Chapter 3 — A Marriage of Convenience, A Graceful Exit

I walked into the grand ballroom with my arm linked through Ta Van Vien’s. The crowd exchanged hurried glances, an undercurrent of murmurs ripples through the room, yet no one dared to speak aloud. I knew they were accustomed to seeing Ta Van Vien accompanied by his daughter, Ta Uyen Uyen. To see me there instead—sharp-eyed and brimming with a cold, refined arrogance—was a shock to their senses. However, they were quick to adapt.

As soon as the party commenced, I detached myself from Ta Van Vien’s arm, lifted a crystal flute of champagne, and began to weave through the room. The business magnates who had once looked down upon me now approached with sycophantic smiles, eager to toast the new "Madame Ta." After all, who would be foolish enough to offend me? After years of grinding in the cutthroat world of commerce, I was far from a decorative ornament. Once we exchanged a few rounds of drinks, the most pretentious of them realized that I was not a fragile porcelain doll, but a woman with genuine, formidable power. Their demeanor shifted; they began to treat me with grave seriousness, initiating earnest business negotiations.

When the festivities hit their stride, I excused myself to the ladies' room. Standing before the mirror to adjust my hair, I overheard voices from outside the door. A young woman in a pink gown was whispering to her companion, "I never expected Ta Uyen Uyen’s stepmother to be so intimidating! Just looking at her makes me feel like she’s someone not to be trifled with."

Another chimed in with a sneer, "So what if she’s tough? Our families don’t need to grovel before her. Anyone who is an enemy of Uyen Uyen is our enemy. Don’t you dare show her any friendliness!"

I found myself stifling a laugh. These milk-nosed brats actually thought they could isolate me? They might be the scions of Beijing’s elite, but they seemed to have forgotten their place. By the time they actually grasped the reins of their family fortunes, I would already have deep, immovable roots in this city’s upper crust. When that day came, regardless of who they were, they would be the ones bowing to me for partnerships. Ignoring their pathetic, gossiping drivel, I finished touching up my hair and returned to the ballroom.

When I stepped back into the fray, Ta Uyen Uyen was already standing by her father. His eyes were soft, like flowing water, as he looked at her. "Today is your eighteenth birthday, Uyen Uyen. May you always be safe, and may you always be happy." With those words, he took a crown from a velvet cushion and placed it solemnly upon her head—a priceless antique he had secured at a legendary auction.

In the crowd, a girl couldn't help but whisper, "It seems the Ta family truly prioritizes Uyen Uyen above all else."

Uyen Uyen lifted her head to look at me, her face feigning a gentle sweetness, though her eyes were filled with blatant provocation. I chose to ignore it. She offered a "naive" smile and asked, "Mother, what sort of gift have you prepared for me?"

With Ta Van Vien having already presented such a treasure, if I failed to produce something of equal value, the rumors would inevitably paint me as a nouveau riche miser—a country bumpkin. The only thing that could outshine an antique was a stake in the company. But… I felt a devious smirk pull at the corner of my lips, and I clapped my hands twice.

The butler approached with an exquisite silver tray. I pulled back the red cloth, revealing nothing but a simple letter. Ta Uyen Uyen opened it with a look of disdain, but as she read, her eyes widened in disbelief. I smiled at her, my voice as gentle as a devoted mother. "My dear, I know how brilliant you are, and how high your standards for university are. That is why I asked Professor Tham Lap Nguyen to write this letter of recommendation, securing your place in the Faculty of Law at the University of Munich."

"On your eighteenth birthday, I hope your future shines as bright as your spirit. Go and live a life that is truly your own."

The moment those words left my lips, Uyen Uyen’s expression shifted entirely. Even raised in a wealthy household, she understood the sheer weight of a recommendation from Professor Tham Lap Nguyen—a man Ta Van Vien himself could never easily influence. Compared to the fleeting affection of her father, this letter was infinitely more enticing. For the first time, Uyen Uyen addressed me with genuine sincerity: "…Mother."

I maintained my smile, though it masked a much darker intention. The University of Munich in Germany? Go, study, and stay there in quiet seclusion. After all, those three years of university abroad would be the most precious years of her youth. By the time she struggled through her studies and returned, I would ensure she had no interest left in clinging to Ta Van Vien. Even I, with my sharp mind, had once nearly been crushed by the intensity of that program. A girl like Uyen Uyen—vain, arrogant, and prone to overestimating her own intelligence—was destined for a miserable disaster.

Uyen Uyen continued to shower me with gratitude, and I played the part of the "kind mother" perfectly, accepting her praise while the Ta family members looked on, their faces as dark as the bottom of a pot. I caught their gaze, then turned away with effortless indifference. I knew exactly what they were planning. They had deliberately delayed her studies abroad because they wanted to keep her here—to use her as a puppet to sabotage me and distract me within the Ta household. While I was busy playing house with Uyen Uyen, they intended to siphon off my dowry for their secret projects within the Ta corporation.

But who did they think I was? I would never let mere domestic squabbles distract me from the larger picture. That irresistible letter of recommendation was the perfect tool: it silenced the Ta family’s complaints and sent my little "trouble" thousands of miles away.

After receiving the letter, Uyen Uyen began rushing to learn the language. Time was short, and German was not as easy as she had imagined. Even with her foundation, the workload was a torture—not to mention the additional subjects I insisted she take. I hired a team of elite tutors to cycle through the Ta mansion, giving her no time to breathe.

Ta Van Vien could not object. Every time he tried to pull Uyen Uyen aside to use her against me, I would smile and interject, "Husband, this is such a critical stage for Uyen Uyen. If you truly love her, don't stand in her way. Though I may not be as highly educated as you, I know the old saying: 'All pursuits are lowly, only study is noble.' Isn't it wonderful that she enjoys learning?"

I narrowed my eyes at him, and his confidence faltered. That remark about my "lack of education" hit a nerve. He had always despised me, never even bothering to check my credentials. It was only on Uyen Uyen's birthday, when I produced that letter from the Professor, that he realized the truth: I was a Munich Law and Finance graduate who had built a massive fortune before twenty-eight and had only returned to China to dominate the market. He fancied himself a Beijing power player, but he was merely a man living off his family’s fumes, holding a worthless degree and wasting his time on petty squabbles. Compared to me, what was he?

Realizing my true background, his pride was shattered. For days, he avoided me like a ghost. And me? I was far too busy building my empire to care.

On Friday night, I met with several suppliers at a private club. The atmosphere was refined—winding brooks, the soft melody of a lute, and traditional songs that felt like a soothing balm. I toasted the merchants, drinking and playing a mental game of cat and mouse, eventually forcing the prices down to the absolute minimum they could accept. One middle-aged man with a potbelly laughed bitterly, "Director Tham, doing business with you is truly a grueling ordeal."

I smiled radiantly, raising my glass. "President Vuong, you are too kind. I am merely learning from you."

After several rounds, I excused myself to the restroom, though in reality, I wanted a breath of fresh air. On the terrace, the view was beautiful and the wind was cool. I was just reaching for my lighter when I heard a familiar voice. It was Ta Van Vien and the matriarch of the Ta family. I turned and ducked behind a heavy curtain, listening in silence.

The old woman no longer wore her mask of benevolence. Her voice was cold and gravelly. "Why haven't you moved against Tham Thu Di yet? Don't tell me you can't even handle one woman!"

Ta Van Vien’s voice was filled with frustration. "It’s not that I don't want to! She is too guarded. She is not some soft persimmon I can crush! That fifteen billion is not going to just fall into our hands."

The matriarch sneered. "She is just a woman; what harm can she really do? Your sister-in-law was a tough nut to crack, too, and in the end, didn't she hand over every cent of her dowry?"

The air on the terrace turned deathly silent.