After listening to the recording, Tu?n looked straight at Mr. Nhan, confusion clouding his face.

  – “Wait a minute… so Ms. Trang was an adopted child?”

  Mr. Nhan nodded, his tone low and steady:

  – “That’s right. The couple couldn’t have children of their own, but fate had its way. Someone left a baby at their doorstep — a child who should’ve grown up surrounded by love and raised by people of virtue and compassion.”

  He paused for a few seconds, his eyes dimming with a hint of sorrow.

  – “But because of their greed, that child had to live a life of hardship — her dignity trampled, despised by the wealthy — while in truth, she is the rightful heiress, a young lady of noble blood.”

  Mr. Phúc added solemnly:

  – “Trang was legally adopted. Her adoptive parents registered her birth certificate and added her name to the household registry. Since both sets of grandparents passed away, by law, she’s the sole heir to all assets left by her adoptive parents.”

  Everyone turned their eyes toward him. Professor Charles, frowning, spoke up:

  – “But… who exactly are you? How do you know all of this in such detail?”

  Mr. Nhan only smiled faintly, not answering directly. His tone was calm yet mysterious:

  – “You don’t need to know who we are — not yet. What matters now is that the truth about the girl’s identity is clear. Everything else… will reveal itself in time.”

  Mr. Phúc nodded gently toward him:

  – “Every encounter carries its own fate, every tragedy bears its karma. Whatever is meant to happen… will happen at the right moment.”

  Everyone exchanged glances in silence. The air in the room grew heavy — filled with the weight of revelation, yet shrouded in the same deep mystery surrounding the enigmatic men before them.

  To break the heavy silence in the room, Professor Charles spoke softly:

  – “It’s almost noon… I’m getting a bit hungry. How about we grab some lunch? There are a few more things I’d like to ask.”

  Mr. Nhan nodded, his tone calm yet decisive:

  – “Mr. Phúc and I are hungry as well. Let’s go to a small local diner nearby — it’s my usual spot. Very… discreet. No one will bother us there.”

  Deep frowned slightly, looking uncertain:

  – “A local diner? Hmm… well, alright then.”

  Mr. Phúc smiled gently and replied:

  – “Don’t judge too soon. The food’s excellent, and the owner is friendly and welcoming.”

  The group walked toward the gate. Tu?n glanced around cautiously before asking:

  – “Should we just leave the car here and walk over? Is it safe?”

  Mr. Nhan let out a hearty laugh, his sharp eyes glinting:

  – “Rest assured. This area’s security is tighter than you think — not even a fly could get through unnoticed.”

  Just then, the young man sitting in front of the small repair shop called out:

  – “Go ahead and enjoy your meal, everyone. I’ll keep an eye on your car while I work here.”

  Deep smiled politely:

  – “Thanks, I’ll make sure to tip you later — buy yourself some coffee and cigarettes.”

  Mr. Nhan narrowed his eyes, pointing forward:

  – “The diner’s just below the open market over there. A short walk and we’ll be there.”

  Mr. Nhan and Mr. Phúc strode ahead casually, while Professor Charles urged the others to follow:

  – “Let’s go, no point wasting time.”

  As the group disappeared toward the market, the expressions of the vendors along the roadside subtly shifted — the warmth of ordinary merchants replaced by the composed alertness of elite agents.

  The young man in front of the shabby repair shop watched them leave, a faint smirk curling on his lips:

  – “The Lord’s wealth is measured in planets. Those three businessmen aren’t even worth a strand of his hair.”

  An older man cleaning his noodle cart nearby snorted in amusement:

  – “And to think Tu?n once mocked Princess Trang for being poor… he went and got engaged to a rich heiress instead.”

  The shopkeeper lady, still holding her chopsticks, chuckled slyly:

  – “Princess Trang is the true jewel. Any man who looks down on her when she’s poor doesn’t deserve to stand beside her when she’s wealthy.”

  At this very moment in V?ng Tàu, Trang, Erion, and Chen stood at the peak of the lighthouse. Before them stretched a breathtaking panorama — the seaside city looked like a miniature painting, with red-tiled rooftops mingling among tall hotels, and a winding coastal road hugging the soft, endless curve of the golden shore. Far off in the distance, tiny fishing boats dotted the vast turquoise ocean as foamy white waves rolled toward the sand in a rhythm as old as time.

  The wind howled around them, sweeping through Trang’s hair and fluttering her long blouse. The sounds of ship horns and the murmuring surf blended into a symphony of the sea. Trang gazed into the horizon, her eyes glimmering in the midday sunlight, as though she wished to etch this magnificent scene deep into her soul.

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  For a fleeting moment, she felt free — truly free — so unlike the years spent under C?u D?ng’s roof, where she had always been treated like an unwanted burden. She had endured harsh words, cold stares, and endless chores behind walls filled with deceit. Those invisible chains had trapped her youth and her laughter. But now, standing beneath the boundless sky, Trang finally understood what freedom tasted like — something she once believed she’d never grasp.

  Erion tilted his head slightly, his gaze resting on her face. Even without words, he could sense the storm of memories behind her calm expression — a quiet strength forged by years of pain. He said nothing, just stepped a little closer, close enough that his presence felt like silent protection.

  With a soft smile, his voice low and tender, he whispered:

  – “I know… your past has kept you locked away for too long. But now, things are different. You’re not alone anymore.”

  Trang turned toward him, her eyes warm with gratitude as a genuine smile lit her face:

  – “Thank you… for being here with me. I never thought I’d see this ocean again — and with you by my side, it feels even more beautiful.”

  Erion, now back in his disguised appearance, slowly removed his sunglasses, revealing his mesmerizing amber-brown eyes.

  – “You’re right. It’s beautiful — like a living diorama.”

  Chen squinted up at the clear sky and remarked:

  – “The sun’s getting strong. We should find a place to rest for a bit.”

  Trang’s voice rose with cheerful excitement:

  – “There’s a yogurt café down the slope — it’s always crowded!”

  Chen nodded enthusiastically:

  – “Ah, that one! Their yogurt is amazing — and they serve all sorts of snacks too.”

  Erion chuckled:

  – “Then that’s where we’re going. After such a glowing review, I have to try it myself.”

  Their Bentley Bentayga rolled slowly down the winding slope and stopped before the bustling yogurt café. After settling at a cozy corner table, they ordered yogurt, soft-boiled eggs, rice paper rolls, and iced kumquat tea.

  As they waited, Erion tapped his fingers thoughtfully and smirked:

  – “C?u D?ng’s mansion is turning into a circus. Let’s make it an art exhibition over the next few days.”

  Chen took a sip of his cool kumquat tea, his lips curling into a sly grin:

  – “Tomorrow night, those spoiled brats will return to Saigon. I can’t wait to see their faces when they witness the General’s masterpiece. The whole witching council will tremble.”

  Erion squeezed Trang’s hand gently, then removed his sunglasses again, his eyes glinting with cold disdain:

  – “We’ll see if the Witch Council dares to intervene — once they learn I am the one behind it all.”

  At that very moment, C?u D?ng’s mansion appeared exactly as Erion had envisioned. In front of the gate, a massive crowd had gathered — from curious neighbors to YouTubers, reporters, and journalists, all jostling for position with cameras and phones raised high like a forest of glowing devices. The lenses kept flashing, bursts of light erupting like lightning in daylight, reflecting off the cold, glimmering ice that now encased the mansion.

  Inside the fence, the scene defied logic — a dark, cosmic sky loomed overhead, with a colossal planet hanging low and a glowing galaxy spiraling across the heavens. The surreal vision made the entire place look like a fragment torn from a sci-fi film and dropped into the heart of Saigon. Gasps, chatter, and shouting rippled through the crowd like crashing waves, turning the once-grand mansion into the center of chaos for the entire neighborhood.

  But then, something strange happened. Despite hundreds of cameras and phones pointed toward it, no one could capture what they saw. Every screen flickered with distorted black and white lines, accompanied by a harsh static noise — like an old television stuck between channels.

  Confusion spread like wildfire. People tried again and again — changing angles, swapping cameras, even using professional broadcasting equipment — but the result remained the same. All they could record was a blank, blurry void that completely concealed the supernatural phenomenon beyond the gate.

  Murmurs began to rise among the crowd:

  – “Is this place haunted or something?”

  – “No way… I bet it’s aliens!”

  Fear and curiosity intertwined, drawing even more onlookers as they pressed closer, eyes fixed on the iron gate frozen solid in shimmering ice.

  One frustrated YouTuber shouted:

  – “What the hell’s wrong with my camera? It won’t record anything!”

  A reporter shook his head, baffled:

  – “It’s strange — everything else shows up fine, but that frozen mansion just won’t appear on film.”

  Meanwhile, inside Mr. Tài’s neighboring villa, C?u D?ng and M? Linh stood by the window, watching the scene unfold outside. C?u D?ng scowled, muttering under his breath:

  – “Damn it all… my house has turned into a circus. Tomorrow night, Anh Ph??ng and her two friends from Canada are arriving — now I’ll have to waste money renting a hotel for them.”

  M? Linh folded her arms, frowning in irritation:

  – “I have no idea what’s happening to our house. At least Anh Tú went back to his place; otherwise, we’d have no room left.”

  C?u D?ng paused, brow furrowing in thought:

  – “It’s been a while since Anh Tú went home, and he hasn’t called once. I wonder if his mother-in-law’s feeling better yet.”

  M? Linh gave a cold, dismissive laugh:

  – “Let him stay over there. If he came back now, we’d have another problem to deal with. If he finds out anything… you and I won’t have anywhere left to hide.”

  Up on the second-floor balcony, Anh ?ào stood gazing dreamily toward the Gothic mansion, her mind drifting to the mysterious gentlemen who lived there. Whatever affection she once had for Anh Tú had long since turned to quiet disdain.

  Downstairs, Huy glanced toward the icy mansion with unease:

  – “There’s a huge crowd over there. I bet they’ll still be hanging around by nightfall — maybe even more will come.”

  Mr. Tín sighed heavily:

  – “Heaven knows when this madness will end. Your mother and I still have a wedding to plan for you and Th?.”

  Mr. Tài joined in, his voice calm but wary:

  – “With D?ng’s house in such chaos, do you and your wife have any plans yet?”

  C?u D?ng shook his head helplessly:

  – “I really don’t know what to do. If this keeps up for a few more days… we’ll just have to hold the ceremony somewhere else.”

  As soon as everyone reached the entrance of the small local eatery, the owner hurried out with a wide grin:

  – “Ah, Lord — I mean, Mr. Nhan! Long time no see. Please, come in! I’ve got your favorites today — pork meatballs in tomato sauce and stuffed tofu!”

  Inside, the humble atmosphere was unmistakably that of a traditional Vietnamese C?m Bình Dan shop. Stainless-steel tables stood close together, their surfaces worn by time but wiped clean. The faded yellow walls bore patches of peeled paint, and a blackboard menu hung crookedly with chalk writing: “Broken rice with grilled pork, braised fish, sour soup, stir-fried vegetables…”

  The ceiling fan creaked as it spun, pushing hot air around without much relief. The scent of caramelized fish sauce and smoky cooking oil filled the space, blending with the noise of sizzling pans and street sounds filtering in through the open window.

  Outside, under the blazing noon sun, a few street vendors were still packing up their stalls. Their voices calling out mixed with the constant buzz of motorbikes, creating that chaotic, vibrant symphony unique to every narrow Saigon alley.

  While the shop owner served steaming plates of rice, Professor Charles opened his worn leather briefcase and took out a notebook. Flipping through several pages, he looked up at Mr. Nhan, his brow furrowed.

  – “There’s something I don’t understand… Miss Trang lived with Mr. D?ng’s family for twenty years. Are you saying she never knew her real parents were wealthy entrepreneurs, or that her inheritance was stolen?”

  Mr. Nhan took a slow sip of hot tea, his eyes distant, as though gazing into an old memory.

  – “The child was orphaned at five years old. During all those years, D?ng and his wife brainwashed her with the same story, repeated over and over.”

  – “They made her believe her parents had gone bankrupt, drowning in debt, unable to pay what they owed. They told her that her father — Mr. Qu?c — lost focus while driving under pressure, leading to the fatal crash.”

  Mr. Phúc added in a low, heavy tone:

  – “It didn’t stop there. They made her feel indebted to them — said they had sacrificed money and effort to raise their poor orphaned niece and even paid off her late father’s debts. Whenever she dared to question anything, they shouted at her, beat her, starved her, or left her alone in isolation. Over time, fear consumed her until she could no longer doubt them.”

  The room fell into a heavy silence. The air was thick with grief and anger — an unspoken outrage at the cruelty just revealed.

  But Tu?n was different. His head lowered, shoulders trembling. His hands clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, yet he felt no pain. A suffocating knot swelled in his chest — sorrow, guilt, and regret intertwined.

  The girl he had once turned away so coldly… turned out to be the one who had endured the most merciless pain — long before she ever had the chance to grow up.