left this place carrying only a suitcase and a broken heart.

Today, she returned carrying the truth about her brother’s disappearance.

At the funeral home, Tong’s mother was sitting in silence.

Her hair had turned much whiter.

The moment she saw her daughter, she immediately stood up.

“Niem An…”

Tong Niem An hugged her.

For the first time since returning, her eyes became red.

Not because of Pho Dinh Xuan.

Not because of Lam Ngu Nhu.

But because the person she loved most in this world had been gone for three years.

“I’m back, Mom.”

Her mother held her tightly.

“You finally came home.”

Behind them, Pho Dinh Xuan stood quietly.

He watched the scene.

The little girl who once followed him everywhere was gone.

The woman standing before him was calm.

Independent.

And completely unreachable.

After confirming Tong Ky’s remains, everyone returned to the Tong family’s house.

The atmosphere was heavy.

Nobody wanted to mention the past.

But everyone knew.

There was one question that had been buried for three years.

How did Tong Ky die?

The police investigation had concluded it was an accident.

A landslide.

A tragic coincidence.

But Tong Niem An never believed it.

Because her brother was too careful.

He would never drive through a dangerous mountain road during heavy rain unless there was a reason.

And there was one detail nobody could explain.

The car was found.

But the black box was missing.

That night, Tong Niem An sat alone in her brother’s old room.

Everything remained untouched.

His books.

His medals.

His old photographs.

She opened his desk drawer.

Inside was a small notebook.

Her hands trembled.

Because she recognized it.

Tong Ky always recorded important things in that notebook.

She opened the last page.

There was only one sentence.

“Niem An, if something happens to me, don’t trust Ngu Nhu.”

Her breathing stopped.

The room suddenly felt colder.

Lam Ngu Nhu.

Her brother’s girlfriend.

The woman who survived.

The woman Pho Dinh Xuan chose to protect.

The woman everyone pitied.

Tong Niem An stared at the sentence for a long time.

Then she heard footsteps outside.

She quickly closed the notebook.

The door opened.

Pho Dinh Xuan stood there.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Finally, he said:

“You found something.”

It was not a question.

Tong Niem An looked at him.

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you have the same expression Tong Ky had.”

Her heart tightened.

“You remember my brother very well.”

Pho Dinh Xuan lowered his eyes.

“I grew up with him.”

“No.”

Tong Niem An interrupted.

“You grew up with me too.”

Silence.

A painful silence.

“But when we lost him, you chose her.”

Pho Dinh Xuan’s face changed.

“Niem An…”

“Don’t explain.”

Her voice was calm.

“That day, you told everyone you would take care of Lam Ngu Nhu.”

A pause.

“You never asked if I was okay.”

His fingers tightened.

“I thought you were stronger.”

Tong Niem An smiled.

A sad smile.

“That was your biggest mistake.”

“I wasn’t stronger.”

“I was just the person you knew would wait.”

Those words made him unable to speak.

Because they were true.

He had always believed she would stay.

No matter how far he went.

No matter who he chose.

Because she had loved him for seven years.

But he forgot one thing.

Even the person who waits forever can become tired.

Suddenly, Pho Dinh Xuan’s phone rang.

He looked at the screen.

His expression changed immediately.

“What happened?”

A few seconds later, his face became serious.

“What did you say?”

Tong Niem An looked at him.

“Is something wrong?”

He didn’t answer.

He only stared at the notebook in her hand.

Then he whispered:

“The police found another piece of evidence from the accident scene.”

She froze.

“What evidence?”

Pho Dinh Xuan looked at her.

For the first time, there was fear in his eyes.

Not because of the accident.

Because he realized something.

The truth about Tong Ky’s death…

might destroy the woman he had protected for three years.

“Niem An.”

His voice was low.

“You need to prepare yourself.”

She stood up.

“Why?”

He looked toward the window.

“Because the person who caused your brother’s accident…”

A pause.

“Was someone you trusted.”

At that moment, Tong Niem An’s phone received a message.

Unknown number.

One photo.

One sentence.

She opened it.

The photo showed Lam Ngu Nhu standing beside Tong Ky’s car on the night of the accident.

Below it was a message:

“Your brother did not die because of the landslide.”

“He died because he discovered what she had done.”

Tong Niem An’s fingers went cold.

Three years ago, she lost her brother.

Three years ago, she lost Pho Dinh Xuan.

But now she finally understood.

Maybe the person who destroyed her life…

was never the man she loved.

It was the person standing beside him.