Chapter 2 — My Arch-Nemesis Cried at My Wedding

I asked you who he was.

A very good man.

When I said this, I was being entirely sincere. The husband of Chuong Diem truly was a good man; entrusting my best friend to him put my mind completely at ease.

Truong Niem Niem.

His voice dropped, turning raspy as if he had been weeping for a long time. Good heavens, brother, are you really so unable to accept the fact that I am getting married? It was rare to hear his voice stripped of its cold, mechanical precision or the arrogant, tyrannical tone he used when slamming his fist on the table during our disputes. This was a tone I had never heard before, carrying a trembling, pleading quality.

Do not just shut your eyes and marry someone you do not love.

I was stunned.

How do you know I do not love him?

I was perfectly content with a husband who was filial and attentive to Chuong Diem around the clock.

Do you love him?

He asked this very softly. So softly that I nearly failed to catch the words.

What was that?

Nothing.

He hesitated for a moment.

Truong Niem Niem, if you marry him, you will regret it.

Why would I regret anything?

Anything he can provide for you, I can provide as well.

I rolled my eyes. Besides annoying me to the point of madness every single day, what could he possibly offer? Breast cysts? Failed business ventures?

He provides me with a wedding, takes care of my every meal and daily necessity, attends to me with the utmost devotion, and surrenders his entire income to me. What can you offer?

First, concede the West District project to me, and then we can talk about your qualifications.

There was a five-second silence on the other end of the line.

If I give you the West District project, will you reconsider?

I sat up straight with a jolt. Luc Nghien Tham was surprisingly easy to talk to today! I should have asked for shares in his company as well; I definitely aimed too low. Ever since the West District project was announced, I had pursued it for half a year, only to have Luc Nghien Tham swoop in and snatch it away at the last minute. That had been my greatest disappointment of the year.

Are you serious?

More certain than gold.

Luc Nghien Tham, you are not lying to me, are you?

I have never lied to you.

When he said this, his voice softened significantly, carrying a seductive undertone.

It is not just the West District project; I will also yield both of the new district tenders to you.

I sucked in a sharp breath.

Have you lost your mind?

I am not insane.

His tone was incredibly serious and urgent.

Truong Niem Niem, you must give my proposal careful thought.

I remained silent. It was not out of being moved. Instead, I wondered, what kind of elaborate scenario had this man concocted in his head? Did he think I was marrying someone else, and now he was desperately throwing projects my way to make me change my mind? Was he perhaps afraid that I would join forces with my future spouse to leave him far behind in the dust? I cleared my throat.

Luc Nghien Tham, what exactly do you expect me to think about? I am already married.

If you are married, you can get a divorce.

???

I am certain you do not love him.

He spoke with absolute, hammer-and-nail conviction.

How do you know I do not love him?

Because you have spent six years competing with me; your entire focus has been fixed solely on me.

Isn't there a saying that enemies who constantly cross paths are destined to be husband and wife?

He spoke this last part through gritted teeth, sounding as if he were absolutely incensed.

Truong Niem Niem, you should have hated me to the bone, then married me just to torment me until I wished for death.

I was dumbfounded. That... that was actually a brilliant strategy. Over the past six years, my attention had indeed been entirely dominated by him. When he snatched a project from me, I fed his office koi fish until they were stuffed to death. When he stole my clients, I was so furious that I plucked every leaf off the money tree in his office lobby. When he went head-to-head with me at a bidding war, I went home and personally cut the fiber-optic cables to his firm. Do not ask why I could come and go in his company as if it were a local market; that is just how gritty real-life corporate warfare is. My joys, my rages, my loves, and my sorrows were, for the most part, inextricably linked to him. But... damn it all, that was purely a matter of professional rivalry, not love!