Chapter 8 — The Second Proposal

Binh Vuong’s expression instantly soured.

"Trach, what do you mean by that? Everything I do is for your own good! A family like hers is a bottomless pit that will only drag you down with them!"

"I can handle my own affairs," Luc Trach said firmly. "And I do not need you using such underhanded tactics to interfere."

As he spoke, he pushed a thick document folder across the table toward Binh Vuong. She opened it with a look of suspicion, but as soon as she caught sight of the contents, her face turned deathly pale. I did not know what was inside those pages, but I guessed it was something significant enough to keep her in check.

"If you continue to meddle in our relationship..." Luc Trach’s voice turned ice-cold. "I cannot guarantee that these documents won't find their way onto my father’s desk."

Binh Vuong’s hand trembled violently as she clutched the file. Perhaps she had never imagined that the son she was so proud of—her golden child—would use such a ruthless hand against her. She looked at Luc Trach and then at me, her eyes filled with a mixture of defeat and disbelief. All the schemes she had meticulously arranged were dismantled by Luc Trach with ease. For the first time, she realized that Chu Tuyet’s place in her son's heart had grown far beyond her control.

The conversation that night ended in Binh Vuong’s total defeat. From then on, though her gaze toward me remained cold, she no longer dared to openly make my life difficult. Seeing everything Luc Trach had done for me, my heart overflowed with a sense of peace and profound emotion. This man had used thunderous, decisive means to hold up the sky for me. He didn't just resolve the external troubles; he suppressed the internal conflicts of his own family, completely shifting my passive position within this household. When a husband and wife stand as one, their strength can break through even the hardest stone. For the first time in my life, I truly understood the meaning of those words.

Kien Quoc Luc’s health gradually recovered, and his spirits brightened with each passing day. On a sunny afternoon, he officially announced that he was handing over full control of the Luc Group, as well as all family matters, to Luc Trach. This meant that Luc Trach had become the true head of the Luc family. After the announcement, the elder called me privately into his study. The room smelled faintly of ink, a familiar scent that mirrored my memories of my old teacher years ago.

"Tuyet, sit down," Kien Quoc Luc said, pointing to the chair opposite him with a gentle smile. I sat down, feeling a bit anxious. He opened a locked drawer, took out a vintage velvet box, and pushed it toward me. "Open it and take a look."

I followed his instructions. Inside was a pair of jadeite earrings. The color was a magnificent imperial green—translucent, smooth, and glowing with a soft, ethereal light under the sun. One look was enough to know they were incredibly valuable.

"Uncle Luc, this is far too precious. I cannot accept it," I said, quickly trying to push the box back.

But Kien Quoc Luc held my hand and shook his head. "Silly girl, this isn't a gift from me. This belongs to the Luc family." He looked at the earrings, his eyes full of nostalgia. "These belonged to Trach’s grandmother, who passed them down to his mother. Before his mother passed away, she told me to personally hand them to the daughter-in-law she would have approved of."

My heart hammered against my ribs.

"From the very beginning, I saw your true character," Kien Quoc Luc said, his eyes filled with trust. "Kindness, resilience, and gratitude. I believed you would bring happiness to Trach. And as it turns out, I was not wrong about you."

This gesture represented the highest recognition from the Luc family elders, carrying more weight than any words ever could. My eyes grew misty as I solemnly accepted the earrings. "Thank you, Uncle Luc."

"You should call me 'Father' now," he corrected with a chuckle. I felt a bit shy, but I whispered the word anyway. "Father."

That evening at dinner, I wore the earrings. Binh Vuong froze the moment she saw them. Throughout the meal, she seemed distracted and lost in thought. She certainly recognized the significance of those jewels. They were the symbol of the matriarch of the Luc household; even she only wore her own set on the most prestigious occasions. Now that Kien Quoc Luc had personally given them to me, it meant my status was officially recognized by the highest authority in the family. She no longer had any ground to stand on.

From that point forward, Binh Vuong’s attitude toward me truly began to soften. She still didn't speak to me much, but the sarcasm and biting remarks vanished. Sometimes, when I made soup for Luc Trach, I would set a bowl aside for her. She would drink it in silence. I knew that earning her genuine acceptance would take a long time, but at least we had moved past the most difficult stage. This family was slowly heading toward a better future, and all of it stemmed from the trust and support of the man by my side.

Once all the obstacles in the house had been cleared, Luc Trach did something I never expected. Right in front of me, he pulled out the marriage contract we had signed long ago. He clicked a lighter and watched as the paper caught fire, burning slowly in the ashtray until it turned to ash.

"What are you doing?" I asked, though I had already guessed his meaning.

"It means... it is no longer valid," he said, his gaze burning with intensity. "From the moment I decided to face everything with you, that agreement lost all meaning."

My heart skipped a beat at his words. I thought our lives would simply continue in this peaceful, warm manner. But I didn't realize that this man, who seemed so stoic and practical, had prepared a massive surprise for me. On my birthday, he used the excuse of taking me to a business gala but instead drove me to a private villa by the sea. The garden had been transformed into a dreamlike sea of lights. Wearing the white dress he had prepared, I stood in the center of that glowing landscape like a princess.

Luc Trach dropped to one knee before me, holding a brilliant diamond ring. "Chu Tuyet," he said, looking up at me. In his eyes was a vulnerability and sincerity I had never seen before. "I know our beginning was unconventional. I owe you a proper pursuit, a confession... and a real wedding. I don't want our marriage to just be an accident born of gratitude. I want to give you a real start—one that belongs only to the two of us. Chu Tuyet, will you agree to marry me all over again?"

Before I knew it, friends and relatives appeared from the shadows. Kien Quoc Luc and Binh Vuong stood not far away, smiling at us. My tears fell once more, but this time, they were tears of pure happiness. I reached out my hand and choked out the words, "I do."

He slipped the ring onto my finger and stood up to pull me into a tight embrace. We held a grand wedding, but compared to the first time, this one held the weight of two hearts truly in love. I wore a pure white bridal gown and, under the blessings of everyone we cared about, we exchanged rings and promised ourselves to each other for a lifetime. Binh Vuong even held my hand and said sincerely, "Tuyet, I’m entrusting Trach to you from now on."

I smiled and nodded. Our marriage had begun as an accident, but it ended in love. The sunlight filtered through the stained glass of the chapel, bathing us in warmth and brilliance. I knew that my new life was just beginning. The road ahead was long, but as long as he was by my side, I would never be afraid again.