Chapter 9 — Once I don't hold back, your whole family has to pay the price

Over the past three years, I've only listened to criticism, listened to demands, listened to things that took me for granted. It's been a long time...no one has said such an acknowledgment to me. The corners of my eyes got a little hot.

“Go home and rest early.” He didn't say more, just looked at me deeply.

I got out of the car and stood watching his car's tail lights gradually disappear into the night. Returning to the empty apartment, I took off my vest and hung it carefully on the rack as if to preserve a rare moment. I thought everything... this was the end. But I underestimated the shamelessness of Chu Minh and his family. The next day— a bigger storm… struck without warning. The next day, I still went to the law firm as usual. But all morning, I kept feeling like something was wrong. My colleague's eyes looked at me... carrying a bit of scrutiny, a bit of vague pity. Someone wanted to say something, but hesitated. It wasn't until lunch break that a female colleague who was quite close to me pulled me into the tea room and secretly gave me her phone.

“Lam Thu, please look at this.”

It's a local forum. An article is being pushed very high, the title is as red as blood.

"Denunciation in tears! The phoenix wife clung to a rich man and then abandoned her husband and left my home!"

My heart... fell straight down. I clicked. Posting ID: “A Minh was betrayed.” The content is a long story, emotions are overflowing... but white changes to black until the end. Chu Minh turned himself into the perfect husband, working hard for his family and supporting his wife to pursue her dreams. become ungrateful, greedy for glory, for money and status, have an affair with a superior, leave the family, and even abandon her sick mother-in-law. He said I entered Hang Thien because of my shady relationship with Luc Trach. Say the apartment I live in... is maintained by Luc Trach. I even distorted the story of his sister's debt... so that I set a trap to force a divorce, so that I could be on the side of the "cheater". The article also includes photos. The wedding photo of me and Chu Minh, the smile that day... so innocent and pitiful. The photo of me getting off the Luc Trach car yesterday... was secretly taken. And also a photo of her mother-in-law in the hospital, weak and pitiful. An article... full of "spice" to incite public opinion. Female phoenix, adulterous, greedy for money, unfilial. Below… hundreds of comments. Almost all of them are cursing me.

"This kind of woman is truly disgusting. Marrying someone is truly eight times unlucky."

"Hang Thien? That's the most expensive law firm in the city, she probably makes a lot of money."

"Poor OP, he treated his wife like a treasure, but who knew it was just a stepping stone."

“Bring it out, expose both the third party and that cheater!”

Each sentence... like a knife. Plugs straight into the skin. My hands and feet were cold, my blood seemed to freeze. I didn't expect... Chu Minh would choose this way to take revenge. He didn't just want to drag me down. He wants to… destroy me. Reputation.

"Lam Thu, don't worry, we all believe you're not that type."

Colleagues gently comforted. But I know… it's not that simple. This article isn't just aimed at me. It also targeted Luc Trach. And also Hang Thien. The impact… will be huge. At that moment, my internal phone rang. Luc Trach's secretary.

“Miss Lam, lawyer Luc invites you to his room.”

I took a deep breath and forced myself to calm down. This barrier... I have to overcome it myself. I walked into his office. He stood in front of the large glass door, his back turned, straight figure. The air in the room... was heavy.

“Lawyer Luc, please find me.”

He turned back. On his desk, the tablet was still open… that same article.

“The article… did you see it?”

My voice was dry.

“Do you have anything to say?”

His eyes were calm... but carried invisible pressure. This is the verdict. If you fire me... I won't blame you. Because the trouble... was brought on by me. I was silent for a while. Then she raised her head and looked straight at him.

“First, I did not commit adultery.”

“Second, I have never taken a penny from the Chu family. On the contrary, I have compensated nearly 200,000 yuan during the marriage.”

"Third, his mother was hospitalized because she caused trouble in my house and fell herself. The hospital bill was also paid by him borrowing money from me."

“Fourth, I entered Hang Thien because of my professional ability, not any shady relationship.”

“It's all… true.”

“If necessary, I can provide sufficient evidence.”

Having finished speaking, I stood there. Waiting for verdict. Luc Trach did not speak immediately. He just looked at me. As if wanting to see through all layers. Then he slowly spoke.

“Of course I believe you.”

He stopped for a beat. His eyes… colder.

“I was just thinking… with this kind of online slander…”

“How should we counterattack… to make him lose the most?”