Chapter 7 — Justice, Six Years Later

She did not merely denounce my father-in-law; she also provided the media with testimony claiming that, despite the collective protests of all the passengers, the driver had forcibly run the red light. Consequently, Tran Ngan erased the dispatch logs, assisting her in perfecting the falsified documentation. In return, once the scholarship funds were deposited into their accounts, the two split the proceeds. To Dao received fifty thousand, while Tran Ngan took thirty thousand. No one in the auditorium made a sound. Blood from a gash on To Dao’s forehead trickled down to her chin. She wiped it away with a tissue, her movements remaining chillingly composed.

"Tran Ngan’s unilateral testimony is insufficient to secure a conviction," she stated coldly.

"And what about the bank transaction history?"

Han Trac projected the bank statements onto the screen. The day after the scholarship was credited to the account, To Dao withdrew thirty thousand in cash. One week later, an inexplicable deposit of thirty thousand appeared in Tran Ngan’s account. She let out a soft, mocking laugh.

"Is the mere fact that the amounts match enough to constitute a criminal conspiracy to split illegal funds?"

"This can only be considered circumstantial evidence."

"Precisely."

I looked at the man standing below. "Therefore, we have direct evidence."

The passenger who had previously admitted to accepting the bribe produced an old-fashioned tape recorder. "Six years ago, To Dao approached us to sign a joint petition. I felt something was wrong, so I recorded the conversation in secret."

He pressed play. The younger, sharper voice of To Dao filled the room: "If Chu Quoc Luong does not admit fault, the company will not be able to punish him to the fullest extent. You all just need to state that at the time, you did not consent to taking the girl to the hospital." Someone asked, "But everyone agreed." To Dao retorted, "Verbal agreements hold no weight as evidence. The rules only recognize what is written on paper."

The recording ended, and my father-in-law closed his eyes. Six years ago, To Dao used those words to destroy him. Six years later, she was defeated by the very things she trusted most: the paper trail of money, the recordings in a device, and the data that had not been fully erased. To Dao remained silent for a long time, then suddenly raised her head.

"Even if the denunciation documents are flawed, Luc Kieu does not have the right to refuse to hire me due to personal vendettas."

Trieu Hang’s face had turned an ugly shade of gray, but she turned toward him regardless. "Chairman Trieu, the contract was signed by you on behalf of the company. If you terminate it now, that is wrongful dismissal. According to the contract terms, the company must compensate me with at least twelve months of salary."

Trieu Hang gritted his teeth. "You are under suspicion of a criminal offense."

"Until the court delivers a verdict, I am innocent. There is no clause in the company regulations for the automatic dismissal of an employee under criminal investigation."

Han Trac flipped through the contract. "There is. Page nine, article twenty-three." He projected the page onto the screen. "If an employee uses fraudulent testimony to gain employment, the company has the right to terminate the contract immediately without compensation."

"My educational background and work experience are real," she insisted.

"In your background check, you marked that you had no serious disputes regarding your professional integrity."

"Before the old case was reopened, it was not a dispute."

"But you concealed your financial transactions with Tran Ngan."

To Dao’s lips trembled. Han Trac placed the notice of termination in front of her. "The ink on your employment record is barely dry, yet this decision is already in effect."

"Even if the company terminates my contract, you must still compensate me for the damaged livestreaming equipment," she countered, staring at the notice without signing. She placed a broken button camera on the table. "Luc Kieu intentionally destroyed it during the live broadcast; it is worth forty-eight thousand."

She had prepared everything: manufacturer’s certification, purchase receipts, and repair quotes. Trieu Hang was so incensed he laughed. "You still dare to demand money?"

"This is an independent civil dispute. Whether or not my employment contract is terminated has no bearing on the company manager’s liability for damages caused to my property." She looked at me. "Director Luc—or rather, since you are currently suspended—please compensate me."

I picked up the camera. The casing had a crack. At the hospital, I had seen her intentionally crush the edge herself, but the livestream footage in the meeting room only captured the device falling to the floor. The superficial evidence favored her.

"I will compensate you."

Lam Lam pulled at my sleeve. "You didn't break it."

"She has the expert appraisal documents."

"Luc Kieu!"

"Just pay her first."

To Dao produced her payment code. "Furthermore, regarding the case of Ms. Lam committing intentional battery, I will not accept a settlement."

Lam Lam looked at her coldly. "As you wish."

"The medical report indicates minor bodily harm. Ms. Lam may be subject to administrative detention."

"The hospital security cameras captured you snatching an oxygen tank from a patient."

"I did not snatch it; I was merely temporarily securing an object that could have damaged the equipment."

She repeated the same excuse. The police had extracted the surveillance footage, but To Dao knew perfectly well that my father-in-law had not suffered any critical consequences from that specific incident.