A few days later, while Bach Lan stepped into the restroom, she accidentally left Trach Hien alone by the laptop, the screen still glowing softly.
The moment the door clicked shut, his expression darkened, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.
This time, he didn't need her to do anything. He had his own way.
His fingers moved swiftly over the keyboard, retrieving an external hard drive hidden in the drawer.
While the coffee still steamed beside him, and the warm lamp cast a seemingly harmless glow across the wall, Trach Hien secretly planted a virus into the system and copied an entire folder of confidential documents from the computer Bach Lan had previously logged into.
He whispered, almost to himself,
"If you won't help me, then I'll help myself."
Bach Lan had no idea. Those files were more than just report data, they contained information Trach Dong was using to bid on a critical project and to protect the company from a hidden power struggle, one that Trach Hien himself was intricately entwined in.
At the same time, on the top floor of Trach Vu headquarters, Trach Dong stood before his computer screen, staring at the system report that recorded an internal breach.
He didn't need to check the name. Just the encrypted signature was enough to know who had transferred the data.
His hand clenched, a small crack forming at the corner of his eye.
"Bach Lan." – He said, his voice hoarse, tightly restrained. – "What the hell are you doing?"
Boardroom, 9 a.m.
The air was heavy, thick with tension, hanging over the rows of dark suits. Senior shareholders sat lined up, their gazes sharp as blades aimed at the man at the head of the table, Trach Dong.
"How do you plan to explain this leak of critical data?"
"Someone from the PR department leaked the information. But the ultimate responsibility lies with the system approver."
"We don't need excuses. We need results."
The ceiling lights cast harsh lines across his face, sharp and unyielding as stone. Yet in his eyes, a silent storm churned a mix of exhaustion and simmering anger.
He realized he had been outmaneuvered, and the person behind the leak was none other than the one he had quietly protected all this time: Bach Lan.
That afternoon, news of the leak began spreading quickly across internal forums and the underground media:
"Trach Dong, heir of Trach Vu, carelessly exposed data; the company risks losing a strategic contract with an overseas partner."
An anonymous post went further:
"Insiders reveal that a female employee with a special relationship with Trach Dong is directly involved in the incident."
In his private office, Trach Dong threw his phone onto the desk, his brow deeply furrowed.
His hand clenched, eyes icy as they fixed on the PR department building where she worked.
He didn't need further investigation. He knew who the culprit was and who was orchestrating all of this. And he trusted that Bach Lan had no idea at all.
He had once believed that keeping distance, not letting his emotions run too deep, would be enough to protect her from the power struggles here. But now, she had been dragged in, and he was the one losing his ground.
That night, Trach Dong did not go home. He stayed in his office, the yellow light spilling unevenly across the desk.
On the screen, a copy replayed the path of data sent from Bach Lan's computer. He had watched it countless times.
"Do you really think he truly loves her?" – He whispered, his voice dry, speaking only to himself.
"Or is she just a pawn he uses to poke at the weaknesses I've always hidden?"
Every little habit of Bach Lan, the way she poured tea, the way she lowered her head in thought, the way she pulled back her hand when someone brushed it was now etched in his mind like an old wound freshly torn open.
"You trust too easily, Bach Lan." – He closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, exhaustion marking his face.
Outside the window, the rain began to fall, each drop icy, as if poured from some shadowed void.
He knew that sooner or later, he would have to face both the board and his own heart.
The next day, Bach Lan stepped into the elevator, hands trembling slightly as she read the comments on the company's internal forum.
"They say it was the PR department that leaked the data. And that female employee has been seen around those two a lot lately."
"Clearly she has some special connection with Mr. Trach!"
"Strange that no one dares to deal with her."
The words felt like knives slicing straight into her chest. Though she maintained calm on the outside, her heart felt unbearably heavy.
She couldn't tell what hurt more, the gossip or the cold, distant glances Trach Dong had given her lately.
What did I do wrong?
How did everything turn out like this so suddenly?
She didn't know.
She only remembered that Trach Hien had once shown her a draft plan, saying he needed a few sample data sets from the system to compare. She trusted him completely, believing that those documents were harmless.
That evening, in the small apartment, she sat quietly by the window. The night wind slipped in, making the fabric of her sleeve tremble against her shoulder.
Trach Hien came to sit beside her, gently placing his hand on her shoulder.
"You don't need to pay attention to what people say. Everyone gets misunderstood sometimes."
"But did I really do something wrong? I just want to understand."
Trach Hien pressed lightly on her shoulder, his eyes darkening with concern.
"Are you doubting me?" – He asked quickly, then added. – "It's not anyone's fault, and it's not our problem."
"And Trach Dong?"
Bach Lan stayed silent, waiting for his answer, her heart tangled like a skein of fine thread.
"You shouldn't get involved in his matters." – Trach Hien continued, his voice sweet as honey, whispering into her ear. – "Let me handle it. You just need to trust me."
She had once trusted him without a shred of doubt. But now, as those eyes met hers, she couldn't tell if it was tenderness or...
She didn't dare to think any further.
But the very next day, in the conference floor hallway, she unexpectedly ran into Trach Dong.
He stood there, sleeves of his white shirt rolled up, having just signed a contract. When he saw her, he paused for a moment. His eyes were deep and cold, as always, yet this time there was something different in them.
"What do you want to say?" – He asked, short and direct.
Bach Lan pressed her lips together, gathering every ounce of courage.
"I think... I may have accidentally done something that worked against you. I want to clarify the truth with the board, if it could help you."
Trach Dong raised a hand, cutting her off.
"No need."
She looked up, startled.
"This doesn't concern you. And I don't want you dragged deeper into this. From now on, stay neutral."
"Focus on your job. Don't interfere."
His tone was firm, eyes as cold as a winter lake. But when he turned his back, his hand clenched so tightly it turned white.
As he walked away, Bach Lan froze, caught between wanting to reach out to him or to hold onto the fragile peace that had just fractured.
She could only stand there, motionless, heart aching with each beat.
She wanted to trust Trach Hien, the one always gentle by her side. But she could not ignore Trach Dong's gaze, a look both protective and painful enough to make her feel suffocated.
After that brief conversation with Trach Dong, Bach Lan's heart no longer felt calm.
She began to replay every action she had taken: the plans she submitted, the data files, the unusual meetings... Things she once trusted completely now felt uncertain.
She wanted clarity, even if she had to face it alone.
At lunch breaks, she would find excuses to stay late, quietly checking the system. Every document Trach Hien had once shared with her was reviewed again. There was no clear proof, yet the unease in her chest grew heavier with each passing moment.
She remembered clearly that night, she hadn't saved anything to the network drive. But in the access logs, there was a strange entry: a data copy command, executed about ten minutes after she had left the computer to go to the restroom.
She froze.
At that time, only Trach Hien had been alone in the room.
Bach Lan gripped the mouse tightly, her heart racing. A chill, sharp as ice, slowly crept into her chest.
Something was wrong.
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