Chapter 20 — After Firing Me, My Husband Lost the 6 Billion Dollar Project!

In the distance is the CBD financial center, where the headquarters of the Co Group is located, where the room I worked in for five years is located. Rumor has it that while serving a suspended sentence, Co Canh Tham gave all control of the company to Ms. Vuong. He moved out of the General Director's office, moved to a normal office, went to work on time every day, and was no longer involved in any policy decisions. Rumor has it, Secretary Trieu, after completing his sentence, got an administrative job at a small company, with a salary of only one-third of the previous day. Rumor has it, Lam Nhuoc Khe once went on a hunger strike in prison, but after being forced to eat through a tube, she no longer dared to riot. Hearing those "rumors", I did not feel a bit of joy or pain in my heart. Some things have ended. But there are also things that are just beginning. The phone vibrates, it's a text message from Tham Dao: "Do you want to go eat tonight?" I texted back: “Okay.” Putting my phone away, I turned and left the office. The hallway was quiet, only echoing the sound of my own footsteps. The elevator went down, the door opened, I walked in. Before the door closed, I looked back at the company name sign at the end of the hallway... The four words "Van Tinh Capital" were made of metal, simple but elegant. That's my name. And also my new beginning. Two years later. Van Tinh Capital's annual revenue has surpassed the 4 billion yuan mark. Uncle Chau's 6 billion contract operated smoothly, reaching 100% of the set target in the first year. Ha Tinh and his legal team have decisively won three large-scale commercial lawsuits, and the company's reputation in the industry is increasingly resounding. Tham Dao's risk management department has become the industry standard, many colleagues in other companies have had to go to learn from experience. Lao Tien is in charge of business development, within just two years he has opened four branches, all of which are profitable. Tieu Hua rose from my assistant to the position of Project Director, leading her own team, achieving top sales results in the entire company. My mother moved to live in the new apartment I just bought in the Tan Giang area, a three-bedroom house with two living rooms, facing south, full of sunlight. Every morning, my mother went to the river for a walk, and in the afternoon she played cards with the neighbors, sometimes calling to ask if I had eaten. I have not remarried yet. It's not that I don't want to, it's that I haven't met the right person yet. But I'm in no hurry. One Saturday afternoon, I was sitting at home reading a book when the doorbell rang. Opening the door, standing outside was a woman in her thirties, wearing a simple white shirt and jeans, with a bare face. It took me a few seconds to recognize her. Secretary Trieu. Oh no, now she is no longer Secretary Trieu. She is just Trieu Du, an ordinary person.

“Mr. To… no, Mr. To…” She hesitated, “Hello, Miss To.”

I leaned my back against the doorframe and looked at her: "What are you looking for me for?" She took out a small box hidden behind her back and respectfully handed it to me with both hands.

"General Co asked me to bring this to you. He said this was always kept with him, so now he should return it to you."

I received the box, opened the lid and looked at it. Inside is a clock. Not a famous brand, just a normal Casio watch. I recognize it. That's the first month I joined Co Group, I used my first month's salary to buy it. Then I gave it to Co Canh Tham because he said he liked this simple design. He wore it for five years. Now, he gives it back to me.

“Is he living well?” I asked.

Trieu Du nodded: "It's okay. Currently he works as a normal Project Manager at the company, doesn't care about big things anymore. He goes to work on time every day, and visits his mother on weekends." I was silent. Trieu Du continued: "He asked me to leave a message for you."

“He said, 'Thank you for keeping the contract for the company that year'.”

I was momentarily stunned. Back then I did something for the Co family. I ceded the cooperative relationship with Uncle Chau to the Co Group to take over, on the condition that they must reform the senior management staff. They accepted that condition. The Co family did not collapse. More than three thousand employees are still working.

“The second thing he wants to say is…” Trieu Du looked at me hesitantly, “‘Sorry’.”

I stared at the watch in my hand. The glass is scratched, the strap is also worn, but the watch hands are still ticking. The second hand moves steadily, not fast, not slow.

"Please go back and tell him for me," I said, "There's no need to apologize. It's the past, it's over."

Trieu Du nodded, turned and walked away. I closed the door, returned to the sofa, and looked at the old clock. The clock is still running. Time still passes. I still continue on my path. Sunlight poured in through the window, spreading a warm yellow color onto the tea table. I placed the watch on the windowsill, letting it bask in the sunlight. Then I picked up the phone and texted Tham Dao: "Are you free tonight?" Tham Dao replied immediately: "Are you free? What's wrong?"

“Want to drink.”

"Okay. 7 o'clock, old place."

I put down my phone, stood up and walked towards the window. Outside is the skyline of Tan Giang area, the river surface sparkles like gold under the sun. In the distance, in the city's CBD, the Co Group's building still stands there, but it no longer has anything to do with me. I had my own building. I have my own name. I have my own sky. As for the people who hurt me... I don't hate them. But I will never forgive them either. I just leave them in the past. After that, I turned around and boldly walked towards my own future.