Chapter 5 — I Am Bigger Than The Hurts

“You see, in my mother's eyes, you and I are really no different.”

“The only difference is—when you obey, you're a girl; if you don't, you're just a pawn that can be thrown away at any time.”

I sat there, my mind a mess. The money dad left for me. Mom not only froze— But most likely took it out. Where to use? Dinh Huy? Or just for you? 40% of the shares left, the signature in the ICU— If that signature is fake— Then what my mother did was no longer biased. It's falsifying documents. It is the appropriation of inherited property. Tham Gia raised the cup of coffee and took a sip.

“Now I know.”

“What are you going to do?”

I haven't been able to answer yet. The phone vibrates. Shown: lawyer Ma. Tham Gia glanced and withdrew his expression.

“Listen.”

“After listening… you will know.”

“Who is the person I really have to face in this life…?”

I received the call.

“Tham Dao, the trust fund management company has already provided the documents.”

Lawyer Ma's voice was very urgent.

“The original registration of the trust fund is real, the beneficiary is you, the amount is equivalent to 8,000,000 yuan converted to Singapore dollars.”

“Five years ago, on the seventy-third day after her father passed away, someone in the name of 'legal guardian of the beneficiary' sent a request to change the beneficiary."

“Change to who?”

“Change to your mother, Co Boi Lan.”

“Then the trust fund was released, all money was transferred to an offshore account in Hong Kong within two working days.”

“The owner of that account… is also Co Boi Lan.”

My hand clenched the phone until it turned white.

“Changing beneficiaries… what procedures are needed?”

“Needs written consent signed by the beneficiary, or a court ruling on changing guardianship.”

“At that time, she was twenty-two years old, an adult, and had no legal guardian.”

“So the signature on that change form—”

Lawyer Ma stopped for a moment.

“Either you signed it, or it was forged.”

“Did you sign any paperwork related to the trust five years ago?”

“No, never.”

“It's clear then.”

His voice became extremely serious.

“Tham Dao, your mother shows signs of forging beneficiary signatures, illegally changing trust fund beneficiaries, and appropriating trust assets.”

“Combined with the stock transfer during the ICU period—if that signature is also fake—it's two cases of document falsification.”

“The total amount involved exceeds 30,000,000 yuan.”

“This is no longer a civil dispute.”

“It's a criminal case.”

I hung up. Tham Gia still sat opposite. His eyes followed me.

"What's wrong? What did the lawyer say?"

I won't go into detail.

“What you just said—about the money of unknown origin in the books—do you have proof?”

Tham Gia hesitated a bit.

“There is a part.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Aren't you supposed to ask me what I'm going to do?”

I stood up.

“I will find out the truth.”

“No matter what the truth is, no matter who is standing on the other side.”

Tham Gia looked at me. A moment later, she pulled out a USB from her pocket and placed it on the table.

“This is the data I extracted from Dinh Huy's financial system, for five years.”

“Before coming here, I already prepared.”

“Originally intended to be used as a bargaining chip, now… give it to me.”

I took the USB.

“Why help me?”

Tham Gia stood up, holding his bag.

“You won't help me.”

“I'm just… I don't want to be a chess piece all my life."

She left. I stood in the lobby of the Marina Sands hotel, clutching a small USB stick in my hand. Outside is the Marina Bay skyline. Dad, rest assured. What you left for me, I will take back every penny. That evening, I sent all the data on the USB to lawyer Ma. At the same time, call Tran Kien Quoc.

"Uncle Chen, I have already verified the matter of the trust fund. My mother forged my signature, changed the beneficiary and withdrew all 8,000,000 yuan."

The other side was silent for a long time.

“Tieu Dao… you shouldn't have given the copy to her that year.”

"It's over, now I need your help with something."

“Tell me.”

"When you and your father cooperated in making construction materials, were there any documents related to the establishment of the trust fund, such as minutes, emails, or money transfer documents?"

Tran Kien Quoc thought for a moment.

“Yes, at that time I went with my father to Singapore to set up a fund. The management company has the original file, I kept a scanned copy.”

“Also, your father once wrote me a handwritten letter.”

“What is written in the letter?”