Chapter 16 — Back Before The Wedding Day

The night of the show launching the "Coi Nguon" collection has finally arrived. The stage was set up at the most luxurious event center in the city. Even though the budget was cut, thanks to the ingenuity of the whole team, the space still exuded a delicate, warm beauty true to the "origin" spirit that Khanh Linh wished to convey.

The backstage was bustling with the sounds of models exchanging words and makeup artists busy perfecting the final touches. Khanh Linh stood in the middle of it all, holding a walkie-talkie, directing every smallest detail, her heart pounding both from excitement and pride at the results of so many months of effort.

"Five minutes until start," the stage assistant announced over the radio.

Khanh Linh took a deep breath, looked around backstage one last time before stepping out into the stands to watch the performance. The stage lights brightened, the background music played, each model took turns walking on the catwalk in designs inspired by traditional brocade fabrics and elegant modern shapes that she had painstakingly sketched over the past many months.

Applause rang out endlessly after each outfit appeared, especially when the main dress - Khanh Linh's most favorite design - stepped onto the catwalk to thunderous applause and admiration from the entire auditorium.

Sitting in the front row, Ms. Kim Chi applauded, her face clearly showing satisfaction with the collection's resounding success. Next to her, Khanh Linh recognized a familiar face - Trinh Ngoc Lan, in a luxurious evening gown, sitting and chatting intimately with Mrs. Kim Chi as if they had known each other for a long time.

After the show ended in thunderous applause, Khanh Linh walked out on stage to bow with the entire design team, filled with happiness and pride. This was the moment she had dreamed of for two lifetimes, and this time, she got to enjoy it without any stain of betrayal or deception behind it.

During the reception after the show, when Khanh Linh was chatting with a few media partners, she accidentally saw Ms. Kim Chi and Trinh Ngoc Lan standing separately in a corner of the room, exchanging something with serious faces, no longer smiling socially like before.

She cleverly tried to get closer under the guise of getting more drinks, enough to hear a few brief exchanges.

"...as soon as next week, it can't be delayed any longer," Ms. Kim Chi's voice rang out, small but clear enough for Khanh Linh to hear. "Shareholders are putting pressure on the quarterly report, I need this amount to be disbursed before the meeting."

"I understand," Trinh Ngoc Lan replied, her voice calm but cold. "As long as that girl signs, everything will be completed within forty-eight hours."

Khanh Linh's heart was pounding. "That girl" is definitely Bao Ngoc, and the deadline "next week" has now become a death date hanging over all of them. She quietly retreated before being discovered, her heart still pounding because of what she had just heard.

As soon as she had the chance, she pulled Lam Quoc Bao to a deserted corner and told him everything she had just heard. "We don't have much time left," she said, her voice urgent. "They plan to have everything done within the next week."

Lam Quoc Bao frowned, his eyes were serious go up. "Then we need to speed up the process of collecting evidence. I will try to get the latest transaction statement from the system tomorrow to see if there are any more clues about the money's path."

"I will let Bao Ngoc know tonight," Khanh Linh said, her eyes steady. "He needs to be mentally prepared, and perhaps, it's time for us to ask for Uncle Kien's support to prepare the necessary legal steps, in case things happen faster than expected."

"I will contact Mr. Kien tomorrow morning," Lam Quoc Bao added, his voice decisive. "We need a clear, step-by-step action plan, so as not to be passive in the face of any unexpected situations that may arise next week."

Leaving the reception, although the resounding success of the show still left joy in her heart, Khanh Linh couldn't help but feel a new tension covering her. The fateful chess game has now entered the sprint stage, and she knows that the coming days will determine the entire outcome of the silent war that she has been pursuing for nearly a year since the day she was born.

On the way home, she immediately texted Bao Ngoc: "Can you come to my house tonight? There's something urgent to discuss." Just a few minutes later, Bao Ngoc responded, his tone through the text message was full of worry: "Okay, I'll be there right away." Khanh Linh looked at the phone screen, took a deep breath, mentally preparing for a long night full of important decisions that lay ahead.

Bao Ngoc arrived at Khanh Linh's house less than half an hour later, her face was still covered in makeup from the party but her eyes clearly showed concern. The two sat in the small living room, the door closed to ensure no one could hear the conversation.

"What's so urgent?" Bao Ngoc asked as soon as he sat down.

"I heard Mrs. Kim Chi talking to Trinh Ngoc Lan at the party," Khanh Linh replied, recounting in detail what she heard. "They plan to complete everything within the next week. You need to prepare yourself, they will put more pressure on you to sign the papers in the coming days."

Bao Ngoc's face turned pale, his hands clasped tightly together in his lap. "A week... I don't know how much longer I can delay. She's called me twice this week, her tone getting increasingly harsh."

"You just keep your stance, citing the need for more time to consult with your own lawyer before signing any important documents," Khanh Linh said, her voice reassuring but firm. "This is your legal right. No one can force you to sign immediately if you are determined."

"But what if she gets angry and threatens to fire me?" Bao Ngoc asked, his voice trembling with fear.

"If that happens, it will be clear evidence that illegal pressure is being used to coerce you," Khanh Linh replied. "I asked lawyer Kien to prepare legal support options for you. You will not have to face this alone."

Bao Ngoc was silent for a moment, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes again, but this time they were tears of gratitude, not panic. "Thank you, Linh. I don't know what I did to deserve a friend like you after everything I've done."

"You deserve it, because you chose to stop and do the right thing while there's still time," Khanh Linh replied, holding her friend's hand tightly. "That's the most important thing."

The two continued to discuss further scenarios that could happen next week, how Bao Ngoc should react if directly pressured, and emergency contacts if the situation becomes serious. When Bao Ngoc left, it was late at night, but her eyes were much steadier than when she first arrived, as if she had regained a part of the strength she thought she had lost a long time ago.

Closing the door behind you, Khanh Linh leaned her back against the door and sighed deeply. Tonight has been a long night with so many mixed emotions - pride from the success of the show, anxiety before the approaching deadline, and warmth when witnessing the friendship between her and Bao Ngoc gradually heal again, stronger than ever.

She walked into the kitchen, poured herself a glass of warm water, and sat down at the dining table where there was still some warmth from the family dinner earlier in the afternoon. Looking around the familiar small house, she suddenly realized that it was thanks to the solid foundations she had quietly built over the past year - from her mother's health, her friendship with Bao Ngoc, to Lam Quoc Bao's companionship - that she had enough courage and resources to face the biggest challenge that lay ahead.

Before going to the bedroom, she texted Lam Quoc Bao to inform her that Bao Ngoc had agreed to cooperate more closely. He responded immediately: "Very good. Good night, we have a lot to do tomorrow." Just a short sentence, but enough to make Khanh Linh smile with relief before falling asleep, mentally preparing for the decisive days to come. Outside, the city still woke up with countless sparkling lights, no one knew, in that small house, a fateful chess game was making its final moves before ending, and the person holding the most important piece, this time, was determined not to let himself fall into a passive position again. again.