Chapter 24 — The Heiress's Selection of a Husband

Three months after the truth was revealed, Anh Thu's life had turned a completely new page. Tan Phuc Company under her management was growing stronger and stronger, combined with support resources from Chu Nguyen Group, becoming one of the young businesses respected by the business community of Xuyen Giang city. Chu Bach Dinh was officially sentenced by the court for his crimes, while Lam Vinh Phat also had to leave the business world for many years to atone for his mistakes.

Mr. Dinh Van Tho, after completing his role as an important witness in the case, was personally invited by Chu Vinh Toan to become an honorary advisor to the group, a way to partially compensate for the years he had to live in silence and torment. He accepted with a satisfied smile, saying that this was the most meaningful thing he could did for the rest of his life, helping to witness justice finally triumph after a quarter of a century of waiting.

One weekend afternoon, Vinh Khang invited Anh Thu back to the coastal resort, where the two had a memorable business trip not long ago, where their love blossomed amid the late-night ocean waves. He said this was just a simple trip to rest after the past stressful months, but Anh Thu could feel the difference in his eyes the whole way.

When sunset fell, dyeing both the sky and the sea a brilliant orange, Vinh Khang led her to the beach, where he silently asked the resort staff to decorate hundreds of flickering candles along the path, along with white lotus petals scattered on the sand, reminiscent of the shape of the lotus on the jade pendant associated with the story of the two families.

"Why are you so fussy today?" Anh Thu asked, her voice mixed with surprise and excitement at the unexpected romantic scene before her eyes.

Vinh Khang did not answer immediately, just took her hand and led her to the middle of the candlelit aisle. He knelt down on one knee in front of her, took out a small velvet box from his pocket, inside was a sparkling engagement ring, exquisitely designed with delicate tiny lotus motifs on the rim of the ring.

"Ms. Thu, from the day you stepped into my mansion under a fake name, I never thought my life would change so much." Vinh Khang said, his voice trembled with emotion but his eyes still maintained the familiar steadfastness. "I have witnessed you overcome so many hardships, so many dangers, just to find justice for your parents. I admire that courage, and I love the genuine person hidden behind every facade that you have had to put on."

Tears welled up in Anh Thu's eyes, unable to contain the emotions welling up in her heart. She looked at the man kneeling in front of her, the one who believed in her even when the whole world doubted, the one who stood up to protect her without caring about the consequences, the one who accompanied her to the bottom of the truth.

She remembered every moment she had spent with him: the black umbrella he gave her in the pouring rain, his suspicious eyes during their first meeting, the moment he stood up to defend her against her eldest brother's harsh accusations, and the whole night he quietly sat next to her and listened to her tell the whole painful truth about her fate. Each of those memories was now like small bricks, together building a solid foundation for the love that she never dared to dream of when she started this arduous journey.

"Do you agree to be my wife?" Vinh Khang asked, his voice trembling slightly.

"I agree." Anh Thu replied, her voice choked with happy tears. "I agree to become your wife and accompany you for the rest of my life."

Vinh Khang stood up, put the ring on her finger, then pulled her into his warm arms amidst the romantic scenery of the night sea. In the distance, the sound of small fireworks suddenly lit up in the sky, another arrangement that Vinh Phong had secretly prepared following his brother's secret request.

"This Ut guy is really good at taking care of things behind the scenes." Anh Thu smiled, tears were still on her eyes but her face was radiant with happiness.

"You have to rely on an in-house event organizer." Vinh Khang smiled in response, hugging her tighter.

From afar, under the shade of a row of coconut trees, Vinh Phong stood with Vinh Bach and his parents, all of whom were silently present to witness this sacred moment without disturbing the couple's privacy. "Finally, Hai agreed to propose." Vinh Phong said, his voice full of excitement. "I thought he was so calm but he's so cowardly when it comes to love."

Vinh Bach smiled slightly, a rare smile on his normally serious face. "She deserves complete happiness after everything she has been through. My whole family is the same, after many ups and downs, we have now truly found peace."

Chu Vinh Toan stood still, his eyes turned towards the young couple embracing each other happily on the beach, an indescribable feeling of satisfaction rose in his heart. He secretly thought of his deceased soulmate, believing that if Ton Dac Nghia could see this scene, he would definitely smile at the stream, knowing that his daughter had finally found true happiness, right where the family tragedy once began.

Lam Ngoc Dung gently leaned her head on her husband's shoulder, her voice whispering with emotion. "Do you remember the old days, when Dac Nghia and Hien also stood on this beach talking about the future? Now seeing their daughter so happy, I feel like I'm looking back at themselves in those years."

"I remember." Chu Vinh Toan replied, his voice low and full of nostalgia. "And I believe that this is the best way to atone for the wrong this family has done to them, by giving their daughter a full, happy life that her parents should have deserved."

That night, when the full moon shone down on the sparkling sea, Anh Thu stood next to Vinh Khang, her hand gently touching the finished jade pendant hanging around her neck, which was no longer a testament to a painful tragedy, but had become a symbol of a healed friendship, a blossoming love, and a journey to find its origin that had ended completely with the best things.

She remembered the first day she ran away from an arranged marriage, disguised as a poor country girl with a small cloth bag and a determined heart. She remembered the long nights of fear of being discovered, the times when she was dangerously close, and the tears of sadness when she was wrongly suspected. But now, standing in the arms of the person she loves, surrounded by a warm new family and a sincere, unshakable friendship, Anh Thu knew that all the hardships she went through were worth it, because they led her to the right place where she belonged, to the right people worthy of her love and trust.

"Thank you, for believing in me from the first days, when I didn't even dare to believe in myself." Anh Thu whispered, resting her head on Vinh Khang's chest, listening to his steady heartbeat mixed with the murmur of the ocean waves.

"Thank you, for being brave enough to find the truth, and tolerant enough to give my whole family a chance to redeem themselves." Vinh Khang replied, lightly kissing her hair. "From today, we will continue to write new chapters together, with no more secrets, no more fear, only truth and love to guide us."

Ton Anh Thu's journey to find her origin, which began with a tearful escape, ended with perfect love, a strong friendship, and a family healed after a quarter of a century of separation. Under the gentle moonlight of the night sea, two hearts found each other, promising to continue on the road ahead together, carrying with them all the memories of the deceased, and a firm belief in a bright future awaiting.

In the distance, the sound of waves still whispering against the sandy shore, like a gentle background music for the story that had just closed a painful chapter to open a new chapter full of hope. In the night sky, the moonlight and countless stars still quietly shine, witnessing the hundred-year promise of a young couple who had overcome many storms to find each other, and witnessing the revival of a friendship that seemed to have been buried forever under the dust of time and the selfish calculations of people.