Chapter 19 — Women Don't Need To Be Chosen

I looked at him, each word falling like the end of a chess game.

"Twenty-six years ago you forced my mother to leave, indirectly killing my father. You thought you had won."

“You just didn't consider one thing.”

“His daughter… will come back.”

I turned around to leave, behind me was a violent, choking cough as if his own failure was strangling him. The final verdict of the court is very clear, the will is legal, To Niem is the legal heir to 40% of the Co family's trust assets. During the enforcement process, domestic frozen assets plus recovery from abroad totaled 18,000,000,000 yuan. Still missing 2,000,000,000 yuan, that portion was spent by him. But that... was enough. 18,000,000,000 yuan, plus Tinh Than Capital's valuation of 47,000,000,000 yuan, plus support from To Thi. My assets, in just one night… doubled. But the biggest change is not the number in the account. It's the view of the entire business world. I am no longer "Luc Thi's ex-daughter-in-law". He is no longer "the lost son of To Cam Hoa".

“To Niem of Tinh Than Capital, one of the most influential female entrepreneurs of the new generation.”

Co Thanh Cuong completely collapsed. The right to manage the trust fund was transferred to a third party, Co Minh Vu publicly apologized on behalf of the family.

"Under the yellow stream, the eldest uncle will surely feel at ease."

I don't say anything polite, between us besides a piece of DNA paper... there's nothing else. What I care about… is other people. Tien Ngoc Hoa. Since her alliance with Co Thanh Cuong failed, she disappeared. No more going to the company to cause trouble, no more threats to push me to the bottom. Unusually quiet. Luc Canh Tham called me, his voice full of worry.

"My mother locked herself in her room for three days, not eating or drinking. I'm afraid something will happen."

“Take her to the doctor.”

“She refused.”

“Then force it, her condition is not good, you can't just leave it alone.”

The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

“Nem… the divorce verdict is out.”

“The court declared… there is no dispute over common property, who owns what… keeps that.”

His voice softened, like the wind passing through a part of his life that had ended. A three year marriage. The finish… is clean to the point of coldness.

“…Is that all?”

“What else do you want me to say?”

“I don't know.” His voice lowered, as if falling into an empty space, "Just seeing three years of marriage... ending with the word 'yes'... is a bit..."

He didn't say. I didn't ask either. For some things, this is enough. Once it's over, let it end. No regrets, no turning back. I put the divorce decree in a drawer, then opened a new file—the next 5-year plan of Tinh Tinh Capital. A knock on the door rang out. Tham Mac stood at the door, in his hand was a small bunch of white daisies, so simple that it almost didn't carry any intention.

"Congratulations."

“Congratulations on what?”

He placed the bouquet of flowers on the table, his eyes as light as the wind.

“And the investment of 5,000,000 yuan that year… according to current valuation, how much is it worth?”

I calculated quickly.

“About 200,000,000 yuan.”

“Profits are not bad.”

“You want to withdraw?”

"Are not." He sat down opposite me, looking straight, "I want more."

"How much?"

He did not avoid eye contact. That statement... doesn't sound like it's talking about money anymore. I bowed my head and looked at the bunch of white daisies. Not brilliant, unobtrusive.

“I will think.”

He smiled, without pressing.

“No rush.”

Tien Ngoc Hoa's final counterattack... came faster and harsher than I thought. She's not crazy. She is calculating. Thursday night, Chu Can called me, his voice urgent.

"General To, she hired a self-media account, preparing to publish articles to expose you and To Cam Hoa."

"This time is different, she didn't hit me, she hit straight at To Cam Hoa."

“The article's title is 'Exposing To Cam Hoa: the illegitimate child scandal 26 years ago and the family benefit line', they said her mother got pregnant before marriage, was chased away by the Co family, and then turned her inheritance into a 'plot to usurp property'."

I laughed, cold.

“Sounds like a third-rate movie.”

“But that account has 8,000,000 followers.”

“When will it be posted?”

“Tomorrow morning, 6 o'clock.”

I looked at the clock. Exactly 7 hours left.

“Let the legal department prepare a lawyer's letter, immediately send it to the account operator, and contact the platform to request a pre-blocking request.”

“What if we don't make it in time?”

“Then let it be posted.”

Chu Can paused.

“Posted… we sue.”

“To Cam Hoa's reputation… To Cam Hoa…”

“I will call her.”