Chapter 15 — CEO Phong, Stop Chasing Her—She Already Has a Marriage Certificate

Diệp Uyển Thi stood in front of the window of her luxury apartment, looking down at the busy traffic below, holding a glass of red wine in her hand, feeling a vague sense of insecurity over the past few days. Chính Nguyên has become much more distant since the time he called to ask her about her current job. There was something different and more reserved in his voice than usual.

She knew it was time to be more careful.

Nine years ago, when her brother — Đàm Nhật Trường — passed away on a rainy night, Uyển Thi's whole world collapsed. Her family, already not very well-off, fell deeper into difficulties when her father fell ill from the shock of losing his son, and she, then only twenty-six years old, had to put aside her studies to work to earn money for her father's medical treatment. Her engagement with a wealthy family also broke up soon after, because the groom's family was worried that the scandal related to the accident would affect their family's reputation.

She heard exactly what the police told her family at that time — about the cause of the accident, about the alcohol level in her brother's blood. But in the extreme pain of twenty-six years old, Uyển Thi chose to believe in a different, more comfortable version of the truth for herself: that her brother was driving that rainy night because of Chính Nguyên's emergency call, that without that call, Nhật Trường would not have had to drive in an unconscious state, would not have died so unjustly.

She needed someone to blame, someone other than her own brother, so she could continue living without having to face the fact that the person she loved the most had put himself to death because of an unwise decision after a heartbreaking breakup.

Many years later, when life gradually stabilized thanks to her relentless efforts, Uyển Thi still maintained that belief, although deep down, she probably also vaguely realized that the truth was not quite that simple. But admitting that meant letting go of the only source that helped her explain all the pain and injustice she had endured all those years.

When she returned home and coincidentally met Chính Nguyên at a corporate event, Uyển Thi initially intended to approach him to remind him of the responsibility he always carried, hoping to receive some kind of compensation - maybe financial, maybe simply the care and concern that she felt her family deserved after the past losses.

But gradually, when he saw Chính Nguyên - the powerful, cold man whom the entire business world feared - becoming so soft-hearted and vulnerable every time he was around her, a greater ambition began to arise in Uyển Thi's heart. She realized that she could not only reclaim a small amount of compensation, but could reclaim the entire life that, if not for the past incident, her family could have achieved - a life of prosperity, love, and respect.

Uyển Thi still clearly remembers the first night she realized the power of well-timed tears. That was the evening when Chính Nguyên visited her after learning that her father had just passed away, bringing a bouquet of flowers and a brief condolence. She burst into tears, not completely fake, but not completely honest either, talking about her lonely years, about the feeling of being abandoned by the whole world after the family incident. She clearly saw, in Chính Nguyên's eyes at that time, a deep torment, a desire to make amends that she knew she could fully exploit if she was skillful and patient enough.

From then on, she learned to calculate every encounter, every story told, every moment of weakness displayed at the right time, in the right place, to maintain the bond of guilt between her and this powerful man. She did not see it as a shameful act, but as a justice that she allowed herself to reclaim, after everything her family had lost because of its connection to the Phong family.

She began to pay attention to Nhã Kỳ, Chính Nguyên's wife who always stood behind, always patiently, always quietly. Uyển Thi does not see Nhã Kỳ as a formidable opponent - a woman who gave up her career and buried herself in the role of housewife for seven years, how can she compete with the sharp, experienced Diệp Uyển Thi who clearly understands how to grasp men's psychology?

She began to proactively build a close relationship with Bảo Nhiên every time she had the opportunity to meet, not because she really loved the child the way a mother loves her child, but because she clearly understood that the shortest way to capture a married man's heart is through his child. Every gift, every hug, every sweet word she gave to Bảo Nhiên were all carefully calculated moves, although she could not deny that sometimes, in the midst of those calculations, she also felt a bit of genuine trepidation at the child's innocence and loveliness.

The birthday party in Singapore was an important step in her plan - she deliberately chose the day that coincided with Nhã Kỳ's birthday after silently finding out this information from Chính Nguyên himself when he accidentally mentioned it, even though she did not know that she had memorized and calculated it since then. She wanted, whether Nhã Kỳ knew about it or not, that day would still mark the day that Chính Nguyên belonged completely to her, at least for one evening.

She planned that party for many weeks, from choosing the location, designing the space, to cleverly inviting Bảo Nhiên to participate to create a fake cozy family scene in front of the guests - mostly her friends and partners, who would unintentionally spread that image as a testament to the close relationship between her and the Phong family. She did not expect that Nhã Kỳ was present and witnessed everything with her own eyes. When the news about Nhã Kỳ filing for divorce reached her through several acquaintances in the upper class, Uyển Thi could not hide her secret joy, although she was wise enough not to show it in front of Chính Nguyên. She even proactively called to comfort him several times during that period, pretending to be an understanding friend, willing to listen, when in fact, each word of comfort was calculated to deepen the distance between him and his wife who was gradually drifting away.

Now, when feeling the unusual distance from Chính Nguyên in recent days, Uyển Thi understands that something has changed, perhaps he has begun to doubt, has begun to learn more deeply about the truth behind the story she has been telling all this time. She put the glass of wine on the table, opened her phone, and called a trusted associate in the media industry - the person who often helps her handle "sensitive" issues related to public image.

"I need you to help me with something," she said, her voice regaining its familiar calm and sharpness. "If things take a turn for the worse, I need a backup plan to ensure my position doesn't falter, especially ahead of any upcoming fashion shows from my ex-wife who's trying to get ahead." The other end of the line was silent for a moment, then replied calculatingly: "Don't worry, I already have a few relationships in the fashion press, creating a small scandal to discredit an emerging brand is not too difficult."

Uyển Thi smiled slightly, a cold smile completely different from the gentle, fragile look she always showed in front of Chính Nguyên. "Then start preparing. I can't let seven years of patience from an ordinary woman ruin the only chance of my life."

After hanging up the phone, Uyển Thi sat down on the sofa, looking out the window at the sparkling city lights in the distance. For a rare moment, she allowed herself to think about the question she had always deliberately avoided: would her brother, if he were still alive, agree with what she was doing? Nhật Trường, in her memory, has always been a kind and upright person, never intending to take advantage of anyone to achieve her own goals.

But she quickly put that thought aside, telling herself that this world was inherently unfair, and if she doesn't get what she deserved, no one will do it for her. She stood up, walked to the window, looked down at the bustling stream of people below, her eyes gradually became colder and more determined than ever. No matter what the price must be, she will not easily let go of the position she had worked so hard to build for nearly a year.