Chapter 25 — Back Before The Wedding Day

Two weeks later, the official investigation conclusions from the authorities were announced. Ms. Kim Chi was determined to have abused her position, misused corporate assets and showed signs of dispersing assets to avoid financial obligations. With her active cooperation in the investigation process, and the fact that the dispersed money was promptly recovered before causing actual damage, she received a strict administrative penalty along with a ban from holding a business management position for a period of five years, instead of facing more serious criminal prosecution.

Khanh Linh read the official announcement on the company's internal system, a complicated feeling arose in her heart. This was not an absolute victory in the form of cruel punishment that she had imagined in the early days of indignation, but a fair and proper outcome according to the law - enough to deter, enough to protect the victims, but not completely depriving a person of the opportunity to look back and correct his mistakes.

That afternoon, Dang Khoa met Khanh Linh. His face was less haggard than in previous weeks, although his eyes still showed deep sadness. "I want to thank you," he said, his voice unusually sincere. "Even though this outcome is very heartbreaking for my family, I believe it is necessary for my mother to truly stop, before she causes irreversible consequences."

"I don't want this to happen in a way that hurts you," Khanh Linh replied, her voice gentle. "I hope, even though things have happened like this, you and your mother can still find a way to heal and rebuild the relationship on a healthier foundation."

"I hope so too," Dang Khoa replied, nodding slightly. "I will temporarily take over part of the executive responsibilities, along with the new leadership, to ensure the group overcomes this difficult period. Perhaps, this is also an opportunity for me to prove that I can become a different leader than what my mother has shown."

"I believe you will do well," Khanh Linh said, smiling encouragingly. "And I believe, you deserve a good future, even though the road ahead still has many challenges."

Dang Khoa looked at her for a long time, then smiled slightly, a smile that was both sad and relieved. "Thank you, Linh. For everything." He turned around and left. Although his appearance was still heavy, he exuded maturity, much more mature than the weak, easily influenced boy she had known in both lives.

In the afternoon, Khanh Linh gathered Bao Ngoc and Lam Quoc Bao at a familiar coffee shop, where they had experienced many stressful moments together for nearly a year. "I've decided," she said, her eyes filled with renewed determination. "I will officially submit my resignation letter from Bao Tin next week, to focus on building my own independent fashion brand."

"We support you wholeheartedly," Bao Ngoc said, his eyes shining with excitement. "I will also apply at the same time, so that I can accompany you from the first step."

"I'm also ready," Lam Quoc Bao added, holding Khanh Linh's hand tightly under the table, his eyes filled with absolute trust. "I will be in charge of finance, investing in the new brand, ensuring everything built on a solid, transparent foundation from the beginning."

The three people sat down and together sketched out the first ideas for the new brand - name, style direction, target customers, all filled with the excitement and enthusiasm of people who have overcome the biggest challenge in their lives together, now ready to write a new chapter full of promise.

"I think, I should name the brand after my father's garment factory," Khanh Linh said, her eyes shining with emotion when mentioning her own roots. "'Tam Viet' garment factory - where all my journeys began, and will also be the place I want to honor in the next chapter of my life."

"I like the way you always look back to your roots, no matter how successful you have achieved," Lam Quoc Bao said, his eyes filled with admiration. "That's what makes you special, different from what I've seen in this calculating upper class."

"Great name," Bao Ngoc said, smiling emotionally. "It both honors your roots and carries a profound meaning of the sincerity and kindness that you have always pursued throughout your past journey."

In the evening, when returning to the garment factory to share this decision with her parents, Khanh Linh could not hide her excitement and happiness. "Mom and dad, I decided to build my own fashion brand, and I want to name it after dad's garment factory — 'Tam Viet'."

Mr. Tai was stunned for a moment, his eyes filled with tears of emotion. "Do you... do you really want to use the name of this small garment factory?"

"Yes, Dad," Khanh Linh replied, holding her father's hand tightly, her voice choked. "This is the place that nurtured my love for design, the place I always come back to when I need the most reassurance. I want the whole world to know this name, not just as a small garment factory in an alley, but as a brand that carries the full spirit and values that my parents have taught me over the years."

The whole family hugged each other in overwhelming happiness, closing a period full of turmoil and challenges, and together entering a completely new chapter, full of hope and dreams waiting to be realized.

That same day, Thu Ha called Khanh Linh, her voice full of excitement. "Linh, my analysis article about the incident was just published and received positive feedback from many readers. Everyone now has a better understanding of the truth behind the previous slanderous accusations against you."

"Thank you very much," Khanh Linh replied, her voice filled with gratitude. "If it weren't for you, it would have been difficult for my honor to be restored so quickly."

"That's what friends should do," Thu Ha laughed, then her voice became curious. "I heard you plan to create your own brand? I heard the news from Bao Ngoc."

"That's right," Khanh Linh replied, unable to hide her excitement. "Do you want to participate in supporting communications for the new brand? I think, no one understands my story better than you."

"I'm willing!" Thu Ha responded immediately without hesitation. "This will be an interesting journey, I'm sure." Her voice was filled with the excitement of a friend who has accompanied her for many years, and is now about to write a new meaningful chapter together.

Late at night, when everything had calmed down, Khanh Linh sat next to her desk, opened the notebook that had accompanied her for nearly a year since the day she was born, flipped through each page of notes filled with plans, worries, and hopes that had been written down throughout that tumultuous journey.

"I did it," she whispered, her fingers lightly running over the first words written on the day of her birth. "Not only did I save my mother, I not only regained justice for myself, but I also saved the people I thought were lost forever - my friendship with Bao Ngoc, a part of Dang Khoa's humanity, and most importantly, I found true love that I never had in my previous life." She closed the notebook, holding it tightly in her hand as if embracing a meaningful journey of maturity, before putting it in a drawer, ready for a completely new chapter of her life.

The phone vibrated, a text message from Lam Quoc Bao: "Are you asleep yet? I just want to say, I'm proud of the journey you've gone through." Khanh Linh smiled and quickly typed a response: "Thank you for always being here, every step of the way." She put down the phone, looked out the window where the moonlight gently illuminated the small street, her heart was filled with peace that she had never felt so completely in both of her lives.

She lay down on the bed, closed her eyes, letting her mind drift back to the past days - from the fateful rainy night where she took her last breath in her previous life, to the long, arduous but also extremely meaningful journey she went through in this second life. Every challenge, every tear, every moment of fear have become bricks that build a solid foundation for the person she is today — stronger, wiser, but still keeping intact the kind heart that cost her so much in her previous life. Sleep came gently and peacefully, bringing with it beautiful dreams about a future that she believed she deserved to fully enjoy.