Nani hirunkit
The garden was quiet, serene in a way that almost felt unreal. The warm sunlight filtered through the trees, casting golden patches across the neatly trimmed grass. The faint sound of birdsong mixed with the gentle ripple of the pond, and for a moment, I let myself forget.
Forget the danger, the suffocating security, the men always stationed nearby, watching my every move.
The forest that bordered the garden swayed gently in the breeze, the leaves rustling like whispers. I followed the path that circled the pond, my steps slow, deliberate. Everything here was perfect, untouched. It was hard to believe a world as chaotic as Maxim's could coexist with a place like this.
I sat down by the edge of the pond, my legs folding beneath me. The water was clear, reflecting the bright blue sky above. A few fish darted beneath the surface, their movements calm and rhythmic.
For the first time in what felt like days, I felt like I could breathe.
I don't know how long I sat there, staring at the water. Time seemed to blur out here, away from the mansion, the noise, and the weight of Sky's world.
But even here, I wasn't alone.
I could feel it-the subtle presence of the men stationed nearby. Dew and Mark weren't hovering, but I knew they were close, watching from a distance like Sky had ordered. Even when I couldn't see them, their presence lingered like a shadow.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I frowned, pulling it out and glancing at the screen. It was a missed call. Unknown Number.
I stared at the notification, a faint unease settling over me. It wasn't the first time I'd seen that number. Over the past few days, I'd received several missed calls from the same unknown number, but I'd ignored them. I assumed it was a telemarketer or some other random caller.
But now... something about it felt off.
Before I could think too much about it, my phone vibrated again. A message this time.
'He cannot protect you.'
My breath caught.
I stared at the screen, my pulse quickening. The words were simple, but they carried a weight that sent a chill down my spine.
Who was this? How did they have my number?
My mind raced with questions, but before I could process them, another message came through.
'Run while you can, Sky, he not what you think he is'
My heart pounded as I read the words, my hands trembling slightly as I held the phone.
I looked around the garden, my eyes scanning the trees, the bushes, the shadows. Suddenly, the tranquility of the place felt suffocating. Every rustle of leaves, every flicker of movement, felt like a threat.
"Who's there?" I called out, my voice sharper than I intended.
There was no response.
My hand tightened around the phone, the screen still glowing with the ominous messages. I wanted to dismiss it, to tell myself it was just a prank or some twisted game. But deep down, I knew better.
This wasn't random.
My mind jumped to Sky. Was this the person targeting me? The same person who'd sent that car after me weeks ago?
I stood up, brushing the dirt off my hands as I tried to steady my breathing. Did I need to tell Sky?
He'd want to know. Of course he'd want to know. He'd probably storm in, demand my phone, double the security, and lock me down even tighter than before.
But something about the message-Sky is not what you think he is-made me hesitate.
What did that mean?
I knew Sky wasn't a saint. He never pretended to be. His world was built on shadows, on secrets and power plays I couldn't fully understand. But... what didn't I know?
My thumb hovered over the message, my stomach twisting.
The pond no longer felt peaceful. The forest no longer felt beautiful. Everything around me felt like a trap, and I wasn't sure who was setting it.
I glanced over my shoulder, looking toward the mansion in the distance. The towering building that had started to feel like a gilded cage. Somewhere inside, Sky was likely pacing, plotting, doing whatever it was he did to keep his empire intact.
Could I trust him?
I clenched my jaw, shoving the phone back into my pocket. My instincts screamed at me to go straight to him, to show him the messages and let him deal with it. But another part of me hesitated.
What if there was more to Sky's world than he'd told me? What if this wasn't just about keeping me safe but about keeping me silent?
The thought was unsettling, and I hated myself for even considering it. Sky had risked everything to protect me. He cared about me-I knew that. But the seed of doubt had been planted, and it was growing, spreading through my mind like poison.
I turned back toward the path, my steps quicker now. The calm of the garden had been shattered, replaced by a gnawing tension I couldn't shake.
I needed to decide.
Tell Sky and risk being drawn deeper into his world, or keep the messages to myself and hope-pray-that I could figure this out on my own.
Either way, the weight in my chest told me one thing: nothing would ever be the same.
----
I walked back toward the mansion, the weight of the messages dragging on my mind like an anchor. Each step felt heavier than the last, my thoughts swirling in a chaotic storm of doubt and unease.
The garden, once a peaceful escape, now felt like an open expanse where unseen eyes could lurk in every shadow.
As I neared the patio, I spotted Dew and Mark standing off to the side, their heads bent in conversation. The moment they saw me, they stopped, their postures stiffening.
Mark was the first to move. His eyes sharpened as he stepped toward me, scanning my face like he was trying to read my thoughts. "Doctor, what happened?" His voice was cautious but edged with concern.
Ever since the mall incident, Mark had changed. He wasn't the easygoing man I'd come to know-there was a tension in him now, a heaviness that hadn't been there before. I could see it in the way he stood, always slightly on edge, and in the guilt that flickered in his eyes whenever he looked at me.
I forced a small smile, one I didn't feel. "Nothing. It's fine," I said, waving him off. But even to my own ears, my voice sounded unconvincing.
Mark didn't look convinced either. His brow furrowed deeper, his gaze flicking briefly to Dew.
Dew stepped forward then, his presence as steady as ever. Unlike Mark, Dew didn't speak right away. He just studied me, his sharp eyes cutting through me like he was dissecting every detail.
"Doc," he said finally, his tone quieter but firm. "What happened? Did something happen? You look pale."
I stopped in my tracks, my breath hitching slightly. Had I?
The weight of the message pressed harder against my chest, the memory of the words flashing in my mind. He cannot protect you. Run while you can.
I hesitated, my hand slipping into my pocket and gripping my phone tightly. I wasn't sure if I should say anything. I didn't want to cause unnecessary trouble, but the look in Dew's eyes told me he wasn't going to let it go.
Sighing, I pulled the phone from my pocket and held it tightly.
"Actually... I've been getting weird calls," I admitted, my voice low. "It's happened a few times before, but I ignored them. I thought it was just spam or a prank."
Dew's expression hardened as he took the phone from my grab, his jaw tightening. He didn't say anything, just unlocked the screen and began swiping through the call logs.
"But today..." I continued, swallowing hard. "Today, I got a message. It caught me off guard. It-it mentioned Sky."
His eyes flickered, his grip on the phone tightening as he opened the message. The tension in his shoulders was palpable, and I could see the faint clench of his jaw as he read the words.
Mark stepped closer, his movements careful but deliberate. "What kind of message?" he asked, his voice quieter now, like he didn't want the words to carry beyond the three of us.
I didn't answer, my gaze fixed on Dew. His face was blank, unreadable, but the way his thumb hovered over the screen told me he was thinking. Calculating.
I see him hold my phone tightly. Without a word, he turned on his heel and started toward the mansion, his strides purposeful and tense with my phone with him.
"Dew?" I called after him, startled by his sudden departure.
"Stay here," he said over his shoulder, his tone clipped and commanding. "Don't move."
"Dew, wait-"
He didn't stop.
---
Dew jirawat
I don't know how tight I hold Nani phone. The message burned in my mind as I strode toward the mansion, my pulse hammering in my ears.
He cannot protect you.
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I stormed through the halls. Whoever sent that message wasn't just targeting Nani-they were targeting Sky. This wasn't random. It was calculated.
When I reached the main security room, I didn't waste time. "Alert the men," I snapped, my voice sharp and decisive. "Double the patrols on the perimeter and get additional guards stationed inside. No one gets in or out without clearance. Not even the damn delivery trucks."
One of the guards looked at me, confused. "Dew, we don't have orders from the boss-"
"You have orders from me," I cut him off, my tone leaving no room for argument. "Do it. Now."
The guard nodded quickly, grabbing his radio to relay the instructions.
I turned to the nearest monitor, my hands gripping the edge of the console. I could feel the tension coiling in my chest, the same tension I'd felt back when we nearly lost Nani at the mall. That was on me. I wasn't going to let it happen again.
---
Nani hirunkit
I stood frozen, Mark hovering nearby, his gaze flicking between me and the direction Dew had gone.
"What was in the message?" Mark asked finally, his voice quiet but steady.
"It... It said Sky can't protect me. That I should run."
Mark's jaw tightened, his hands balling into fists. "Son of a-" He stopped himself, exhaling sharply through his nose.
"Do you think it's serious?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly.
"It doesn't matter if it's serious or not," Mark said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We're treating it like it is. Come on."
He motioned for me to follow him, his posture tense and alert as he scanned the area.
"Where are we going?" I asked, hurrying to keep up.
"Inside," he said. "Dew's probably already putting the whole mansion on lockdown. Until we know who sent that message and what they want, you're not stepping outside again. Not without an army at your back."
---
Win metawin
I spotted Dew at the main entrance, barking orders to the guards with a sharpness that could cut steel. Even from a distance, I could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his hands clenched into fists at his sides. Something had shaken him-badly.
I didn't need to think twice. I intercepted him near the security room, falling into step beside him. Up close, the hard set of his jaw and the fire in his eyes made it clear this wasn't just business as usual.
"What's going on?" I asked, keeping my voice steady.
"The doctor got a message," Dew said, his words clipped and biting. "Someone's targeting him. Again."
My jaw tightened, a spark of dread flickering in my chest. "Hong?"
"Who else?" he snapped. His pace quickened, his boots striking the floor in sharp, measured steps. "This is his game-scare the doctor, destabilize Sky. It's working."
I studied him as we walked, my eyes flicking to the tight line of his jaw, the way his lips pressed together like he was barely holding it together. Dew didn't lose his composure, not like this. He was the steady one, the calm in the storm. But now, it was like the storm had gotten inside him, and he was struggling to contain it.
I reached out instinctively, my hand brushing against his arm. "Dew," I said quietly, careful not to push too hard. "We'll get this under control. You don't have to shoulder it all on your own."
He slowed for half a step, just enough for my words to land, but he didn't look at me. "I'm not shouldering it alone," he said, his tone sharp but quieter now. "I'm doing my job."
"That's not what I meant," I said, my voice softening slightly. "This is hitting you harder than it should. Why?"
He didn't answer right away. His gaze stayed fixed ahead, his posture rigid. When he finally spoke, his voice was low, almost muttered. "Because I can't let anything happen to him. Not again."
The rawness in his tone caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn't know what to say. Dew cared about everyone under his protection this is just his personality.
I glanced toward the hallway leading to the patio, where Nani and Mark had been earlier. "And Sky?" I asked, steering the conversation back to the matter at hand.
He shook his head, his jaw tightening. "Hasn't seen the message yet. I'm handling it for now, but it's only a matter of time before he finds out."
I exhaled sharply, my hand slipping into my pocket as we continued walking. "Then we'd better figure this out fast. Because when boss does find out..."
"He's going to burn the whole damn city down," Dew finished, his voice flat but certain.
I studied him again, my stomach tightening. The fire in his eyes wasn't just anger-it was guilt, and fear. And for a fleeting moment, I wished I could take some of that weight off his shoulders. Not because it was my job, but because he matters to me.