Chapter 5 — Three Days Lost Both Mother and Wife

The scandal, which was already hot, is now even more explosive. The very next morning. An anonymous account suddenly posted dozens of photos on the forum. Those are all photos of Co Dan Thuong and Tan So Anh from the trip three days ago. There are photos of watching the sunrise together. There are photos of them having dinner by candlelight. There is a photo of her resting her head on his shoulder on the tram in the resort. There are even some recordings. In the recording, Tan So Anh's voice was full of self-pity.

“Dan Thuong… I know my identity.”

“I don't want to destroy your family.”

Co Duan Thuong's voice replied softly:

“Don't think too much.”

The recording stops right there. No end. But that alone is enough to stir up public opinion.

“My mother just passed away and made the secretary take the blame.”

“What a man.”

“Still pretending to be pitiful.”

Tieu Ly took the tablet and ran straight into the office.

“Chairman Co.”

“Someone released more evidence.”

Co Duan Thuong just glanced at the screen. His face became colder and colder. Someone is intentionally leading public opinion. Right at that moment. The director of the technology department entered.

“You told us to restore all data on the phone and server.”

“The results are out.”

Co Dan Thuong immediately stood up. In the technical room. Dozens of bright screens. A young engineer opens the newly recovered file.

“We discovered a lot of data had been deleted.”

“But it's still recoverable.”

He clicked. An email chain appears. Adjust survey schedule. Tan So Anh. Receiver. Foreign partners. The content stunned everyone.

“Boss Gu wants to stay for two more days.”

“Please cooperate.”

Co Dan Thuong frowned.

"Incorrect."

“I never asked for an extension.”

The engineer nodded.

"That's right."

“We called to verify.”

“The partners said they were also very surprised.”

“They thought this was your idea.”

Tieu Ly opened her eyes wide.

“The entire survey only took one day?”

“The signing was completed on the first afternoon.”

“The following days there were no more meetings.”

The whole room was silent. Co Dan Thuong only felt cold on his back. He recalls. That day, Tan So Anh smiled and said:

“The partner wants to invite us to rest more to discuss further.”

He never doubted. The engineer continued to open another note.

“This time it's the system log.”

“Every call to your phone will be synchronized to the secretary.”

“The purpose is to handle urgent work.”

More than thirty calls appeared on the screen. Kien Thanh. The day it happened. What surprised everyone was... After each call, an action appeared. Refused to sync. Operator. Account of… Tan So Anh. Tieu Ly took a deep breath.

“No way…”

The engineer continued.

“Not only that.”

"Miss Qin's phone was never turned off that day."

“Only turn on all call blocking.”

Co Dan Thuong's mind seemed to explode. He recalls. When mom called. The announcement he heard later was…

“The subscriber is shutting down.”

Not shutdown. Which is blocked. He slowly put his hands on the table. Breathing becomes rapid. If that day… Just one call to be transferred. Just one message is needed. He still has the chance to see his mother one last time. Tieu Ly clenched his fist.

“She did it on purpose.”

Right at that moment. Another engineer spoke up.

“One more thing.”

“The resort's cameras have also been sent over.”

The image appears. The first evening. Co Duan Thuong just walked in bathroom. Tan So Anh secretly took his phone. Click a few steps. Then smiled and put it back in its original position. Just a few seconds. No one noticed. But the technician enlarged the screen. It was obvious that she was in a mode to reject all calls. The whole room was silent. No one doubts anymore. Everything... It's intentional. Right at that moment. The door to the technical room opened. Tan So Anh hurriedly ran in.

“Dan Thuong.”

“I heard you were investigating me.”

“Is there some misunderstanding?”

She just finished speaking. Tieu Ly turned the computer screen towards her. The smile on Tan So Anh's face stiffened. In just a split second. She burst into tears again.

“Dan Thuong…”

“I… I'm just afraid that work will bother you.”

“I want you to rest for a few days.”

“I didn't know something so big would happen.”

Co Dan Thuong slowly walked in front of her. Bloodshot eyes.

"Don't know?"

He laughed. Hoarse laughter.

“My mother called thirty-seven times.”

“Kien Thanh called twenty-three times.”

“I blocked everything.”

“Is that what you call not knowing?”

Tan So Anh continuously shook his head.

“I really didn't mean it.”

A resounding slap. The whole room was as quiet as paper. Tan So Anh covered his face, looking at the man in front of him in disbelief. This is the first time... Co Dan Thuong has laid a hand on her. His hands were still shaking. There was no more gentleness in his eyes. Only pain and anger remain.

"I have no right to mention the words 'unintentional'."

He closed his eyes. The voice suddenly became hoarse.

“The person who deserves to be slapped the most…”

“It's me again.”

“If I wasn't stupid.”

“Don't blindly trust me.”

“Don't leave mom and Kien Thanh alone.”

“So no matter how you calculate…”

“It will never work either.”

He turned and left the room. The tall back now showed an unprecedented loneliness and depression. Tan So Anh slowly let go of the hand holding his cheek. The corners of his lips were bleeding. But her eyes showed no remorse. It's scary cold. She looked at Co Dan Thuong's back and smiled softly.

“Dan Thuong…”

“I think…”

“Is this the end?”

“Game…”

“It's just the beginning.”

Three months later. A southern coastal city. In the early morning of summer, sunlight penetrated through the glass window, covering the small studio with the gentle scent of lavender. The wind chimes rang softly. To Kien Thanh opened the door and hung a wooden sign on the porch.

“The door is open.”

A little girl ran in holding a bouquet of flowers.

“Miss To, the bouquet of hydrangeas I ordered yesterday is so beautiful!”

To Kien Thanh smiled.

“Thank you.”

"If you like it, I'll give you a few more branches next time."