Chapter 9 — No Resentment, No Forgiveness

It was difficult to read his mind, yet all this time, he had held me in high regard. He often remarked that I was sharp, quick-witted in the face of crises, and possessed the strength of character required to shoulder heavy responsibilities. I recounted the entire ordeal to him, omitting nothing—from how Chu Minh Hien first encountered Lam Tu Vu, to the photocopies of the marriage certificate, and finally the posts surfacing on social media. Throughout my confession, I did not weep, nor did I show any signs of agitation. I simply presented the cold, hard facts. Upon hearing my report, Director Ngo set his teacup down and sat in silence for a long moment before finally asking, "So, you mean to say they met through our company's collaborative projects?"

"Yes," I replied, nodding. "I wanted to give you fair warning. If rumors about this were to spread, at least the company would not be caught off guard regarding our partnership with the photography team." He gave a slight nod. "I understand. You may return to your duties. Your handling of this situation has been remarkably composed. Not bad at all." I stood to leave, but as I reached the door, Director Ngo’s voice echoed behind me. "Nhuoc Tinh, regarding the collaboration with that photographer... put it on hold. Assign the account to someone else." I turned back and replied, "Understood, Director."

From that week onward, every contract between Chu Minh Hien and the company was terminated. It was not because I had sought to make life difficult for him, but simply because the company had secured a new photography partner. Later, To Dao told me that Lam Tu Vu’s cousin had caused quite a scene at the office, accusing me of personal vendettas and even storming into the assistant director’s office to claim I was abusing my authority. The assistant director had relayed Director Ngo’s response verbatim: "The company has clear protocols for selecting partners. Nhuoc Tinh has worked here for three years, and her conduct has always been professional and principled. I trust her judgment." With that, the matter was put to rest. But Lam Tu Vu was not yet ready to let it go.

That afternoon, Lam Tu Vu appeared at the entrance of my office building. She was impeccably dressed, waiting in the grand lobby. As soon as she saw me emerge, she stepped forward to block my path. "Tan Nhuoc Tinh, we need to talk." I stopped and regarded her with complete indifference. "You are the one who caused Minh Hien to lose his photography contracts, aren't you? You are taking revenge on him." I looked at her, my voice steady. "My company changed photography partners. That was a decision made by the procurement department. It has nothing to do with you."

"Stop pretending," Lam Tu Vu lowered her voice. "It is clear you did this on purpose. You hate me, so you targeted him." I cut her off. "Lam Tu Vu, I do not hate you. Furthermore, I do not have the time to harbor such resentment. To me, you simply aren't important enough." Her expression shifted instantly, and her voice began to tremble. "Do you have any idea how difficult things are for Minh Hien right now? His mother is still in the hospital. The money you transferred was merely an advance; there are still so many mounting expenses. He is currently..."

"His problems," I interrupted coolly, "no longer concern me. You are his wife. You should be the one finding a solution."

"You..."

I stepped closer, lowering my voice until it was barely a whisper. "There is something you likely do not know. The month he met you was the exact same time I helped him secure his first major contract. A contract worth one hundred and eighty thousand. I was the one who introduced that deal. I was the one who signed off on the approval." I stared directly into her eyes. "I suspect the money he earned from that contract was what he used to take you out for candlelight dinners, to buy that ring, and eventually to sign that marriage certificate with you, didn't he?"

Lam Tu Vu stood paralyzed, unable to utter a single word. I offered a faint, thin smile. "I never targeted you; I simply stopped clearing the path for his success."