Chapter 15 — When I Don't Need Them Anymore

I placed the envelope on the table next to me.

“To Uyen Ninh, you can go back and discuss with your lawyer first.”

“Then let the lawyer answer my lawyer.”

I walked past her. From beginning to end... Not even raising my voice once. But the crowd three steps away was completely silent. There are a few people looking this way. To Uyen Ninh stood still in place. The wine glass in my hand shook slightly. A few drops of red wine fell onto the hem of her black dress. Like some dark colored wounds. Three days after the party. News about the copyright infringement lawsuit broke out. To Uyen Ninh's brand stock dropped fifteen percent in just one day. Three partners sent letters to terminate cooperation. Phone calls from investors come in all day long. To Uyen Ninh's reaction... was much more intense than I thought. She held a media conference. To Uyen Ninh didn't cry anymore. She smiled facing the camera and then spoke for a very long time.

“This copyright infringement complaint is completely baseless slander.”

"Miss An Lac, who is also my older sister - Tham Niem An - because of family conflicts, always harbors resentment towards me."

“This so-called ‘rights protection’… is just her revenge trick…”

The interpreter next to him froze for a moment. To Uyen Ninh coughed softly and continued:

“It's just her revenge tactic.”

“My brand operates legally, every design goes through a formal process.”

“I will use the law to protect myself.”

“Absolutely no compromise.”

Having finished speaking, she bowed her head in front of the camera. Video of the press conference quickly spread online. The comment section started arguing again. But this time is not like before. Because someone posted a screenshot. The content is a post from the personal account of a "long-time artisan" who worked for To Uyen Ninh's brand.

“I was once commissioned to create jewelry samples for Ms. To.”

"During the cooperation process, Ms. To provided very detailed design drawings. But the pen strokes on the drawings were clearly different from her own writing habits."

“I once suspected this, but because of contractual obligations, I did not pursue it further.”

“Currently posting this article is only to confirm the truth.”

The photo of that post was reshared tens of thousands of times. Direction of public opinion... In the end, he completely fell down.

“It's over, even the workers turned their backs.”

"Even if the design isn't drawn by yourself, how dare you say it's original?"

"To Uyen Ninh has no way to turn the bet."

When I saw this news in the studio in Milan... I was drinking tea with Lam Vuc. He glanced at the phone.

“It's time to go back and end everything.”

“This time when you return home, how do you plan to clean up?”

“Face to face.”

“In front of everyone.”

“Choose a location?”

“Annual industry awards ceremony. Next month.”

He looked at me.

“Confident in getting the prize?”

“It's not a matter of winning the prize or not.”

I looked out the window.

“But let everyone see clearly…”

“In the end, who is really standing on stage?”

The industry's annual awards ceremony is held at the capital's largest exhibition center. The number of attendees was three times higher than the previous conference. Top fifty brand representatives in the industry, designers, media editors, industry leaders private, celebrity guests... Filling the entire hall. My name appeared on the nomination list for "Best New Designer of the Year". The name To Uyen Ninh was also present. But next to her name was an additional note.

“Copyright infringement dispute is in process.”

Before the ceremony started, I met her in the backstage makeup room. She sat in front of the mirror. No assistant. No Pre-Pistil. The makeup is only half done, lipstick is only applied on one side. Seeing me enter, she glanced at me through the mirror.

“I won.”

The voice was very calm.

“Not yet.”

“What do you want?”

She turned around.

“You want me to kneel down and apologize in front of everyone?”

“Or do you want me to cry and admit my mistakes right on stage?”

“What you do is your business.”

“But today…”

“On that stage, only one person gets to carry the trophy.”

“What about the price?”

“There is no price.”

“This is not a transaction.”

“This is what you deserve.”

She stared at me for a long time. Then burst out laughing. That smile is very strange. Not hatred. Not angry. It's more like a kind of surrender after reaching the end of despair.

“Tham Niem An, do you know?”

“Before now, I always thought you couldn't compete with me.”

“In the five years I've been in the Co family, I've never protested.”

“No matter how they treat you, you will endure it.”

“I thought you were a soft persimmon.”

“In the end, why did I look wrong?”