Chapter 20 — From Grandmother to Capitalist Queen

"To Van Tinh," Lam Tri Y squatted down, looking at her eye level, "I don't care what relationship you had with Tham Nhat Minh before, nor do I care what your purpose in coming to Dinh Xuyen Group is. But there is one thing I have to tell you—"

She pulled out a tissue from her bag and gave it to To Van Tinh.

"The child in your belly is innocent. Regardless of whether Co Dinh Xuyen needs this child or not, you have to take care of yourself."

To Van Tinh received the paper, covered her face, her shoulders shaking violently.

“I didn't… I didn't help Tham Nhat Minh do anything… He just told me to approach Co Dinh Xuyen, find out the company's true financial situation… but I didn't give him any confidential information… I really didn't…”

“I believe you.” Lam Tri Y said, "But 'trust' cannot be earned. The reality you have to face is - Co Dinh Xuyen will no longer trust you. A relationship without a foundation of trust is like a house without a foundation, one blow of the wind and it will collapse."

She stood up.

“My advice is — get compensation for quitting your job, leave Tan Hai, find a place where no one knows you, give birth to the child, start over.”

To Van Tinh looked up, his eyes blurred with tears as he looked at her.

“You… why did you help me?”

“I won't help you.” Lam Tri Y turned and walked towards the elevator, "I'm helping myself. You stay in Tan Hai, for me it's a ticking time bomb. Once you're gone, everyone is relieved."

The elevator door opened and she walked in. The moment she turned around, she looked at To Van Tinh for the last time.

“Well, caffeine is really not good for the fetus. If you decide to keep this baby — drink less coffee.”

The elevator door closed. In the hallway, To Van Tinh sat on the ground, clutching a tissue tightly, crying until her whole body trembled. She remembered that three years ago, Tham Nhat Minh told her in a coffee shop: *"Van Tinh, I need your help with something. Come to Dinh Xuyen Group to work for a while, learn about their financial situation. Once done, I will help you solve all your problems."* She agreed. Because she owed Tham Nhat Minh — when he was in college, he helped her pay tuition for two years. After that, she actually approached Co Dinh Xuyen, and really developed feelings for him. Co Dinh Xuyen has money, status, charisma, and is gentle and considerate with her. When he's with him, he's like a real man, not a "strategist" who always wears a mask like Tham Nhat Minh. She thought it was a second chance that fate gave her. She thought that Co Dinh Xuyen would divorce her and marry her. She thought she could finally escape Tham Nhat Minh's control and have a normal family that belonged to her. But it's all fake. The so-called "love" that Co Dinh Xuyen had for her was nothing more than the physical infatuation of a middle-aged man with a young woman. Once that infatuation touches his core interests — the company, the shares, the control — he will not hesitate to throw her away. Just like throwing away an empty cup of coffee. She lowered her head to look at the puddle of coffee on the ground, suddenly remembering Lam Tri Y's words - *"Caffeine is really not good for the fetus."* She instinctively caressed the slightly protruding lower abdomen. Baby. She still one child left. Son of Co Dinh Xuyen. But Co Dinh Xuyen doesn't need this child anymore - this point, from his cold attitude of asking her to quit her job, she saw clearly. What should she do? The emergency exit door at the end of the hallway was pushed open and Co Dinh Xuyen stepped forward. Seeing To Van Tinh sitting on the floor, his expression clearly stiffened for a moment.

"Van Tinh? Why are you here?"

To Van Tinh raised her head and looked at him with faint tears.

“Dinh Xuyen... you want to fire me?”