Chapter 15 — Back Before The Wedding Day

Khanh Linh chose a quiet evening after work to invite Bao Ngoc to stay with her in the empty design room, using the excuse of needing to complete a few more color coordination details before the show. When there were only two people left, she locked the door and turned to look straight at her friend.

"Bao Ngoc, I need to talk frankly with you," she started, her voice serious but not harsh.

Bao Ngoc was a bit startled by your unusual attitude. "What's going on? You made me so worried."

"I know about the capital contribution contract with Ngoc Lan Capital fund," Khanh Linh said directly, her eyes not leaving Bao Ngoc's gradually changing face. "I know about the twenty percent share of the accessories business that's about to be transferred. And I also know, you're being put in a very difficult position in all of this."

Bao Ngoc's face was pale, her hands were shaking, she took a step back as if someone had just dealt a fatal blow. "You... when did you know? What do you plan to do with this information?"

"I have no intention of harming you," Khanh Linh replied, her voice softening, taking a step closer to being as sincere as possible. "I just want you to know, I realize what's going on, and I want to give you a chance to tell the truth, before things go too far, beyond repair."

Bao Ngoc sat down in the chair, her hands covering her face, her shoulders shaking from the choked sobs that had been suppressed for so long. "I'm sorry, Linh," she said, her voice breaking between tears. "I don't know what to do anymore. Mrs. Kim Chi approached me a few months ago, promising to put me in the position of head of the newly established design department, separate from you, and independently in charge of the entire accessories segment if I agreed to sign some documents related to the 'restructuring' of this business."

"Did she clarify what signing those documents actually meant?" Khanh Linh asked, trying to keep her voice calm even though inside she was seething with anger on behalf of her friend.

"No," Bao Ngoc shook her head, tears rolling down her eyes. "She just said it was a normal legal procedure to change the management model, helping the accessories segment develop more independently and professionally. I... I was too ambitious, too eager to prove myself, so I didn't ask carefully, nor did I dare to ask carefully for fear of losing this rare opportunity."

"What about you and Dang Khoa?" Khanh Linh continued asking, her voice softer but still needing a clear answer.

Bao Ngoc looked up, his eyes filled with panic and shame. "Nothing, I swear! We just got a little closer because we had to work with his mother on this case. I never intended to do anything wrong to you, Linh, I swear on my honor."

Looking at the sincerity and genuine panic in her friend's eyes, Khanh Linh felt part of the burden in her heart ease. Perhaps, this time, with her timely intervention, the story of profound emotional betrayal like her previous life will not repeat itself in such a tragic way.

"I believe you," Khanh Linh said, holding her trembling hand. "But Bao Ngoc, you need to understand, the documents you are about to sign will make you the main legal liability if any wrongdoing is discovered later. That is the reason why Mrs. Kim Chi chose you, rather than anyone else in the senior management — you are easily manipulated. the most, and also the one who will be the easiest to sacrifice when everything goes wrong."

Bao Ngoc was stunned, as if for the first time seeing the entire naked truth behind the sweet promises. "What... what should I do now?" she asked, her voice trembling but her eyes began to flash with a glimmer of alertness.

"Don't sign any more papers," Khanh Linh replied, her voice determined. "And if you really want to redeem yourself, you need to keep all relevant evidence — text messages, emails, any documents Mrs. Kim Chi gave you. At the right time, they will be the key to protecting yourself, instead of turning you into a sacrifice."

Bao Ngoc nodded, tears still on her cheeks but her eyes were much steadier. "I will do as you say. And Linh, I'm really sorry for not having the courage to tell you sooner."

"The important thing is that you made the right choice right now," Khanh Linh replied, hugging her friend tightly, feeling the relief spread through both of their hearts. This is the moment she has been waiting for all these months since her reincarnation — not a vengeful confrontation, but a redemption, a chance to rewrite another part of the story, where friendship can be protected instead of completely destroyed by the ambitions and manipulations of others.

After Bao Ngoc left, Khanh Linh immediately called Lam Quoc Bao, her voice filled with excitement mixed with relief. "Bao Ngoc has agreed to cooperate. He will retain all relevant evidence and will not sign any more documents."

"That's a big step," Lam Quoc Bao replied, his voice also filled with joy on her behalf. "With evidence from both sides, we will have a much stronger basis to deal with Ms. Kim Chi when the time is ripe."

That night, while sitting alone in her room, Khanh Linh opened her notebook and wrote an emotional line: "Bao Ngoc has turned around. This is something that I never dared to dream of in my previous life. Perhaps, the road ahead still has many challenges, but at least, I have saved a precious friendship from being completely destroyed. Now, the only remaining goal is to come face to face with the real person behind it all — Mrs. Kim Chi."

The next morning, when Khanh Linh arrived at the company, she noticed that Bao Ngoc had arrived earlier than usual, sitting quietly at the desk, his eyes still a bit tired but exuding a new steadfastness that Khanh Linh had never seen in her friend for many months.

"Are you okay?" Khanh Linh asked softly as she passed by.

"I'm fine," Bao Ngoc replied, nodding affirmatively. "I have started backing up all relevant messages and emails as you advised. There are some files I think you should take a look at."

At that moment, Ms. Kim Chi's assistant appeared and called Bao Ngoc to meet the president with the reason "to discuss more about the transfer progress". Khanh Linh gave her friend a discreet look of encouragement before Bao Ngoc left, her heart couldn't help but feel anxious.

Half an hour later, Bao Ngoc returned, his face tense but still maintaining the necessary calmness. She stopped by Khanh Linh's table, pretending to ask about a design detail to have an excuse to chat privately.

"She urged me to sign the papers this week, saying that the deadline cannot be delayed any longer," Bao Ngoc whispered, her voice still shaking slightly. "I used the excuse that I needed more time to consider carefully legal terms. She seemed dissatisfied, but did not force her further."

"You did great," Khanh Linh replied, gently squeezing her friend's hand under the table so no one would notice. "We just need to buy a little more time, everything will gradually become clearer."

Looking at Bao Ngoc returning to her desk with a much more confident appearance than a few days ago, Khanh Linh felt a firm belief gradually growing in her heart - that, although this fateful chess game still had many uncertainties ahead, at least now, she no longer had to face it all alone, but had a new ally, a true friend who chose to stand on the side of light before it was too late.

At the end of the day, when Khanh Linh recounted the entire incident to Lam Quoc Bao via text message, he responded immediately, with a call instead of just a text message. "You did well," his voice rang out with appreciation over the phone. "Not everyone is tolerant enough to give someone who betrayed them a second chance like that."

"I just think, if someone deserves to be saved, I should try my best," Khanh Linh replied, her voice gentle but filled with faith. "Besides, Bao Ngoc never really betrayed me, he was just lost because he was taken advantage of."

"That's what makes you different," Lam Quoc Bao said, his voice deep and full of sincerity. "She always saw the good in people, even when they made mistakes. That's a rare quality, especially in a calculating environment like this."

The conversation lasted a while, revolving around the next steps to prepare before facing Mrs. Kim Chi face to face. When hanging up the phone, Khanh Linh felt her heart feel lighter, as if the burden of the past many months had been somewhat relieved after tonight. She put down the phone, looked out the window where the late moonlight gently shone down, filled with hope for a brighter tomorrow for all the people she cherished.