Chapter 3 — Return the Diamond Ring

I didn't expose it, just nodded slightly. He went back to the room, changed clothes, and applied perfume. One phone call— It was enough for him to forget about me, even forgetting that I had just burned all of our souvenir photos.

“Oh right, what were you going to say just now?”

It wasn't until he was about to walk out the door that Tong Van Nghiem suddenly remembered and turned to ask me with surprise. 3. I thought for a moment, then slowly said:

"I can sell my shares back to Hua Thanh Thanh, at the market price. Ask her if she wants it."

Tong Van Nghiem's eyes immediately lit up.

“Are you telling the truth?”

I nodded. He quickly walked in front of me, held my face, then kissed me hard.

"You were very good today. I know, I still have you in my heart."

“Then let me talk about this with her later.”

Just finished speaking, he suddenly realized that this sentence was inappropriate and hastily added:

“I mean… call her and tell her.”

I pretended not to hear the guilt in his words, just coldly wiped away the mark he had just left on my face.

“As fast as possible. Before I change my mind.”

Tong Van Nghiem happily accepted, took the car keys and left the house. He was so excited that he hummed a tune as he walked. Less than half an hour later, I received a text message. Hua Thanh Thanh agreed to buy back shares. I'm not surprised. The company is growing and its share value is also increasing day by day. Even though she doesn't have enough money right now, Tong Van Nghiem will definitely help her take care of it. An opportunity that could cost her no money and still get her shares, how could she refuse? That night, Tong Van Nghiem did not come home. I don't know if the two of them are celebrating or not, but I don't care. In the middle of the night, while I was sleeping soundly, the phone suddenly rang. I vaguely picked up the phone, but before I could say anything, I heard a heavy gasp from the other end of the line. About ten seconds later, a cooing voice rang out—

"Mr. Van Nghiem, you no longer like Ms. Tham Tu, so why do you still want to marry her?"

Two seconds of silence. Then, Tong Van Nghiem's low voice rang out.

“After all, we've been together for ten years.

Besides, she just obeyed and gave him all her shares. It's not very convenient to break up now."

“Don't mention her now, I'll lose interest.”

The phone is disconnected. I stared at the screen that had just displayed the end of the call, clearly understanding that Tong Van Nghiem did not know about this call. This is Hua Thanh Thanh deliberately calling, just to provoke me. This kind of thing happened many times. Even if I tell Tong Van Nghiem again, it won't help, he believes Hua Thanh Thanh more than he believes me. I can even guess— Even about registering a marriage, Tong Van Nghiem will change his mind after tonight. I put the phone down, turned over and went back to sleep. The next day when I woke up, I continued to pack my things. Indeed. Near sunset, Tong Van Nghiem hurriedly returned home.

"Tham Tu, I had an urgent matter today so I couldn't go to the civil affairs department, it wasn't intentional."

“You're not angry, are you?”

On his neck, there are faint scratch marks.

No need to guess what the "urgent matter" he mentioned is.

I shook my head, my tone calm:

“No angry."

Anyway, I had prepared myself mentally in advance, so I didn't bother going there.

“That's good.”

Tong Van Nghiem smiled brightly and brought a file of documents in front of me.

“The share transfer contract has been prepared. Let's sign this first."

Maybe he was afraid that I would get angry and change his mind, so even though he appeared calm on the outside, he was still a bit nervous. I pretended not to see it, took the contract, and checked the terms. No problem, I sign it. When I put down my pen to sign the last sheet, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Up until now, he has always been a procrastinator, but this time, as soon as he signed, he immediately called a lawyer to complete the procedure. In less than half an hour, all shares were transferred to Hua Thanh Thanh. The money was also transferred directly to my account. Everything has ended. Tong Van Nghiem was in a very happy mood, even his eyes looking at me were much gentler.

“Why do you look so haggard?”

He pretended to complain, then pretended to be kind and gently stroked my cheek, smiled and said:

“I was originally going to postpone the marriage registration to tomorrow, but seeing how good you are, I'll take you today.”

“Are you happy?”

I shook his hand away, didn't answer but just turned back into the bedroom, pulling out the suitcase that I had prepared a long time ago. Tong Van Nghiem was bewildered, not understanding what was going on.

“What are you doing? Don't tell me you've already prepared your honeymoon, okay?"

He laughed, his tone a bit teasing:

“Tham Tu, I agree to marry you, but the honeymoon is temporarily unavailable. I'm so busy these days..."

I calmly interrupted him:

“It's not a honeymoon.”

“I moved out.”

“Tong Van Nghiem, we broke up.”

4.

“Break up?”

Tong Van Nghiem was stunned for a few seconds, then burst out laughing again.

“Are you kidding me?”

“I know, you're still angry about the shares, right?”

“But this time it was me who sold the shares to Thanh Thanh. You've already received the money, so don't pretend to be pitiful anymore."

He still smiled, obviously not taking my breakup seriously. I let out a sigh, my tone calm:

“Not related to shares.”

“So what is it?”

Tong Van Nghiem thought for a moment, then frowned:

“Because you didn't go to the civil affairs department?”

“Tham Tu, why are you so petty? I already explained, I'm really busy this time.”

He hadn't finished his sentence yet, when an extremely unpleasant sound suddenly rang out. From his pocket. The smile on Tong Van Nghiem's face stiffened immediately. He reacted extremely quickly, frantically took out his phone and switched it to silent mode. The room fell into a dead silence. But in contrast to the confusion and shame on his face, I felt extremely calm. Looking at his panicked, confused look, I could almost guess— He was completely unaware that his phone's ringtone had been changed. It is very likely that this is a joke from Hua Thanh Thanh.

“Tham Tu…”

Tong Van Nghiem was embarrassed and wanted to say something. But I no longer want to hear any excuses from him.

“I know it all. I also heard what happened between you and Hua Thanh Thanh last night."

“Let's break up, this is good for both.”

It has come to this point, I thought Tong Van Nghiem would follow suit and agree. But unexpectedly, he suddenly grabbed my hand tightly. He looked at me with a forced smile, his voice full of pleading:

“I understand, it's because of Hua Thanh Thanh, right? Then tomorrow I will transfer her to another department, making sure you never have to see her again."

“I never intended to break up with you. We've been together for ten years, don't let things turn into this, okay?”

“I really want to marry you. What happened with Hua Thanh Thanh was just a temporary moment."

“Look, I really want to register my marriage with you today.”

After that, he took out his phone and showed me the pre-booked marriage registration appointment. It's true that it was pre-ordered. I believe that at the moment of booking, he really wanted to marry me. But sincerity is also the easiest thing to change. Right now, he said he didn't want to break up, said he wanted to marry me— But that couldn't stop what happened in the next second, he would hug Hua Thanh Thanh in his arms. I also took out my phone and showed it to him.

“But I also really want to leave. I already bought my ticket home.”

The booking history is displayed from one month ago. I canceled over and over again, but in the end I still decided to leave. Tong Van Nghiem stared at the ticket, standing as if petrified. I looked at him and calmly said:

“Disappointment does not come overnight, but accumulates over years.”

"Tong Van Nghiem, our love has died since the day Hua Thanh Thanh appeared."

“It's just that it was buried until now.”

“Let's come here. Stop tormenting each other.”

Tong Van Nghiem put his hands on his face, his eyes were red.

“I was just temporarily tempted... but I never thought about breaking up with you.

From beginning to end, I never wanted to break up. He squeezed my hand tightly, his eyes filled with pleading.

“Can you give me another chance? A chance to make things right.”

I forcefully withdrew my hand. Don't look at him for another second. Grab your suitcase and walk straight out the door. At the corner of the hallway, I unconsciously turned around. Looking at the house I have lived in for many years. There should have been feelings. But now, I don't feel anything anymore. When Tong Van Nghiem was cold towards me because of Hua Thanh Thanh, I imagined the day I left hundreds of times, on those painful nights of not being able to sleep. I used to think that on that day, I would be in pain to the core, collapse, and cry so much that I wouldn't be able to stand up. Otherwise, how can I be worthy of these ten years of love? But only now, when that moment actually came, did I realize— In my heart, only calm and numbness remained. Perhaps this is a sign of pain reaching its limit.