To Thanh Ngo sat in front of me.

Inside the quiet hotel room, I looked at the woman who had once been the proudest person in the Luc family.

But now…

she lowered her head as if she was the one who had done something wrong.

I couldn’t stand it.

—Sister-in-law.

She looked up.

—Do you know what hurts me the most?

She stayed silent.

—Not that my brother wants a divorce.

—Not that my mother insulted you.

I paused.

—What hurts me is that after everything you did for this family, you still think you have no right to speak.

Her tears finally fell.

But she still shook her head.

—Kien Vi, don’t make this bigger than it already is.

—Thanh Ngo.

I looked directly at her.

—Do you know what that 500,000 meant to me?

She didn’t answer.

—It wasn’t just money.

—It was my future.

—My education.

—The reason I could stand here today and protect you.

She lowered her eyes.

—But that was my choice.

I smiled sadly.

—Yes.

—It was your choice.

—But my brother also made his choice.

I remembered that day.

The day the money appeared in my account.

I called my brother.

I told him:

“Brother, I have money for my tuition.”

He was silent.

At that time, I thought he was happy.

I never knew that the person who sold the only precious thing she owned…

was the same person he would later try to throw out of the house.

The next morning, I returned to the old family home.

Not because I wanted to go back.

But because there was one more thing I needed to resolve.

Luc Thua Bac was waiting for me in the yard.

He no longer looked like the cold man from yesterday.

Only exhaustion remained.

—Kien Vi.

I stopped.

—What do you want?

He looked at me for a long time.

—Do you really want to cut ties with me?

I stayed silent for a few seconds.

Then I asked:

—Did you ever think about cutting ties with her?

He froze.

—It’s different.

I looked at him.

—Yes.

—It is different.

—Because she isn’t your sister.

—She was only the woman who sold the most precious thing she owned to save your sister’s future.

His expression changed.

I took a folder from my bag.

And placed it in front of him.

—These are the transfer records from that year.

He looked down.

His hand began to tremble.

—Impossible…

—It is possible.

I said calmly.

—Do you know where that money came from?

He didn’t answer.

—It came from selling her wedding jewelry.

The air became completely silent.

He closed his eyes.

Maybe this was the first time he truly faced the truth.

—I didn’t know…

I laughed softly.

—You didn’t know?

I looked at him.

—You were her husband.

—You slept beside her every night.

—But the person who knew what she sacrificed for your family…

was your little sister.

Luc Thua Bac lowered his head.

For the first time, I saw the man I once admired become so small.

—I thought…

He stopped.

—I thought our marriage had already lost its feelings.

I looked at him.

—Really?

—Then what did she think?

He couldn’t answer.

I continued:

—She stayed with you when your family was struggling.

—She cared for your parents.

—She sold her own belongings to help your sister become a doctor.

—But when you wanted to leave…

You made her look like someone trying to take advantage of your family.

Luc Thua Bac said nothing.

Because there was nothing he could say.

Three days later.

The biggest news in the academic world appeared.

“Dr. Luc Kien Vi Becomes Director of an International Research Project Worth Millions.”

Reporters asked me:

—Dr. Luc, what helped you achieve your success today?

I only answered:

—Someone believed in me when nobody else did.

The interview was published.

And the first person who saw it…

was my brother.

At the same time, To Thanh Ngo received the divorce papers.

But this time…

she was not the one signing them.

Luc Thua Bac tore them apart.

He went to find her.

For the first time in many years, he lowered his head.

—Thanh Ngo.

—I am sorry.

She looked at him.

She didn’t cry.

She didn’t get angry.

She only asked:

—Are you sorry because you lost me?

Or are you sorry because you finally realized I mattered?

Luc Thua Bac couldn’t answer.

Because some people…

when they are beside you, you think they are ordinary.

Only after losing them…

do you understand they were a gift you would never get again.

One month later, I received a call from my sister-in-law.

Her voice was gentle.

—Kien Vi.

—I have made my decision.

I stayed quiet.

—I won’t return to that marriage.

I was surprised.

—But he is trying to change.

She smiled.

—Some things can be repaired.

—But some years can never be recovered.

I looked out the window.

And at that moment, I finally understood.

She didn’t leave because she stopped loving him.

She left because she finally learned how to love herself.

And Luc Thua Bac…

lost the woman who once saved his entire family.

He also lost the younger sister who once admired him.

All because he believed…

the people who loved him most would always stay.