The name on Trinh Hao’s phone screen remained there for several seconds.

Lam Quoc Dong.

My father.

Three years.

Three years since I stopped contacting him.

Three years since I left my family’s protection and entered the marriage with Tong Dich believing that patience could create something real.

I thought I could prove that I was not just the daughter of the Lam Group chairman.

I wanted to build my own life.

My own marriage.

My own happiness.

But in the end, I learned something painful.

Some people don’t value what they have until it disappears.

Trinh Hao looked at me.

“Are you going to answer?”

I looked at the screen.

For a moment, countless memories appeared.

My father standing outside my bedroom when I was young.

The first time I entered the company.

The day I told him I wanted to marry Tong Dich.

He had been silent for a long time.

Then he only asked one question.

“Are you sure?”

I said yes.

Because I believed love could change everything.

My father didn’t stop me.

But he told me:

“One day, if you are tired, remember that home will always be there.”

At that time, I thought he didn’t understand.

Now I realized…

He understood everything.

I answered.

“Hello.”

The other side was silent.

Then my father’s voice came.

“Tinh Tinh.”

Only two words.

But my eyes suddenly became warm.

I hadn’t heard that voice in three years.

“You’re finally willing to call me.”

I lowered my head.

“I’m sorry.”

“No.”

His voice was calm.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

A pause.

“I should apologize.”

I didn’t speak.

Because I knew what he meant.

He knew.

He always knew.

“Your brother told me what happened.”

I glanced at Trinh Hao.

He looked away.

“Father…”

“I won’t ask you why you tolerated it for three years.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“I know my daughter.”

“Once you choose something, you will endure until the last moment.”

A bitter smile appeared on my face.

That was true.

Too true.

“But Tinh Tinh…”

My father’s voice became heavier.

“You should never confuse endurance with happiness.”

The car became quiet.

Rain continued falling outside.

After a while, I whispered:

“I activated appendix three.”

“I know.”

“Are you angry?”

“No.”

His answer came immediately.

“I’m proud.”

Those two words made my throat tighten.

Because for three years, I had waited for Tong Dich to say something like that.

Not once.

Not ever.

My father continued:

“The Tong family will definitely fight back.”

“I know.”

“They will say you abused your authority.”

“I know.”

“They will say you destroyed the marriage.”

“I know.”

I looked at the rain-covered window.

“But I have evidence.”

“Good.”

My father paused.

“Then let them come.”

After the call ended, Trinh Hao finally spoke.

“Your father hasn’t changed.”

I smiled slightly.

“No.”

“He just waited for me to come home.”

That evening, the news spread quickly.

The Lam Group officially announced the restructuring of its investment cooperation with the Tong Group.

The market reacted immediately.

Everyone wanted to know why.

After all, the two families had been connected for years.

Some people called it a business dispute.

Others called it a marriage conflict.

But nobody knew the real reason.

Until Tong Dich held a press conference.

I watched it from the hotel room.

He stood in front of dozens of reporters.

Still wearing the calm expression I knew too well.

“The decision from the Lam Group was unexpected.”

“We believe there may have been a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding.

I almost laughed.

He always used that word.

When he brought Tieu Vy home.

Misunderstanding.

When he ignored my position in the marriage.

Misunderstanding.

When he forgot the agreement between our families.

Misunderstanding.

Then a reporter asked:

“Mr. Tong, is this related to your wife?”

His expression changed.

Only slightly.

But I noticed.

“Family matters should not affect business.”

Another reporter asked:

“Is it true that Miss Lam requested the termination because another woman moved into your residence?”

The room became noisy.

Tong Dich’s face turned colder.

“This is private.”

Then another question came.

“Is Miss Tieu Vy your reason for ending the marriage?”

Silence.

For the first time, Tong Dich couldn’t answer immediately.

That night, I received a message.

From him.

“Can we talk?”

I looked at it.

Then ignored it.

A second message came.

“I know you are angry.”

I almost smiled.

Angry.

That was the simplest word he could find.

He didn’t understand.

I was not angry anymore.

Anger meant I still cared.

I was simply done.

The next morning, my lawyer sent me the latest update.

Tong Dich had requested a meeting.

Not to apologize.

Not to repair anything.

To negotiate.

I accepted.

The meeting was held at a private office.

When Tong Dich entered, he looked tired.

Different from the man who brought Tieu Vy home.

Different from the man who thought I would quietly accept everything.

He sat across from me.

“You really planned everything.”

I looked at him.

“No.”

“I prepared for the possibility that I would need to protect myself.”

He lowered his eyes.

“Did you ever love me?”

The question surprised me.

Not because he asked.

Because he asked now.

After everything.

I answered honestly.

“Yes.”

His eyes moved.

“But love is not enough.”

Silence.

“You had three years.”

“I waited.”

“I adjusted.”

“I respected our agreement.”

“But you treated me like a contract.”

His face changed.

“And now?”

I looked at him.

“Now I am ending the contract.”

Before he could respond, the door opened.

Tieu Vy walked in.

Her face was pale.

She looked at Tong Dich.

Then at me.

“I need to tell you something.”

Tong Dich frowned.

“Why are you here?”

She ignored him.

Her hands were shaking.

“Because I can’t continue hiding.”

The room became silent.

Then she placed a document on the table.

Tong Dich looked at it.

“What is this?”

Tieu Vy lowered her head.

“The reason I came to you three years ago.”

He opened the document.

His expression slowly changed.

I didn’t know what was inside.

But judging from his reaction…

It was something even he didn’t expect.

Then Tieu Vy whispered:

“I never loved you.”

Tong Dich froze.

“I needed your protection.”

“I needed the Tong family.”

“And I knew the only way was through you.”

His hand stopped moving.

The document slipped slightly.

For the first time…

Tong Dich looked completely lost.

Because the woman he chose over his wife…

had just admitted that she had never chosen him at all.

But the last page of that document contained another name.

A name that made Tong Dich’s expression completely collapse.

Because the person behind Tieu Vy’s plan…

was someone from his own family.