Chapter 4 — The Toast That Ended Ten Years of Marriage

Attorney Truong was already waiting for me in the reception room. Spread across the table were the supplementary clauses regarding the division of our assets. As I exited the room, I noticed my colleagues casting odd, lingering glances in my direction. The reason for this strange atmosphere became immediately apparent the moment I reached my office. Giang Le Song was seated in my leather chair, her fingertips idly tracing the fountain pen that rested upon my desk. Upon seeing me enter, she cast a look of overt provocation my way.

"Miss Lam, it seems we will be working in the same company from now on."

I retreated two steps, my gaze drifting to the nameplate fastened to the door: Marketing Director, Giang Le Song. At the sight of it, I could not help but let out a sharp, amused laugh. Marketing Director. A lofty title indeed. Who had appointed her? Co Van Diep? Did he truly hold such sweeping power? I looked at her, offered a placid smile, and turned to leave.

"Make yourself at home," I said calmly.

Hearing this, many of my colleagues who had intended to stand up for me sank back into their chairs, visibly disappointed. I was, after all, the wife of Co Van Diep and the company’s largest shareholder. To be bullied by a young woman in such a fashion made me seem pathetically weak in their eyes. But we were on the verge of divorce. Co Van Diep would soon be forced to lead Giang Le Song out of this company for good. To waste anger on someone already destined to be cast aside would only lower my own standing. As I gathered the documents I had finalized with the lawyer and prepared to depart, Co Van Diep appeared. Seeing me tuck the papers into my bag, his expression tensed instantly.

"Where are you going?"

Giang Le Song chimed in before I could speak, her voice saccharine. "Brother Diep, didn't you tell me I could choose any office I liked? I chose this one!"

Co Van Diep spun around abruptly, his eyes cold as glacial ice. "Who gave you permission to touch her office?"

Giang Le Song was left stunned by his sharp rebuke, her eyes welling up with sudden tears. "But yesterday, you clearly said—"

"The offices I told you to choose from were the ones currently vacant!" he cut her off coldly, then pivoted to face me. His tone softened instantly, laced with a subtle, desperate undertone of conciliation. "Chieu Ha, I will have her moved out at once..."

Before he could finish, I interrupted him. "If she likes it so much, let her sit there."

After all, Co Van Diep had already signed the divorce papers. In every practical sense, our marriage had reached its end. Co Van Diep stood frozen in place, his face dark and unreadable. Not until my retreating shadow had vanished did he snap back to reality. He shoved Giang Le Song, who was still humming to herself while packing, out of the room. Then, in front of everyone, he raised his hand and struck her across the face.

"I warned you. Lam Chieu Ha is my wife and the largest shareholder of this firm. Without her, this company would not exist today. You are required to treat her with absolute respect." He glared at her, his voice trembling with fury. "Has my indulgence led you to such a delusion? Who gave you the audacity to provoke her?"

By the time I reached the ground floor, I received a message from Co Van Diep. "Today was a decision made solely by Tieu Song; I knew nothing of it. I have already booked a trip to the Maldives. We leave tomorrow. This time, we will surely have a child."

I shook my head, blocked his number, and switched off my phone. Spare me the nausea. When he realized no reply was forthcoming, Co Van Diep grew restless. Just as he was about to head out to find me, the lawyer tracked him down.

"Mr. Co, you are now divorced. Legally speaking, this company belongs to Miss Lam. I must ask you to vacate the premises immediately."

Co Van Diep stood stunned, his composure shattering. "When did I ever sign a divorce?"

The lawyer looked at him, puzzled, and produced the agreement. "Mr. Co, is the signature on this document not your own?"

"When did I sign..."

As he spoke, Co Van Diep snatched the document from the lawyer’s hands, his face turning deathly pale.