Chapter 4 — Return the Diamond Ring

Or maybe, the old Tham Tu died a long time ago, dying on lonely nights, tormented with no way out. I heard Tong Van Nghiem banging his hand on the wall in the room. But this time, I didn't stop anymore. I turned around and walked straight. However, as soon as I got to the ground floor, I saw a familiar figure standing next to the car. Hua Thanh Thanh. She bit her cigarette, looking pleased. 5. Now, she no longer has any gentleness in front of Tong Van Nghiem. She raised her head high, glanced at the suitcase next to me, and raised her eyebrows.

“Have you broken up?”

It looks like the plan was successful. She laughed mockingly, held the cigarette between two fingers, and deliberately threw the cigarette butt at me. Then burst into laughter again.

"Miss Tham Tu, right now you look like a dog that has lost its home."

“I told you before that you should break up with Mr. Van Nghiem, but you just didn't listen, what now?”

She pretended to be sorry, shaking her head slightly.

"Now even the shares are gone, do you understand what you have lost?"

I'm so familiar with this provocative look. Since she first joined the company, she has repeatedly provoked me, telling me I should break up with Tong Van Nghiem. I know her true face, but she's too good at acting. Every time she finished provoking, she would run in front of Tong Van Nghiem, acting innocent and pitiful. At that time, I was hot-tempered and didn't know how to play around. Every time I argued with her, I was misunderstood by Tong Van Nghiem. Later, as I grew frustrated, she thought of new ways to annoy me. But now, standing in front of her, I no longer feel angry. On the contrary, I just find it funny. Only now do I realize— Her tricks are so childish. Yet before, I let her lead my emotions. Indeed, when you care, you will be easily controlled.

"Mr. Van Nghiem really loves me the most."

She curled her lips and smiled, glancing at me smugly.

“Did you know? He also helped me pay for the money to buy shares this time.”

Hua Thanh Thanh is still chattering endlessly. Looking at her proud appearance, I took a step forward and stood right in front of her.

"What's wrong? Do you think I don't dare touch you?"

Hua Thanh Thanh raised her eyebrows, thinking that I would be like before, still worried about Tong Van Nghiem, not daring to do anything to her. She deliberately blew a breath of cigarette smoke into my face. I didn't say a word. Just straight up snatched the cigarette from her hand, while she was still stunned and panicked, I squeezed her chin tightly— Stuffing half of the lit cigarette into her mouth.

“Ah—!!!”

Hua Thanh Thanh quickly spit out the cigarette, but was still so burned that she screamed shrilly.

“Tham Tu, are you crazy?!”

She was so angry that her eyes widened, she cursed and then immediately raised her hand to grab my hair. But in the next second, her eyes suddenly froze, as if she saw something. She immediately withdrew her hand, her face grimaced, and quickly ran towards Tong Van Nghiem. She sobbed, her voice pitiful:

"Mr. Van Nghiem, just now Ms. Tham Tu suddenly stuffed cigarette butts into my mouth. My tongue was burned to the point of blistering, it hurts so much..."

She stuck out her tongue, trying to show off the wound to Tong Van Nghiem. Previously, each When it came to this scene—Tong Van Nghiem always defended her, got angry and scolded me, then forced me to apologize. I guess this time will be no exception, so I don't bother listening anymore, turn around and prepare to leave. But unexpectedly. Tong Van Nghiem did not react this time. He didn't pay any attention to her gossip, but just asked me in a low voice:

"Tham Tu, where are you going? Let me drive you there."

6. The rare words were gentle, even carrying a bit of pleading, which surprised me a bit. Even Hua Thanh Thanh was stunned. She couldn't believe her ears and quickly repeated:

“Mr. Van Nghiem, she just hurt me!”

This time, Tong Van Nghiem turned to look at her. Then, take out your phone— Transfer money. His voice became strangely cold.

“Go to the hospital yourself. I don't have time to worry about you.”

Hua Thanh Thanh seemed petrified on the spot. She did not leave, nor did she accept the money, but instead grabbed Tong Van Nghiem's wrist, shaking it gently, her voice soft and pampering. This move has always been her most powerful weapon, and has never failed when used against Tong Van Nghiem. But this time, he almost didn't hesitate and forcefully pushed her hand away. Hua Thanh Thanh staggered and fell to the ground, her eyes filled with tears, panicking to the extreme.

"Mr. Van Nghiem, why do you treat me like that? Obviously last night we were still—"

“Hua Thanh Thanh, shut up.”

Tong Van Nghiem interrupted her, his voice cold.

“Just now I saw clearly that you took the initiative to provoke Tham Tu first.”

“Get out of here now. Otherwise, never appear in front of me again.”

It can be seen that Tong Van Nghiem is really angry this time. Hua Thanh Thanh did not dare to say anything more, he could only press his lips tightly, and finally turned around and ran away in frustration. Tong Van Nghiem looked at her back for a moment, then turned back to look at me, his tone full of remorse and self-pity:

"Sorry, Tham Tu... I don't know her..."

“Stop acting.”

I coldly interrupted, not bothering to let him finish his sentence.

“I know. Up until now, I always knew she was deliberately provoking me.

You also know how much injustice I have suffered.” It's just that in the past, he always considered Hua Thanh Thanh's lies and provocations to be trivial jokes. He tolerated and laughed when she joked about my honor. Only because I decided to break up today did he temporarily turn his back on her. Otherwise, he will still choose to side with her as always. After I finished speaking, Tong Van Nghiem opened his mouth, as if he wanted to explain. But only a few short syllables escaped, and then nothing more could be said. My guess is not wrong. He can never choose just one side. He wants both. If you want me, you can't bear to give up Hua Thanh Thanh. I smiled faintly, pulled my suitcase back, and said in a light tone:

“There's no need to say goodbye. Just hold on tight to what you have.”

“Consider this my final advice to you, after ten years together.”

7.

"It's not what you think, Tham Tu. The person I love is always you."

“I admit that there was a time when I was attracted to Hua Thanh Thanh, but from beginning to end, my heart always belonged to you.”

Maybe afraid I wouldn't believe him, Tong Van Nghiem quickly searched inside hand bag. A moment later, he pulled out a diamond ring and raised it in front of me sincerely. It's our wedding ring. The ring he once threw away. I don't think he'll pick it up again. Tong Van Nghiem held my hand and slowly put the ring on my finger. As if afraid I would refuse, he squeezed my hand tightly, not letting me pull away.

“The love between us has never been lost. There is just a layer of fog that makes me lose my way.”

"But when the fog clears, I still know where to go. I still know who the most important person in my heart is."

He wants to use this ring, use the feelings he once had to hold me. But very quickly, the smile on his lips stiffened. The ring was pushed to the very end— But it was wider than a ring. Obviously, it no longer fits like it did in the beginning. I'm not surprised at all. Perhaps, when the ring "disappeared", it was taken by Hua Thanh Thanh and changed in size. I laughed sarcastically. On the contrary, Tong Van Nghiem panicked, became confused and frantic.

“I will fix it. I will make it back to how it was.”

He whispered, as if reassuring himself. I said nothing. Perhaps he also felt that he was completely helpless. Finally, he could no longer control himself and screamed out of control:

“I will find her to settle the account!”

He picked up the phone, intending to call Hua Thanh Thanh. At that moment, I calmly took the ring off his finger and put it back on his hand. Don't say another word. Just turned around and left.

“Tham Tu!”

Tong Van Nghiem screamed my name in despair. I didn't turn around and drove away. In the rearview mirror, I saw him with red eyes running after my car. At that moment, I suddenly realized— He looks no different now than I did many years ago. Since Hua Thanh Thanh appeared, I have run after him countless times, only to be pushed to the brink of collapse countless times. I don't know how many times I was pushed to the brink of collapse. The only difference is that, compared to me, he is luckier. Because he still has Hua Thanh Thanh by his side. Perhaps, he will quickly forget me. I thought that Tong Van Nghiem and I would end from here. But I underestimated his stubbornness.