Chapter 1 — The Last Word Is Myself

Was tricked into losing 2,000,000 yuan so he could buy a house for Bach Nguyet Quang? I cleaned out eight stores and sent him bankrupt. Co Dinh Phong always liked to threaten divorce. Every time after an argument, he throws back that same sentence, and I'm always the one who takes the initiative and humbles myself. Until this time. I accidentally found a photocopy of the home ownership certificate in his office drawer. The name on it is Tong Thanh Man. His first love in college. I took the paper and went to find Co Dinh Phong, but he didn't even bother to raise his head.

"She just returned home and doesn't have a place to live yet. I just helped pay the deposit in advance."

"If you want to make a big deal out of such a small thing, then divorce."

I lowered my head to look at the photocopy, then looked back at Co Dinh Phong. Silence for two seconds.

“Okay, then divorce.”

The tip of the pen in Co Dinh Phong's hand stopped. Apparently he didn't expect me to agree. He nonchalantly raised his eyelids to look at me, then lowered his head again. Continue to sign the other document. I put the photocopy on the corner of his desk. Then turned around and left the office. Standing in the hallway, I leaned my back against the wall, behind was the cold paint. My chest was so tight that I could barely breathe. That night, Co Dinh Phong did not return to the bedroom. I knew he was waiting for me to get into the water. But this time, I don't want to bow my head anymore. Early the next morning, I packed a few changes of clothes and stuffed them into my travel bag. Co Dinh Phong was standing in the living room listening to the phone. Seeing me leave, he said to the other person:

“Yeah, I'll come over and see tomorrow.”

Then quickly hung up. The person on the other end of the line is Tong Thanh Man. His eyes fell on the travel bag in my hand. Then looked at my face again.

“Go to the store for a few days.”

"At the store? When will you be back?"

I heard contempt in his voice. Didn't bother to answer.

“I won't come back anymore.”

Co Dinh Phong held the phone, leaned on the sofa, looking at me with an annoyed expression.

“To Niem Chan, stop causing trouble.”

“I just helped my old classmate a little, is that necessary?”

I lowered my eyes and looked at him for a few seconds. It's not just a deposit. It's the capital I saved up for three years to open a branch. 2,000,000 yuan. From a roadside seller, I gradually built up eight stores in a row. Every day, I woke up at three-thirty in the morning to prepare ingredients, kneeling until two pairs of knee pads were broken, spending every penny to collect that amount of money. Yet he only waved his hand once. Go buy your first love a luxury apartment. I'm not trying to make a fool of myself either. I just feel... This marriage really can't continue anymore. Co Dinh Phong frowned.

“When did you become so stingy?”

For three years now, he has treated my restaurant like his own ATM. Party needs money, find me to get it. Social gifts, recorded directly in the store. Changed the furniture to his mother, also swiped my card straight. I have never calculated with him.

“That's right, Co Dinh Phong, I'm a stingy person.”

I looked at him, his tone strangely calm.

“So I agree to divorce.”

Last night he didn't even consider what I said to be true. He thinks I can't bear to leave him. After all, after three years of marriage, it's still like that. I proactively persevere. I bowed my head and admitted my mistake. I coaxed him happily. He's used to me surrounding him, and he's also used to going out and spending generously with my money. Even my close friend Trieu Man felt dissatisfied on my behalf. Say that I was deceived by Co Dinh Phong's face. Insisted on marrying him. Co Dinh Phong's face darkened. He laughed coldly.

"It's really divorced, are you willing?"

I carried my travel bag and walked towards the door. Behind him, he coldly added another sentence:

"To Niem Chan, now that you're leaving me, I'll see who else can help you deal with that mess."

I didn't turn back. The moment the door slammed shut behind me, I took a deep breath. The cold wind blew straight into the collar. November morning, the sky is not yet fully bright. I stood at the gate of the residential area and waited for a while, then called a car to go to the store. Co Dinh Phong did not come to find me. Because he never took the initiative to bow his head. Two days later, I returned to get my winter clothes. Co Dinh Phong is sitting in the living room watching TV. Seeing me walk in, he turned off the sound, leaned on the sofa and looked at me. That expression… I'm so familiar with it. He was sure I would be the one to go into the water. For three years now, he has gotten used to it. Get used to waiting for me to actively comfort you. I went into the bedroom and stuffed my thick coat into the suitcase, then walked out the living room door. Take off the bracelet on your wrist. It was the gift he gave me the day he proposed to me. I put it on the tea table.

“This… give it back to me.”

Co Dinh Phong leaned back on the sofa, not reaching out to receive. He laughed. It's a laugh full of disdain.

“To Niem Chan, can you even return this bracelet?”

A year ago, when he proposed to me, he suddenly appeared at the back kitchen door on my busiest day. Holding that jade bracelet, he knelt on one knee in front of all the staff. At that time, my hands smelled of grease and I hadn't even taken off my apron. He said he wanted to live with me forever. That bracelet, I have never had the heart to take off before. Whether washing vegetables or chopping meat, be careful to preserve them. Co Dinh Phong even laughed at me. I didn't respond to his ridicule, just calmly said:

"Yes. Let's return it to the right owner."

Co Dinh Phong was silent for a moment. Then he smirked again.

“You just keep it.”

He changed his sitting position, lazily leaning against the sofa.

“I still have to give it back to you later, it's troublesome.”

Annoying. In Co Dinh Phong's eyes, what is not troublesome? I don't mind spending time choosing furniture with Tong Thanh Man every week. The day Tong Thanh Man moved house, he even asked for a day off to supervise the construction team. Tong Thanh Man said that whichever shop he wanted to eat cakes from, he was willing to drive forty minutes to buy them. Even though that day… It was our marriage anniversary. I didn't know these things before. I just don't want to think too deeply. I always tell myself, just try to hold on a little longer. One day he will put me in his heart. But I was wrong. That position in his heart... From the beginning, it belonged to Tong Thanh Man.

“No need to keep it anymore.”

My voice didn't waver at all.

“Co Dinh Phong, let's divorce.”

The smile on his face faded a bit.

“To Niem Chan, it's just enough.”

"You're really divorced, how do you plan to live in the future?"