Chapter 18 — The Photograph Without a Third Person

The day before the hearing, Gia Huy convened a press conference of his own, in complete contrast to Tran Dat's previous press conference. He stood before reporters, with no elaborate preparations, no team of media advisors, just a short but powerful statement.

"I'm Phan Gia Huy," he said, his voice shaking but steady. "I came here to confirm that the man calling himself Phan Gia Bao is my twin brother. Four years ago, I remained silent when he was forced to give up his identity to protect my family from the consequences of a serious construction incident that I and several others in the corporation deliberately concealed. I apologize to my brother, to everyone who was affected by my cowardly silence, and I will fully cooperate with law enforcement." law to clarify the whole truth."

Gia Huy's statement was like a bomb among public opinion, immediately completely denying the "impersonation" accusation that Tran Dat had previously tried to spread. Major news agencies simultaneously reported and questioned the responsibility of Tran Dat and the entire former leadership of Phan Group.

Ha watched the news in the studio, feeling both relieved and moved by Gia Huy's courage - the man who was once so scared that he betrayed his own brother, is now ready to face the consequences to redeem himself.

"He did it," Dieu Thao said, her eyes wet with emotion. "He finally chose to be on the right side."

Ha's phone vibrated, a call from Gia Bao. When she answered the phone, his voice was filled with emotion, almost unable to speak. "My little brother... he just..."

"I know," Ha replied softly. "I just finished watching it. Are you okay?"

"I don't know how to describe this feeling," Gia Bao said, his voice shaking. "For four years, I thought he had completely turned his back on me. But now, seeing him standing there, openly admitting the truth before the whole world, even though he knew full well the consequences he would have to endure..."

"That's how he redeems himself," Ha said. "And I think, deep down, you still believe he will do the right thing at the most important moment, right?"

Gia Bao was silent for a moment, then quietly admitted. "Maybe so. No matter how much he disappointed me, I never stopped hoping he was still the little brother I knew."

***

In the afternoon, Mrs. Kim Oanh summoned Ha, Gia Bao and Gia Huy to meet, the first time all three mother and daughter were present in the same place since that fateful wedding day. The atmosphere in the small living room was filled with tension, but also filled with a fragile feeling of healing.

Gia Huy stood up when he saw his brother enter, his face full of regret. "Mr. Bao," he said, his voice choked. "I'm sorry. No apology is enough to make up for what you've endured, but I'm truly sorry."

Gia Bao stood looking at his younger brother for a long time, complex emotions — anger, pain, but also deep brotherly love — clearly visible on his face. Finally, he stepped forward and hugged his younger brother.

"I've been waiting for this apology for four years," Gia Bao said, his voice also shaking with emotion. "But what's more important is what you do from now on. Thank you for choosing to stand with the truth, even if it's late."

The two brothers hugged each other tightly, the tears they had held back for four long years were finally released. Mrs. Kim Oanh stood looking at that scene, her hands covering her mouth, tears rolling down her face.

"I'm sorry you both," she said as the two brothers let go of each other. "I was wrong to think I could protect both of you by choosing sides and staying silent. From now on, I will never let fear tear our family apart again."

The three of them hugged each other for a long moment, and Ha stood silently watching from afar, feeling the power of forgiveness and healing unfold before her eyes. This is more than just a fight for justice — it is also a journey of healing for a family that has been torn apart by silence and fear.

***

That night, when everyone had left, Gia Bao and Ha stayed in the studio alone, reviewing together one last time what he would present to the jury tomorrow.

"Tomorrow will be the most important day in my past four years," Gia Bao said, his hands still shaking slightly as he held the documents.

"You've prepared very carefully," Ha said, holding his hand to reassure him. "And you're not alone. We'll all be there, with you."

Gia Bao looked at her, his eyes filled with deep affection. "I don't know how to thank you enough, Ngoc Ha. You changed my life in ways I never dreamed of, from the day you walked into my repair shop with that broken motorbike."

"It was fate," Ha replied, smiling through her tears. "Fate brought me to the right place, at the right time, to find you."

They sat together in warm silence, hand in hand, mentally preparing for tomorrow — the day when the truth would finally be officially announced before the entire law, and Phan Gia Bao would be himself again, after four long years of living in the darkness of an identity that was not his.

Minh Tuan stopped by the studio later, bringing with him the final summary of the entire case file. “I just received the information,” he said, his voice mixed with excitement and caution. "After Gia Huy's statement, three other members of the group's former board of directors also contacted their private lawyers, expressing their desire to cooperate with the investigation agency in exchange for leniency. It seems that the wall of silence that Tran Dat has built for many years is starting to crumble."

"So what about Tran Dat?" Ha asked.

"He's still trying to fight back, hiring more lawyers, but with each person leaving his ranks, his position is getting weaker and weaker," Minh Tuan replied. "I believe that tomorrow, when faced with all the evidence and witnesses, he will no longer have many options to deny."

Gia Bao listened, his face showing a mixture of relief and nervousness. "I still can't believe that tomorrow will actually come," he said. "Over the past four years, there were times when I thought I would have to live my whole life as a ghost, never to be recognized as myself again."

"But tomorrow, that will change," Minh Tuan said, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "You were more courageous than anyone I have ever met in my legal career. Not everyone can endure what you went through and still maintain faith in justice."

After Minh Tuan left, Ha and Gia Bao continued to sit, reviewing each question that could be asked tomorrow, each detail needing to be presented clearly and accurately. Near midnight, Gia Bao put down the documents and looked at Ha with affectionate eyes.

"No matter what tomorrow brings," he said, "I want you to know that meeting you is the best thing that's happened to me in the past four years. You've given me reason to believe in people again."

Ha felt her heart warm at those words. She held his hand tightly, looking deeply into his eyes under the soft light of the studio. "And you've given me a reason to believe that, sometimes, the best things come from the places we least expect — like a strange wedding photo, and a man standing quietly behind a marble column."

They sat together late into the night, no longer talking much, simply enjoying each other's presence on the threshold of a tomorrow that could change everything. Outside the window, the city was still awake, the distant lights twinkling as if waiting for the dawn of a truth about to be revealed.

Before Gia Bao left, Lieutenant Hoai appeared to escort him, reminding both of them about the safe schedule for tomorrow. "Tomorrow morning, I will come pick up Ms. Ha at seven o'clock," she said. "We will arrive at the courthouse earlier than the scheduled time, avoiding any unnecessary risks at the last minute."

Gia Bao nodded and squeezed Ha's hand one last time before walking out the door. "I'll see you tomorrow," he said softly. "Where my four years of waiting will finally be an answer."

When the door closed behind him, Ha stood alone in the studio, looking out into the dark space outside. She thought about the journey that brought her here, about all the people who accompanied her through this arduous journey — Dieu Thao with her unwavering loyalty, Minh Tuan with her strong legal knowledge, Khanh Vy with her unexpected courage, Mrs. Kim Oanh with her deep motherly love, and even Gia Huy, who had finally found her own conscience.

She turned off the studio lights, locked the door carefully, and walked out under the escort of another police officer who had changed the night shift. On the way home, she looked up at the night sky, the rare stars twinkling through the urban fog, and she silently prayed that tomorrow, justice would finally be fully served.