Chapter 21 — The Photograph Without a Third Person

Three months after the hearing, the official criminal trial of Tran Dat was opened at the city people's court. Unlike the previous civil hearing, this trial attracted much wider attention from the public, when the story of staging a fake death and covering up a construction incident became a topic of discussion everywhere.

Ha, now not only the person who discovered the truth, but also an important witness, must mentally prepare to face his testimony being thoroughly questioned by Tran Dat's team of experienced defense lawyers.

"You don't need to worry," Minh Tuan reassured her before the court date. "You just need to tell the truth, exactly what happened. The evidence is solid enough, they can't find any loopholes to disprove the entire case."

The trial lasted for several days, with a series of witnesses being summoned — from the old man protecting the Lam Dien construction site, to Mr. Dang Van Son, who finally had the courage to testify publicly after learning of the widespread support that Gia Bao's case received from the public.

"I was scared for three years," Mr. Son told the court, his voice shaking but steady. "But when I see a young person like Mr. Gia Bao dare to stand up and demand justice after four years of suffering, I realize I cannot continue to stay silent forever."

Mr. Son's testimony, along with financial evidence about the "special consulting fee" that Khanh Vy found, further strengthens the comprehensive picture of Tran Dat's systematic behavior in suppressing anyone who dares to challenge his power.

Gia Bao also had to return to testify again, this time with more detailed questions about the staged accident. He recounted, his voice still shaking as he remembered the moment the truck intentionally rammed into his car on the highway, but this time, Ha was sitting in the front row, her eyes always following him like a source of solid encouragement.

Tran Dat's legal team tried to argue that the accident was just a random traffic incident, with no direct evidence to prove it was intentionally staged. But when the prosecutor presented evidence from security cameras near the accident area — stored at a nearby toll booth and recently recovered thanks to the cooperation of the traffic agency — showing that the truck had followed Gia Bao's car for a long distance before attacking, all counter arguments collapsed.

"This was not a random accident," the prosecutor told the court, her voice sharp. "This was an intentionally injurious act, meticulously planned, with the sole purpose of silencing a person who dared to stand up to protect the safety of hundreds of families."

Tran Dat sat silently throughout the trial, his face becoming increasingly haggard compared to the confident and authoritative look when Ha first met him at the group's office. He no longer tried to defend himself strongly, just sat there, as if waiting for an outcome that he had gradually accepted as inevitable.

During a break between trials, Ha happened to face Tran Dat in the court hallway, while both were waiting for their turn to enter the courtroom. He looked at her, his eyes no longer looked threatening like before, but contained a deep fatigue.

"You won," he said softly, his voice lacking any authority. "I hope you are satisfied with what you have achieved."

"This is not about winning or losing, Mr. Dat," Ha replied, her voice calm but determined. "This is about justice for someone who had four years of his life taken away, and for all the others who have suffered because of their silence."

Tran Dat did not respond, just bowed his head and turned away when his name was called to continue the trial. Ha stood looking at his back, not feeling the gloating she had imagined, but just a feeling of relief that finally, this long journey was approaching its proper conclusion.

In the evening, when she recounted that brief encounter to Gia Bao, he was silent for a long time before responding. “I think, part of me still feels sorry for him,” he said, his voice thoughtful. "He spent his whole life pursuing power, but in the end lost everything because he couldn't accept that he was wrong."

"That's probably the biggest lesson from this whole story," Ha said, squeezing his hand. "That the truth, however delayed it may be, will eventually find its way to the light."

In the following days of the trial, the prosecutor continued to present more evidence, including internal emails that Khanh Vy had collected, showing that Tran Dat instructed his subordinates to delete all records related to the Lam Dien project immediately after Gia Bao "died", an act that the prosecutor called "systematic destruction of evidence".

Ms. Kim Oanh also had to return to testify again, this time detailing the times she received threatening calls from strange phone numbers over the past four years, every time she appeared to intend to seek outside help. "I lived in constant fear," she said, her voice choked but not shaken in court. "But I would rather endure that fear than let my son suffer alone."

On the fifth day of the trial, Tran Dat's defense attorney tried to come up with a final tactic — offering a plea deal in exchange for a lighter sentence, with the condition that Tran Dat would cooperate in providing information about other similar cases he knew of in the construction industry. The prosecutor temporarily paused the trial to consider this proposal.

"This could be an opportunity to expose more unjust cases," Minh Tuan explained to Ha and Gia Bao during the break. "But it also means that Tran Dat may receive a lighter sentence than he deserves."

Gia Bao thought for a long time before speaking. "If it helps many other people who are living in the dark like I did, I think we should support it," he said, his voice low but firm. "Justice is not just about punishing one person, but also about preventing similar injustices from happening to others in the future."

Ha looked at him with deep admiration. Even though he has endured so much suffering, Gia Bao still maintains an amazing altruism, always thinking of others who may be in similar situations.

The prosecutor, after consulting with the main witnesses, decided to accept part of Tran Dat's proposal - he would have to provide full information about all similar incidents that he knew of, in exchange for a partially reduced sentence, but he would still have to bear full criminal responsibility for Gia Bao's actions.

News of the deal spread quickly, and in the weeks that followed, three more similar cases were discovered — other employees who had been threatened and forced to leave the company quietly over the years by Tran Dat. Each newly discovered case makes Ha more confident in the value of the fight she and Gia Bao have pursued.

"We're not just going to get justice for you alone," she told Gia Bao when news of the third case was announced. "We've opened a door for so many other people."

Gia Bao nodded, his eyes looking distantly out the studio window. "There were nights when I thought my story would forever be a buried secret, no one knew, no one cared. Looking back now, I realize my silence also unintentionally contributed to others continuing to suffer in the same darkness."

"You have nothing to blame yourself," Ha said immediately, holding his hand tightly. "You did the only thing you could do to protect the people you love. No one has the right to judge the choices you had to make under such threatening pressure."

"I know," Gia Bao replied, smiling slightly. "But that's why I appreciate the opportunity to speak up even more now, when I no longer have to be afraid."

The last days of the trial passed in a tense but hopeful wait. Dieu Thao continued to assist Minh Tuan in preparing additional documents related to newly discovered cases, while Khanh Vy, despite temporarily living separately from Gia Huy, continued to provide additional useful information whenever she found it from old family contacts.

On the evening before the court was expected to announce the final verdict in Tran Dat's case, the whole group gathered at Ha's studio to review the entire journey together. Mrs. Kim Oanh brought a pot of homemade green bean sweet soup, a simple dish but full of family sentiment.

"Whatever the outcome tomorrow," she said, looking around at the faces that had gone through this arduous journey with her, "I want to thank everyone, for helping my family find light again after four years of darkness."

Everyone raised a glass of water, a simple but emotional gesture, mentally preparing for tomorrow - the day when the final chapter of the criminal trial will officially close.