Chapter 20 — The Summer Contract of Western Beauty and Beasts

Two weeks later, Ha Bich Tram called with important news: she had collected a series of text messages and recordings between Lam Viet Cuong and Trinh Khac Sang, including a conversation clearly showing a plot to trick Nha Khanh into signing documents, along with agreements to share commissions from appropriated debt and shares. This source comes from a former employee of Viet Cuong, who was dissatisfied with his unfair treatment and decided to cooperate in providing evidence.

"That's enough, Khanh," Bich Tram said over the phone, her voice full of excitement. "With this evidence, combined with the denunciation you filed, I'm sure I have enough basis to overturn the entire case. But the lawyer said, it's best for you to be present in person to confront, the testimony of the insider will have much more weight."

After careful discussion with Bach Son and lawyer Vuong Dinh Khai, Nha Khanh decided to return to Saigon for the first time since the fateful night of her escape nearly a year ago. Bach Son wanted to go with him, but the final decision on Tue An's custody was approaching, forcing him to stay and prepare. Finally, they agreed to let Nha Khanh go with lawyer Khai and have close support from the police and Bich Tram in Saigon, ensuring maximum safety.

Before the departure day, Bach Son held Nha Khanh's hand tightly, his eyes full of worry and trust. "Be careful. If anything unusual happens, call me immediately, I will fly down at night if necessary."

"You'll be fine," Nha Khanh smiled reassuringly, even though she couldn't help but feel nervous. "This time I'm no longer alone like before. I have you, I have Bich Tram, I have the law on my side. And this time, I will be the one to end this, I won't have to hide from it another day."

In Saigon, the meeting between Nha Khanh and Lam Viet Cuong took place at a law office, witnessed by lawyers from both sides and representatives of the investigation agency invited at the official request. Viet Cuong entered the room with his usual confidence, but when he saw Nha Khanh sitting there, calmer and more steadfast than the image of the innocent girl he once knew, that confidence somewhat faltered.

"Long time no see," Viet Cuong started, trying to keep his familiar friendly tone. "Where did you go and disappear for a year? Everyone was so worried."

"You don't need to pretend to care anymore," Nha Khanh replied, her voice cold but not shaking at all. "I didn't come here today to chat, but to make it clear, I have enough evidence of your and Trinh Khac Sang's conspiracy."

She placed a thick file on the table, inside were printouts of messages and recordings that Bich Tram had diligently collected. Viet Cuong glanced over, his face gradually changed, from confidence to panic when he realized the completeness and detail of the evidence.

"This... this is a fabrication," he tried to defend, but his voice had lost its original certainty.

"It's a fabrication but it matches every word with what you told me in the notary office that year?" Nha Khanh turned to another page and read directly a recording of Viet Cuong's main voice that sounded clearly on the small tape recorder she brought. "'She signed so well, now I just have to wait for the right day for everything to automatically change to my company's name.' Do you remember this sentence?"

Viet Cuong fell silent, sweat began to form on his forehead. He changed tactics, his voice suddenly lowered, trying to evoke some old feelings. "Nha Khanh, do you think I want that? I'm just a pawn in Trinh Khac Sang's hands. He forced me, and my family's debts are as high as yours. You and I, after all, are both his victims."

"Don't try to make yourself a victim in front of me," Nha Khanh interrupted, her voice much sharper. "The person who forced me to sign the papers, the person who looked straight into my eyes and lied without blinking, was you. No one could force you to do that other than your own greed."

Just as tension reached its peak, the meeting room door opened. Trinh Khac Sang, having learned that the meeting was taking place through a panicked call from Viet Cuong earlier, showed up himself, his face no longer as calm and cold as the night he stood in front of the gate of Doi Suong farm.

"Miss Khanh really knows how to choose the right moment," he said, his voice tight, his sharp eyes scanning the room. But when he saw the thick file on the table, and saw the look on the investigation agency's face as he was quietly taking notes, he paused for a moment, then turned sharply to Viet Cuong, his tone completely changing to harsh. "Tell me, how many things have you let out? The whole plan was proposed by you, I'm just the lender, don't drag me down with you into the pit!"

"You..." Viet Cuong rolled his eyes, not expecting his accomplice to turn around and betray him right in front of the investigation agency. "You're the one who created the front company, the one who ordered people to search for her, are you going to blame it all on me?"

"You're the one who persuaded her to sign the paper, I only lend money according to my profession," Trinh Khac Sang replied without mercy, completely forgetting the calmness he often used to intimidate others. The two people who were once good companions now stood back to back, biting each other right in front of Nha Khanh, each of them could only find a way to push all their sins to the other side to save themselves.

Nha Khanh stood up and looked at the two men who had terrified her for nearly a year, now tearing each other apart like two animals cornered. She didn't feel gloating, only a cold contempt rising in her heart.

"You don't have to blame each other in front of me," she said, her voice ringing clear and decisive enough to cut them both off. "The evidence is complete, who is the mastermind, who is the abettor, the investigation agency will make it clear, there is no need for you to confess for each other like this. I just want to tell you both, once and for all - I am no longer the naive, gullible girl I once was, allowing you two to easily manipulate and take over both my life and my father's life's efforts. You were wrong, and the price to pay, will not be a penny less."

The representative of the investigation agency, after preliminary review of the evidence file and witnessing the entire on-the-spot denunciation between the two suspects, announced that he would officially prosecute the case, and invited both Viet Cuong and Trinh Khac Sang to the headquarters to give additional testimony on the same day. Looking at the scene of the two being taken away in panic, no longer having any confident, chivalrous or scary cold demeanor like before, Nha Khanh did not feel triumphant, only a deep feeling of relief, as if a burden that had been clinging to her for nearly a year was finally lifted with her own hands.

After the meeting, Nha Khanh and Bich Tram visited Mr. Duong Khai Phong at his home. Meeting his daughter again after nearly a year of separation, Mr. Khai Phong froze for a second in the doorway before stepping forward to hug her, his hand shaking as he gently stroked her daughter's hair.

"I'm sorry, my child, for being so blindly trusting that he put you in this dangerous situation," he said, having to stop mid-sentence to swallow back a sob.

"Father is not at fault, we are all victims of sophisticated scammers," Nha Khanh replied, hugging her father tightly, tears mingling between father and son. "I just saw them blaming each other right in front of me, dad. People like that will have to pay the price sooner or later. Now everything is about to be resolved, don't blame yourself anymore."

She told her father about her new life at Doi Suong farm, about Bach Son, about baby Tue An, her eyes lit up with happiness every time she mentioned the small family waiting for her return. Mr. Khai Phong listened, although there were still many surprises, but seeing the peace and maturity clearly shown on his daughter's face, he felt lighter than ever, silently thanking fate for bringing his daughter to such a peaceful landing, even though the road there was full of thorns that no one could predict.

"When everything is settled here, I must definitely come visit you, my grandson-in-law and my adopted grandson," Mr. Khai Phong said, his voice much happier, his eyes shining with sincere expectation. "I want to see with my own eyes the place that gave my daughter a new life, a real home."

"I'll pick you up to play, so you can see how well I know how to milk cows and grow tea," Nha Khanh smiled, her voice full of pride and warmth.

That evening, before leaving Saigon to return to the plateau, Nha Khanh and Bich Tram sat at a familiar coffee shop from their student days, reviewing many old memories. "Thank you, for everything you've done for me all this time," Nha Khanh said, her eyes filled with tears. "Without you, I probably wouldn't have had the courage to face everything today."

"They're friends, why be polite?" Bich Tram smiled, holding her friend's hand tightly. "I'm just happy that you finally found a place of true happiness, and even more happy that you stood up to confront them yourself, instead of hiding for the rest of your life. Remember to invite me to your real wedding, who knows when they can reorganize it properly."

Nha Khanh laughed, her cheeks turned pink at her best friend's teasing, but in her heart, a seed of hope for a brighter, more complete future with Bach Son and baby Tue An, was silently sprouting, waiting for the day to bear fruit.

Before going to the airport, Nha Khanh made a video call to Bach Son to recount the entire day's events. Seeing his face on the screen, even though it was only through a small frame, she still felt the relief clearly in his eyes when she heard the news that both Viet Cuong and Trinh Khac Sang had been taken to testify, and even denounced each other on the spot.

"So it's almost done," Bach Son said, his voice filled with relief. "You're very good, facing both of them yourself and still remaining so calm. You're here, everyone is looking forward to it. An keeps asking dad when Khanh's mom will be home."

The word "Khanh's mother" suddenly slipped out of his mouth, causing both of them to pause for a second, silently looking at each other through the screen. That was the first time Bach Son called her by that title when mentioning the way Tue An called her, a title that had only been whispered a few times in the most intimate moments, never spoken publicly between adults.

"I... I'm sorry, I said something wrong," Bach Son was a bit flustered, his eyes avoiding the camera lens.

"It's okay," Nha Khanh smiled softly, her voice gentle, her eyes stinging with emotion. "I like being called that."

The call ended in pervasive warmth, leaving Nha Khanh with a stronger determination than ever - she will quickly complete all remaining procedures in Saigon, so she can return to her small family waiting for her on that remote plateau, where she found the true meaning of the word "home" that she thought she would never have again after the terrible events she went through.

The last night before leaving Saigon, Nha Khanh stayed at her father's house, sleeping in her old room for the first time in nearly a year. Lying among the familiar objects that had been with her throughout her childhood and teenage years, she no longer felt the nostalgia she once thought, but only saw that they were the traces of a chapter of her life that had ended - a chapter in which she had only bowed her head and blindly trusted others. Her heart, now, was directed somewhere else — to the green tea hills, to the familiar bellowing sound of cows every morning, to a man who spoke little but was always ready to protect, and to a little girl who taught her what unconditional love was. She fell asleep in the most peaceful sleep since that fateful night nearly a year ago, knowing that tomorrow, she would return to where she truly belonged, no longer as a fugitive, nor as someone who could only wait to be rescued, but as a woman who had personally regained justice for herself, on her way home, to her loved ones who were waiting for her every day.