Chapter 1 — The Last Gift Is Goodbye

"Once Lam Niem can still stand, break her legs."

"So that I can only sit in a wheelchair for the rest of my life."

In the office, Co Hoai Tham leaned back in a leather chair, his fingertips loosely holding an unlit cigarette. His voice was coldly calm, as if he was entrusting something that wasn't worth worrying about. Trieu Loi stood at the door, his back stiff, not daring to open his mouth. Co Hoai Tham lifted her eyes to look at him.

"Why? Can't you hear clearly?"

Trieu Loi swallowed hard.

"Mr. Gu... Miss Lam has withdrawn from the competition."

The tip of the finger holding the cigarette stopped.

"Withdraw from the competition?"

"She was on a morning flight to Vienna."

Trieu Loi bowed his head.

"Before leaving, I asked someone to pass on the message... said I left you a 'big gift', wishing you and Miss Giang a happy wedding."

The cigarette was thrown forcefully into the ashtray.

"Big gift?"

Co Hoai Tham laughed sarcastically.

"A person who has been abandoned by his family, where can he get anything that can be called a gift?"

Trieu Loi was silent.

"Get out."

"The wedding is in three days."

"Don't let that kind of person ruin the mood."

As soon as he stepped out into the hallway, Trieu Loi met Giang Uyen Thanh. She wore a custom-made dress and her makeup was perfect. On the wrist is a Cartier bracelet. That's Lam Niem's stuff.

"Assistant Trieu, are Hoai Tham there?"

"Yes, Miss Giang."

Giang Uyen Thanh smiled and walked in, intimately taking Co Hoai Tham's arm.

"I heard she left?"

"The better to go."

Co Hoai Tham gently stroked her hair.

"Less eyesores."

Giang Uyen Thanh smiled proudly.

"I said it from the beginning."

"What else can a person do besides knowing how to play the piano?"

"Now I don't even have the chance to go on stage."

"If you don't obediently go away, why do you want to stay?"

"Only good at scaring people."

Three days later. Peninsula Hotel. The wedding of the century between Co and Jiang had nearly half of Beijing's elite present. I sat in the cafe opposite. Through the ground-level glass, I quietly looked at the hotel's bright lights. The phone vibrates.

"Lam Niem, there are four more hours until the plane takes off."

"Are you sure you're not going?"

Dao Nhien's voice was full of impatience. I slowly stirred the Americano.

"Ticket canceled."

"Are you crazy?"

"If Co Hoai Tham knew you were still in Beijing..."

"He wouldn't know."

I hung up. At that moment, a news bulletin appeared on the screen. 【The most anticipated wedding in the Beijing business world. General Manager Ko Hoai Tham officially married the golden girl Giang Uyen Thanh.] In the photo. Two people standing in the middle of the red carpet. Giang Uyen Thanh wore a Vera Wang wedding dress. On her neck is an emerald necklace. The relics my mother left behind. I turned the phone face down. The waiter comes over.

"Miss, do you need to bring your things?"

I stood up, holding the kraft paper bag next to me. The outside looks very normal. But inside... It's the wedding gift I prepared for them. Just walked out of the cafe. A black Maybach slowly stopped. The car window rolled down. A strange man looked at me.

"Miss Lam?"

"I don't know someone named Tham."

That person took out a gold-plated invitation card.

"Mr. Tham said..."

"You will need an identity to enter the wedding ceremony."

I opened the card. There is only one line written on it. Special distinguished guests. Tham Dien and his companion. A close name is something of a legend in Beijing's financial circles. No one had ever met him. But everyone knows that man holds in his hands the economic lifeblood of half of Asia.

"Why did he help me?"

The driver just smiled.

"Mr. Tham said..."

"He wanted to see a really good play."

Wedding banquet hall. Crystal lights shine brightly. Fresh flowers cover the walkway. The symphony orchestra has begun to perform. More than three hundred guests were all famous figures in the business world. Chu Ngoc Lan stood in the reception area, smiling and unable to close her mouth.

"Uyen Thanh is exactly the daughter-in-law that the Co family expected."

Someone immediately chimed in.

"I heard that Lam Niem was kicked out by the Lam family."

"Even the competition gave up."

"This life is over."

Chu Ngoc Lan smirked.

"I saw that it had no future for a long time."

"An adopted child still thinks he's a real genius."

Laughter immediately echoed throughout the hall. Right at that moment. The receptionist suddenly stood up. A Maybach slowly stopped in front of the red carpet. Sutra A00001. The whole hall was silent.

"The Tham family's car?"

"What about the Tham family?"

"It's the Tham family!"

Amidst the whispers. The car door opens. A man in a gray suit stepped down. Cold appearance. The aura was enough to overwhelm the entire hall. He turned around. Put your hand in the car. A smooth white hand was placed on his arm. I walked down. Ten-centimeter high heels touching the ground. The black velvet dress hugged her slim figure. The entire hall simultaneously looked towards me. The glass of wine in Co Hoai Tham's hand stopped. Giang Uyen Thanh's smile stiffened. Chu Ngoc Lan also choked. The receptionist looked at the card in amazement.

"Mr. Shen..."

"Miss Lam..."

I calmly walked past Co Hoai Tham. Not even a single glance was for him. The man next to him tilted his head slightly.

"Tense?"

I smiled.

"Not even a little bit."

The corners of his lips curled slightly.

"Then..."

"It's time for your big gift to be opened."

The wedding hasn't started yet. The guest area was whispering, the noise was like a broken beehive.

"Is that really Lam Niem? Hasn't she gone abroad already?"

"Going with someone from the Tham Family, what does it have to do with anything?"

"Look at Co Hoai's face, it's all turning purple."

I found a seat in the corner. Tham Dien sat next to me, his long fingers resting on the chair armrest, his attitude as if he was waiting to see a good show.

"When do you plan to send them that big gift?" I asked.

Tham Dien raised his eyebrows: "That's your gift, what does it have to do with me?"

"You helped me get in here, but you said you wouldn't participate?"

"I'm only responsible for watching the play."

I don't talk to him anymore. Three minutes later, Giang Uyen Thanh came over. She tightened her grip on the hem of her wedding dress, her knuckles turning white.

"Lam Niem."

I raised my head to look at her.

"Long time no see."

She took a deep breath – no, she was trying to suppress her emotions, her tone was sickeningly sweet.

"Miss Niem, why are you here? I thought you went to Vienna."