Chapter 8 — Female Lawyer and Torn Will

Duy Bach's technical team took three days to track down the origin of the threatening call that Tue Minh received, as well as the phone number that Kim Yen contacted in the conversation that Thanh Nha accidentally overheard. Investigation results showed that both led to the same phone number — registered under the name of a small private security company that specialized in providing "security consulting" services to wealthy families, but in fact had a reputation in underground circles for being willing to perform shadier work for a high price.

"The owner of this company's name is Lam Duc Toan, he has a criminal record for trespassing and intimidating witnesses in another civil case four years ago," Duy Bach reported when he met Tue Minh, his tone serious. "We are applying for a summons for him to testify, but we need more time to complete the legal procedures."

“If we can prove that Kim Yen hired this person to break into my office, that will be the first direct evidence linking her to a specific crime,” Tue Minh said, her eyes lighting up with new hope.

"There's one thing that makes me wonder," Duy Bach added, flipping through the file in his hand. "The amount of money transferred to Lam Duc Toan's account two days before the break-in was not small - large enough to prove that this was not a simple transaction. But the source of the money was withdrawn in cash before the transfer, through three different intermediary accounts, showing that the person behind it had carefully prepared to avoid being traced."

"That shows that this was not a spontaneous act in a moment of panic, but a premeditated plan," Tue Minh commented, her voice low. "If it is true that Kim Yen is behind it, she has been preparing for the possibility of being investigated from the beginning, which makes me even more worried that she may have other steps in preparation."

"We will closely follow this development," Duy Bach assured her. "But you also need to be careful, because someone who has calculated that carefully will not be easily cornered without resistance."

But before they could take any further steps in their investigation, another incident occurred, making the whole case more urgent than ever. Dam Quoc Hung, as interim acting chairman of the group, convened an emergency shareholder meeting, intending to pass a resolution officially appointing him as the official chairman, based on the will five years ago, before the legal dispute was resolved.

"This is a very sophisticated tactic," Mr. Doan said when informing Tue Minh about the upcoming meeting. "If Quoc Hung is officially appointed chairman before the court rules on the will, he will have full control over the company's assets, including the ability to disperse and transfer shares to a third party before the lawsuit ends, making the execution of the new will, even if recognized, extremely difficult in practice."

“We need to stop this meeting, or at least delay it,” Tue Minh said, her mind working quickly to find the right legal solution. "Can you ask for a court order to temporarily block all senior personnel decisions of the group until the will dispute is resolved?"

"I will apply tomorrow morning," Mr. Doan replied. "But we need to have enough grounds to convince the court that there is a risk of irreparable damage if the meeting goes ahead as planned."

Tue Minh spent the entire night drafting a request for temporary emergency measures, listing in detail all the evidence collected — from Quoc Hung's unusual financial records, Ms. Sau Cam's testimony, to the pieces of the assembled will and questions about the office break-in related to Kim Yen. She knows this is a decisive moment, when all investigative efforts over the past weeks must be transformed into a legal argument strong enough to convince the court.

The next morning, an emergency hearing took place in court, with both sides present — Tue Minh representing the defense of the integrity of the new will, and Cao Nguyen Bang representing Quoc Hung, firmly opposing any delay.

"My client is the only legal heir according to the valid will, and has the legitimate right to assume the leadership role of the group during this difficult period," Cao Nguyen Bang argued before the judge, his voice filled with confidence. "Delaying the shareholder meeting will cause serious damage to business operations, affecting thousands of employees who depend on the stability of the corporation."

"Your Honor," Tue Minh replied, her voice calm but convincing, "we do not object to the group's need for stability. But there is reliable evidence that Mr. Dam Vinh Thanh's latest will, which appointed another heir for the majority of assets and operating rights, was intentionally destroyed to prevent the execution of the deceased's last wishes. If Mr. Dam Quoc Hung was officially appointed as chairman before Once this case is clarified, the legal rights of the real heir will be seriously violated, and there is an irreparable risk if the property is transferred or lost in the meantime."

The judge, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes, listened carefully to both sides before making a decision. "The court finds that there is sufficient basis to believe that it is necessary to apply temporary emergency measures to protect the rights of the parties involved, until the dispute over the validity of the will is finally resolved," she stated. "The court ordered a temporary postponement of all high-level personnel decisions and major asset transactions of Thanh Dat Textile and Garment Group for thirty days, so that the parties have time to complete the process of verifying the will content."

While waiting for the judge to announce the final decision, Tue Minh glanced at Quoc Hung, sitting in the row behind his lawyer. His face no longer had the majestic confidence of previous meetings, but instead there was a tension that was hard to hide, his hands clasped tightly together on his thighs in the same way that Thanh Nha had described Kim Yen in a secret phone call. It's a small detail, but enough for Tue Minh to feel that, behind the appearance of power, both husband and wife are struggling to cope with increasing pressure from many sides.

The verdict was an important victory, although only temporary, but enough to buy valuable time for the investigation. When leaving the courtroom, Cao Nguyen Bang approached Tue Minh, his eyes were cold but contained a reluctant respect.

"You won this round, Miss Minh," he said, his voice calm but full of warning. "But thirty days is not a long time. If you cannot prove the validity of the new will within that time, my client will have the right to take action, and I believe he will no longer be as patient as before."

"I understand time pressure, Mr. Bang," Tue Minh replied, her voice steady. "But I believe that the truth, once fully revealed, will by itself have more persuasive power than any delaying tactic."

That evening, when Tue Minh and Duy Bach celebrated this small victory with a simple dinner at a restaurant near the office, the atmosphere between them became more comfortable and closer than previous stressful work meetings.

"You did very well in court today," Duy Bach said, his eyes filled with sincere admiration. "I have never seen anyone argue so sharply and calmly against an experienced opponent like Cao Nguyen Bang."

"I'm just doing my job," Tue Minh replied, although her cheeks blushed slightly at the compliment. "But honestly, without the evidence you and your team collected, I wouldn't have had enough grounds to convince the court like that."

"We're a good team," Duy Bach said, his voice was warm, his eyes looking at her with an affection that was hard to hide. "Not just at work, I think."

Tue Minh felt her heart beat faster at those words, an emotion she had tried to suppress during the past stressful working days. "I think so too," she replied softly, her eyes never leaving his.

The warm moment between them was interrupted by Tue Minh's phone ringing. It was a call from Dam Anh Vu, his voice was unusually urgent. "Miss Minh, I've decided. I agree to do a DNA test. But I need you to come see me now — I just found something in my mother's old belongings that I think you need to see."

The urgency in Anh Vu's voice made Tue Minh and Duy Bach immediately stand up, put aside their budding private moment to set out to meet him that night, both sensing that another important piece of the panorama was about to be revealed.