The red convertible Maserati screeched to a halt in front of Tuan Mo's Pho shop.
Mina pulled off her expensive sunglasses, eyes widening at the unbelievable sight before her.
The place was a mess of noise and dust — a construction crew was tearing down the shop's old signboard. Workers were hauling furniture and boxes out from inside, wrapping everything up, getting ready to load them onto a truck.
Something Mina never thought would happen… was happening.
They were leaving.
Duyen was leaving her.
Leaving me?
Mina's brows furrowed, her eyes flashing with grief and fury. She threw open the car door and strode toward the shop, her heels clicking sharply on the pavement.
The movers froze as she approached — a breathtaking beauty like her wasn't something you saw every day. But the icy aura around her was enough to make everyone instinctively step aside.
Inside, old man Tuan was waving a traditional fan, shouting orders. His shirt was unbuttoned down to his belly, which puffed out proudly as he barked at his men.
"Easy there! Watch the drainage pipe on that side!" he yelled, voice raspy.
When he turned around, he nearly jumped — Mina was standing right there.
Her expression softened the moment their eyes met. There was something pleading, almost pitiful in the way she looked at him.
Tuan froze for a second, then tried to brush her off and turn back inside.
"Uncle," Mina called out.
He stopped. With a reluctant sigh, he turned back to face her. There was uncertainty in his eyes — he had already said all that needed to be said.
She was just refusing to accept it, he thought.
"What do you want, Mina?" he asked, his tone cold and distant.
The indifference in his voice stabbed at Mina's chest. Still, she forced herself to stay calm.
"Can we talk for a minute, please?" she said softly.
Tuan frowned. He knew exactly where this would go if he let her cross that line.
"I've said what needed to be said," he muttered.
"Please," Mina suddenly burst out, voice cracking.
"I'm begging you! You have to hear me out!"
Her desperate cry stopped him cold. For a brief moment, something inside him softened. Beneath all that glamor and pride, she was just a girl in pain. But he couldn't let his daughter get caught up in her mess again.
Before he could respond, Mina's voice grew firm.
"Please, Uncle. You need to see this."
---
A few minutes later, he handed her a cup of lá vối tea and sat across from her in the small living room. Movers rushed past, carrying boxes and furniture.
Watching them, Mina felt her heart twist. She hated this sight — the sound of departure, of something ending. Especially when she knew this was all because of her.
Anxiety, jealousy, anger — emotions collided inside her until she thought she might lose her mind.
She took a sip of the tea, letting the warm, earthy flavor calm her down. Her lips curved faintly in satisfaction as the warmth slid down her throat.
Tuan tilted his head. It's just tea, he thought, bemused by her reaction.
Mina cleared her throat.
"Uncle… are you really moving... away?"
He looked down at the table, silent. His hesitation said everything.
"Is it because of me?" she asked gently.
"Because I caused too much trouble for Duyen?"
Tuan lifted his head for a moment but quickly averted his eyes again. Mina could tell — he was hiding something. Still, there was something about him that reminded her of Duyen. A flicker of familiarity, even fondness.
After a long sigh, he finally spoke.
"You know my daughter's personality. She doesn't hate you."
Those words poured warmth into Mina's heart. It wasn't much — but it was enough to plant hope. Maybe even… delusion.
Before she could speak, Tuan continued.
"But if you ever become a parent, you'll understand why I made this decision."
Her expression changed instantly. The warmth drained from her face. Her gaze turned cold enough to make the old man shiver.
"That's selfish, don't you think?" she said quietly.
"Making choices for your daughter, without letting her decide for herself?"
The words sent a chill down his spine. The mask was off — the real Mina was showing.
"I don't even know how Duyen feels about me anymore," Mina murmured, bitterness lacing her voice. "Maybe I used to know… but now…"
Tuan's heart sank. It was clear — she truly loved his daughter. But it was too late...
"You said you want the best for her," Mina whispered. "Does that mean keeping her safe… from, me?"
The question hit too close to home. He clenched his fists, eyes shut tight.
"Even if it means letting her live with that... Monster?" she pressed.
His eyes widened. For a moment, pure fear flashed in them.
"A monster? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, I see…"
Mina's voice trembled as if something inside her broke. "You knew, didn't you?"
Tuan looked away again. His silence was all the confirmation she needed.
"Then… Duyen knows too?"
Still no answer.
That silence tore through Mina's heart like glass.
Finally, he said quietly, "There's no monster here, Mina."
Mina's jaw tightened.
"How can you deny what's right in front of you!?"
Her sudden outburst startled him, but she quickly lowered her tone again.
"I'm sorry. I lost my temper."
She opened her bag, pulling out her MacBook.
"But you need to see this."
Minutes later, the video played. It was the security footage — the accident.
The horrifying moment when Amuro died.
Tuan's face drained of color as he watched.
Mina's voice shook with urgency.
"Please, Uncle. You can't ignore this. That woman — she's not human! She's a monster! You have no idea when she'll turn again. She could hurt Duyen!"
Tuan's hands trembled. He knew Shana wasn't ordinary, but he had never seen the extent of her power… or the destruction she could cause.
"Please, Uncle," Mina pleaded. "How can someone like her keep Duyen safe?"
Tuan's eyes snapped open. As if he woke up after Mina's words. He straightened, staring hard at her.
"And what about you?" he shot back.
"Can you promise? My daughter will be safe around you?"
Mina froze.
"Say what you want about Shana," he said, "but she's saved my daughter's life more times than I can count. And all the trouble Duyen's had lately? Who caused it?"
Mina looked away. She knew he was right.
"Maybe she's dangerous," Tuan said, bitterly. "But right now, she's the only one I trust to protect my daughter. Especially after their pact..! Ah!"
He coughed, realizing too late what he'd let slip.
Mina's eyes widened.
"Pact?"
"What pact?" she demanded.
"N–Nothing!" he stammered.
"Don't lie to me!" she shouted, trembling.
"Is that... why you kept me away from Duyen? Is that why she can't leave Shana? IT IS!?"
He stayed silent, lips pressed tight.
Her rage built to a breaking point.
"Answer me!"
After a long silence, he finally said, voice heavy,
"Mina… it's time for you to let go. You and Duyen can't be together."
Her voice cracked. "What…?"
Tuan hesitated only briefly before saying,
"My... My daughter's... engaged."
"...What?"
Mina blinked, stunned.
"Engaged? What do you mean engaged?"
He nodded.
"No…" Her voice broke. The room spun around her. "Engaged? To her?"
He didn't answer.
"You mean her, don't you!?" she screamed. "You've got to be kidding me! TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING!"
Mina's fury exploded. She stood up, shouting, hands clutching her head.
"No! NO! This can't be happening! Don't tell me you let Duyen get engaged to that MONSTER!"
Tuan looked away, guilt heavy on his face.
"Mina, I think you should leave," he said quietly.
"Leave!?" she laughed bitterly. "You really think I'll walk away from this?"
Her breath quickened. Her chest hurt. She pressed a hand to her heart — the pain, the sickness, all of it rushing back.
Tuan moved toward her, worried. "Are you all right—"
But Mina shoved his hand away. Straightening up, she fixed him with a cold, venomous stare.
"Tell me one thing," she said quietly. "Does Duyen even know about this engagement?"
He hesitated. That was all the answer she needed.
A slow, broken laugh escaped her lips. "So that's how it is…"
She looked up, her tone turning sharp as glass.
"To be honest with you, I have learned about you, know about your past. So I respect you very much, because you are her father — I really thought you were a decent man, Uncle. Someone Duyen could trust. But you're just like her — deciding your child's fate for her!"
"It's not like that—"
"I know," Mina cut him off. "You look down on me because I'm the woman who got married. But tell me—" her smile twisted,
"—what will you do when I say that marriage is over soon?"
His face darkened. "What are you planning?"
"I'm not asking, Uncle," Mina said, voice low and dangerous.
"I'm telling you. Duyen will only be safe and happy with me. And you'll regret standing in my way."
Her tone sent a chill through him.
"Think carefully about what you're doing!" he warned.
But Mina was already walking toward the door, heels clicking sharply.
Without looking back, she said, "You'll regret this."
---
Outside, Mina's face was blank, doll-like, her heart shattered. She accidentally brushed past a mover, knocking a few books from his hands.
He immediately bent down to apologize but Mina did not. Something else caught Mina's eye
[Duyen's Diary]
It was a notebook that fell out with the pile of books. Mina immediately bent down to get it but the mover stopped her.
"Ah, no! This belongs to the owner—"
Mina slipped 6 million VND into his hand without a word. His eyes widened; he let go immediately.
She flipped open the notebook, scanning the pages. Then she brought it to her nose, inhaling deeply. A blissful smile crossed her face.
"Yes… this is Duyen's," she whispered.
Ignoring the man's puzzled stare, Mina clutched the notebook to her chest and walked to her car. Moments later, the red Maserati sped away.
---
High above the city, in her luxurious penthouse bedroom with glass walls that overlooked the Great view of the city and the luxurious buildings opposite. Mina lay sprawled across her satin bed, wearing nothing but a black lace nightgown. The thong was lying on the floor.
Her body twisted restlessly against the sheets. One hand was between her legs, the other hand she held the notebook to press it to her face and sniffed like crazy.
After a while she put the notebook aside and used both hands to put it under her crotch, her hips writhing as if she was in pain. Her face was red with rapid and wet breaths.
Mixed in with the moans,
"Oh Duyen— I didn't expect... You've always thought of me like that for a long time... I think—"
Her hand frantically wiggled between her legs
"No way — Duyen — No way"
Mina whispered urgently as if she was about to reach her destination.
"You have to be mine… There's no other way— We are destined for each other—We have to belong to each other… Ah—!"
Mina's moans became more urgent, in that bedroom.