Chapter 4 — 30 Years of Stolen Identity

"It's true that you have a school district house on Trung Son Street. There are currently no transactions being processed."

“But I was threatened.” I said. "They have a copy of my ID, and also a fake power of attorney. To avoid them using illegal tricks to transfer my name, I request a freeze."

The employee nodded:

"Okay. Registering a complaint is valid for fifteen days. During that time, you need to file a lawsuit with the court, otherwise the blockade order will be automatically canceled."

After completing the blockade procedure, I went to the bank. Lock all cards, change passwords, turn off all transactions without authentication. The employee was working and suddenly said:

“Miss To, the system shows that half a month ago someone applied for a business loan in your name.”

I frowned:

“How much?”

"800,000 yuan. The reason is to import goods for a clothing store."

“Already approved?”

"Approved. Money has been transferred to the designated account."

I took a deep breath.

“Which account?”

Staff checked again. Account name: To Phan. I laughed.

"I want to report a crime. Someone impersonated me to scam a bank loan."

Leaving the bank, I called the lawyer.

“Lawyer Truong, I need three sets of legal documents.

First, application to cancel fake civil status. Second, the lawsuit filed against my sister To Phan for impersonation and loan fraud. Third, a lawsuit against my parents for extortion.” The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.

"To Nghenh, are you sure you want to do that? They are your family."

“My family will not steal my ID, will not build a son for me, will not force me to sell my house, nor will they use my name to borrow 800,000 yuan.”

The lawyer sighed.

"Okay. Tomorrow I will prepare the documents."

I hung up the phone, stood in front of the bank, looking at the traffic passing by. The phone rang again. I answered the phone.

"To Nghenh! Are you crazy?! How dare you blockade the house?! How dare you block the card?! How do you want us to live?!"

I'm calm:

“Mom, that 800,000 yuan loan, how are you going to pay it back?”

The other end of the line was silent. A long time later, her voice trembled:

“You… you already know…”

“The bank told me.” I said. “Impersonating someone else to borrow money, large amounts of money, can be punished with three to ten years in prison.”

"To Nghenh! That's your sister! Are you going to send her to jail?!"

“He threw himself in there.”

"You... ungrateful thing! We raised you in vain!"

“Raise me?” I laugh. "After graduating, I sent my mother 3,000 yuan every month for five years. To Phan graduated for three years, never worked a day, you raised him for three years. Who raised who?"

My mother was speechless and could only cry.

“Ngh Nghenh, I beg you... Phan Phan borrowed 800,000 yuan to make ends meet temporarily... her boyfriend needs capital to do business... if he earns the money, he will pay it back…”

"Boyfriend? Chu Loi?"

“No… other people… are very rich, opening a company…”

“My boyfriend opened a company but he still had to borrow 800,000 yuan to turn it around?”

My mother fell silent.

"That... you don't need to worry about it! Anyway, you have to accept this money! You are her sister, you have the obligation to repay her debt!"

“I have no obligations.”

"To Nghenh! If you don't worry, we will come to your company and cause trouble! Make your boss fire you!"

“Just go.” I said. "Remember to bring a speaker and banner. I'll call a reporter for you."

I hung up. Then open the banking app and check the balance. Over the years, I risked my life to work and risked my life to save. The amount in my account is enough for me to pay off my home loan, enough for me to quit my job one year, enough for me to go wherever I want. I took a screenshot and sent it to my mom. Accompanied by a sentence:

“I won't give you any of this money.”

I blocked the rest. Then walk into the coffee shop next door and order an Americano. Sitting next to the window, looking at the gloomy sky outside. The phone vibrates again. I picked up the phone. It's To Phan's voice. He cried until he was numb.

"Sister, I was wrong... I was really wrong... can you forgive me this time? I will definitely pay 800,000 yuan... my family doesn't need it anymore, I don't need Tieu Bao either... please help me, I don't want to go to jail..."

I took a sip of coffee.

“To Phan, thirteen years ago, when you were pregnant, why didn't you tell me?”

It stopped.

“I… I'm scared…”

"I was afraid, so I stole your identity card and put your name on my child's household registration? I was afraid, so I let you take on the responsibility of raising the child? I was afraid, so I used your name to borrow money?"

“I… you were still young at that time…”

“I'm no longer a child now.” I said. “Twenty-eight years old, you must take responsibility for your own actions.”

"To Nghenh! Are you really that cruel?! I'm your biological sister!"

"My younger sister will not post a post celebrating her college entrance exam on the day my sister is on the operating table."

I hung up. The coffee has cooled. I stood up and left the shop. Rain started to fall. Without an umbrella, I just walked into the rain. Cold water splashed on my face, waking me up cruelly. Phone vibrates. Message from the police station:

"To Nghenh, the blood relationship assessment has been arranged. Time: 9:00 a.m. tomorrow. Location: City Judicial Examination Center. Bring your ID and come on time."

I answered with one word: Monday morning, 9 o'clock. I walked into the company lobby on time. The receptionist looked at me, her eyes avoiding. In the elevator, a few colleagues whispered, but when they saw me entering, they immediately fell silent. I swiped my card to the 30th floor. As soon as I got to work, the assistant to the human resources director walked over.

“Manager To, General Manager Vuong invites you to the meeting room.”

There are three people in the meeting room. Human resources director Vuong Le, legal affairs director Tran Mac, and my direct boss — Deputy General Truong. Vuong Le pushed a stack of photos towards me.

“To Nghenh, this morning at 7:30, two people came to the company lobby and pulled up banners.”

In the photo, the banner has a red background and white letters:

"Senior manager of a foreign company, To Nghenh, left her husband and children. Seeing death and not saving her, heaven and earth will not tolerate it!"

Another photo shows To Phan and Chu Loi standing and handing out leaflets in front of the reception desk. On the flyer was printed a photo of my work, next to it were large letters:

"This woman's name is To Nghenh, her annual salary is millions of yuan, but she refuses to spend money to save her seriously injured son!"

Deputy General Truong rubbed his forehead.

"To Nghenh, what is this? There are already a bunch of reporters at the company."

I looked at the photos.

"This woman is my sister To Phan, that man is her ex-boyfriend, Chu Loi. The 'son' they are talking about is the child she gave birth to thirteen years ago, named after me. Three years ago I had a hysterectomy, and cannot have children."

Vuong Le frowned:

"This is your personal matter. But now it has affected the company's image."

"I know." I said. “So I reported the crime.”

I took out my phone and opened the case receipt.

"Last Friday I reported it. Someone impersonated me and falsified civil status, suspected of committing the crime of falsifying state documents. My younger sister To Phan impersonated and caused trouble, my parents I have signs of blackmail. Here is the receipt.”

Tran Mac received the phone call and took a look. He pushed up his glasses.

“Manager To, are you sure you will follow the case to the end?”

"Sure."

"Okay." Tran Mac stood up. “As the company's legal affairs officer, I must remind you: if it is ultimately proven that this is just a family dispute, the company can reevaluate your position. But if you can prove that you are a victim, the company will provide legal support.”

Vuong Le glanced at him.

“What do you mean…”

"If what Ms. To said is true, then these two people pulling up banners and distributing leaflets in the company lobby constitute acts of defamation and disruption of business operations." Tran Mac said. “Does the security department have cameras?”