Chapter 3 — The Toast That Ended Ten Years of Marriage

A flicker of panic surged through the man’s eyes. He reached out, intent on grasping my hand, but before he could make contact, Jiang Le Song suddenly stepped between us.

"Brother Diep, perhaps I should just return home. I am certain that she has completely misunderstood the nature of our relationship."

I merely watched them with a detached expression, remaining silent. Perhaps Co Van Diep interpreted my indifference as stifled anger, for he hurried to offer an explanation. "After getting intoxicated yesterday, Little Song hit her head. I took her for a follow-up examination today, which is why I arrived so late to the concert."

He paused, his voice heavy with concern. "She has been suffering from frequent headaches now, and I simply could not rest easy. I thought it best to let her stay in the guest room for the night."

Once he finished, Co Van Diep locked his gaze onto mine, seemingly terrified that I might erupt in fury. I nodded, my tone devoid of emotion. "In that case, I will go stay at a hotel. I would hate to be an inconvenience to the two of you."

Co Van Diep stood stunned, clearly caught off guard by my lack of resistance. "If you truly are uncomfortable with Little Song staying here, I will take her—"

Before he could finish his sentence, Jiang Le Song suddenly clutched her head. "Brother Diep, the pain is returning. Please, look at it for me—is it bleeding again?"

Co Van Diep’s expression shifted instantly. He rushed to lift her and carried her back into the room to massage her temples. As I began to pack a few belongings, preparing to leave, Co Van Diep returned to the living area. His lips were pressed into a thin, tight line, and he gripped my wrist with an intensity that signaled he would not let go. The guilt in his eyes was deepening, but ultimately, driven by the persistent, anxious cries of Jiang Le Song from the other room, Co Van Diep frowned and said, "Chieu Ha, I will make this up to you."

I looked down at the hand clamped around my wrist. It was a hand that had held mine countless times, leading me through the streets during the first snows of winter and helping me turn the pages of my piano scores. But now, that same hand was trembling in frantic service to another woman’s tears. I gently disengaged his grip, pulled the divorce agreement from my bag, and laid it upon the console table in the foyer.

"There is no need for compensation."

I looked up at him, my gaze as still and empty as a stagnant pond. "Co Van Diep, sign it."

Co Van Diep took the agreement, scanned my face for a heartbeat, and suddenly let out a low, dismissive laugh. "Lam Chieu Ha, you have truly changed. I never expected you to be the type to get jealous, or to start demanding gifts from me."

"But I am pleased by this. Whatever it is you want, I will grant it."

Having said this, eager to prove his magnanimity, the man did not even bother to read the terms. He flipped straight to the signature page and scrawled his name across it. As he handed the papers back to me, he seemed momentarily moved, leaning in as if to kiss me. I was already calculating how to rebuff him when Jiang Le Song’s voice cut through the air. Co Van Diep ignored it, still trying to step toward me, but her voice rose again, sharper this time.

"Brother Diep!"

He moved to explain himself, but I spoke first. "Go check on her. What if something is truly wrong?"

Co Van Diep looked at me with a flicker of unease. "Then… I will go see to her first. If something is indeed wrong, she will not be able to handle it alone."

"Go, then. Do not leave your little girl feeling distressed."

Surprised by my sudden reasonableness, Co Van Diep squeezed my hand, seemingly desperate to discern what exactly had come over me. But Jiang Le Song called out again, this time a cry for help. Finally, under my steady gaze, Co Van Diep released me.

"Tomorrow—tomorrow, Little Song will leave. When she does, let us have a child. It is high time we started a family."

With that, he hurried away. I casually left the divorce papers on the coffee table and began packing his belongings. By tomorrow, Co Van Diep would need to clear out of this house entirely. He remained in Jiang Le Song’s room for the duration of the night. I did not care, nor did I ask. The following morning, I arrived at the office exactly on time.