“Get off the bus!”

The coldness in Tong Du Hoai’s voice made the entire car fall silent.

Sam So Ninh looked at him for several seconds.

She had heard those words many times before.

Get off the bus.

Wait here.

I have something more important to do.

But today, something inside her had finally become numb.

She slowly released her hand from the door handle.

“Fine.”

She stepped out.

The car door closed immediately behind her.

Through the glass, she watched Tong Du Hoai tell the driver to turn around.

The black Maybach disappeared around the corner without hesitation.

Sam So Ninh stood alone beside the road.

The wind lifted the hem of her coat.

She lowered her eyes and placed one hand protectively over her abdomen.

There was a life growing inside her.

A life that deserved better than being born into a marriage where its mother was constantly treated as an afterthought.

She took out her phone.

There were several missed calls from the hospital.

Her medical examination results had arrived.

She had already known what they would say.

Pregnant.

Seven weeks.

Everything was normal.

She had originally planned to tell Tong Du Hoai after the family banquet.

She had imagined his expression.

Perhaps surprise.

Perhaps happiness.

Perhaps, for once, he would finally look at her as his wife rather than someone who happened to live beside him.

But now she realized she didn’t need to tell him.

Not yet.

Maybe never.

She put the phone away and called a taxi.

At the Tong family residence, the banquet had already begun.

Everyone was waiting for the young couple.

When Sam So Ninh arrived alone, the old lady immediately frowned.

“Where is Du Hoai?”

“He had something to do.”

Her answer was simple.

The old lady’s expression changed.

“What could possibly be more important than today’s family banquet?”

Sam So Ninh smiled faintly.

“You should ask him.”

She walked inside.

Several relatives exchanged glances.

Someone whispered that Khuong Kha Ngam had injured her ankle.

Someone else said Tong Du Hoai had rushed to her immediately.

The words floated around Sam So Ninh like distant noise.

She sat quietly at the end of the table.

For the first time, she didn’t defend him.

She didn’t explain.

She didn’t pretend everything was fine.

An hour later, the main doors opened.

Tong Du Hoai walked in.

His expression was still cold, but his steps were hurried.

The moment he saw Sam So Ninh sitting at the table, his eyes paused.

“You came.”

She looked at him.

“You told me to walk here.”

His brows tightened.

“I thought you would understand.”

“I do.”

That answer seemed to surprise him.

He walked toward her.

“Kha Ngam only twisted her ankle. The doctor said she needs to rest for a few days.”

Sam So Ninh nodded.

“That’s good.”

He stared at her.

“You’re not angry?”

She lowered her eyes.

“Why would I be?”

“Because I left you.”

She smiled.

“You do that all the time.”

His expression froze.

The words were quiet.

But somehow they hurt more than an accusation.

Before he could respond, the old lady interrupted.

“Enough. Sit down.”

Tong Du Hoai took the seat beside Sam So Ninh.

Normally, she would have leaned toward him.

Tonight, she remained completely still.

During dinner, he occasionally looked at her.

She never looked back.

When the banquet ended, they returned home together.

The entire drive was silent.

As soon as they entered the bedroom, Tong Du Hoai finally asked:

“What happened to you recently?”

Sam So Ninh was taking off her earrings.

“What do you mean?”

“You’re different.”

She placed the earrings into a box.

“How?”

“You don’t talk to me.”

“You don’t seem to mind.”

“You don’t ask where I’m going anymore.”

“You always tell me.”

His eyes darkened.

“And you don’t get jealous anymore.”

Her hands stopped.

For a moment, she almost laughed.

“Do you want me to?”

He didn’t answer.

She turned around.

“Tong Du Hoai, when I cared, you said I was childish.”

“You said I was imagining things.”

“When I asked about Kha Ngam, you said I was unreasonable.”

“When I wanted your attention, you said I was clingy.”

She looked at him calmly.

“So now that I don’t care, why are you suddenly unhappy?”

His jaw tightened.

“I never said I didn’t care about you.”

“You didn’t have to.”

Her voice was soft.

“Your actions said it for you.”

He stared at her.

Then his eyes fell on the nightstand.

The pink diary was gone.

He suddenly remembered the pages burning in the fire.

His chest tightened.

“Why did you burn that diary?”

She looked away.

“Because I don’t need it anymore.”

“What was written inside?”

She smiled faintly.

“You already read it.”

“I want to know why you destroyed it.”

“Because I was embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?”

“To discover how foolish I had been.”

His expression changed.

“You weren’t foolish.”

“No?”

She looked directly into his eyes.

“I loved someone who didn’t love me.”

The room became completely silent.

Tong Du Hoai felt something inside his chest sink.

He wanted to deny it.

But the words wouldn’t come.

Sam So Ninh walked past him.

“I’ve arranged a place to stay.”

His head snapped toward her.

“What?”

“I’ll move out tomorrow.”

His expression instantly hardened.

“Why?”

“Because this marriage has already ended.”

“It hasn’t.”

She turned around.

“Then what is it?”

He couldn’t answer.

“You said Kha Ngam and you are just friends.”

“Yes.”

“But when she calls, you leave everything.”

“You said family matters are important.”

“They are.”

“Then why am I always the one you leave behind?”

He clenched his fists.

“That’s not the same.”

“Then tell me what is different.”

Again, silence.

She nodded slowly.

“I knew you wouldn’t have an answer.”

She walked toward the closet.

Tong Du Hoai suddenly caught her wrist.

“Don’t leave.”

She looked down at his hand.

Then back at him.

“Why?”

His throat tightened.

He didn’t know.

He only knew that the thought of waking up tomorrow and finding her gone suddenly terrified him.

“Because you’re my wife.”

She smiled.

“That is a title.”

“It doesn’t mean anything if your heart isn’t here.”

His fingers loosened.

She gently pulled her wrist away.

“My heart was here.”

“For a very long time.”

She placed her palm over her abdomen.

“But now I have someone else to protect.”

Tong Du Hoai froze.

His eyes followed her hand.

“What do you mean?”

Sam So Ninh didn’t answer.

She simply walked out of the room.

For the first time that night, panic appeared in his eyes.

He followed her into the hallway.

“Sam So Ninh.”

She stopped.

“Are you sick?”

“No.”

“Then why did you touch your stomach?”

She looked at him for a long moment.

Then she said quietly:

“Because I’m pregnant.”

The world seemed to stop.

Tong Du Hoai stood completely motionless.

“What did you say?”

“I’m pregnant.”

His lips parted.

“When did you find out?”

“A few days ago.”

“You knew?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She smiled.

“Because I wanted to tell my husband.”

His face went pale.

“And then I realized I didn’t know where my husband was.”

He couldn’t speak.

She continued:

“You were always with someone else.”

“Always.”

“So I decided that my child and I don’t need to wait for you anymore.”

Tong Du Hoai took a step toward her.

“An Ninh…”

It was the first time in years he had called her so gently.

But she stepped back.

“Don’t.”

He stopped.

At that moment, his phone rang.

The screen displayed one name.

Khuong Kha Ngam.

He stared at it.

Then at Sam So Ninh.

For the first time in their marriage, he didn’t answer.

The phone kept ringing.

Sam So Ninh looked at the screen and gave him a faint smile.

“Go.”

“I won’t.”

She shook her head.

“You should.”

He looked at her.

“No.”

“I’ve spent too many years waiting for you.”

He slowly put the phone away.

“I don’t want to go.”

But Sam So Ninh had already turned around.

She walked toward the guest room.

“I don’t believe you anymore.”

The door closed between them.

Tong Du Hoai stood alone in the hallway.

His phone stopped ringing.

A second later, a message appeared.

Khuong Kha Ngam:

“Du Hoai, I’m scared. Please come back.”

He stared at the message.

Then he looked at the closed door behind which his pregnant wife had disappeared.

For the first time, he understood something terrifying.

The woman who had loved him most in this world was finally no longer waiting for him.

And perhaps the moment he finally realized how much she meant to him…

was the exact moment he had already lost her.