Danger ⚠️

Chapitre 11

One week later

The weight of the past week still hung over them like a storm cloud, heavy and unmoving, threatening to break at any moment.

Ling sat by the window, staring out at the city beyond, her fingers idly tracing the rim of her untouched coffee cup. The bruises on her face had faded but not completely—her cheek still bore the faint discoloration of the impact, a reminder of just how close things had come. Her sprained arm rested in a sling, healing slowly, but the real wounds weren’t the ones on her skin.

They were the ones in her heart. She exhaled, long and slow, as the sounds of Niran shuffling around in the background filled the room. Her brother—bruised but still standing, still making dumb jokes as if nothing had changed. But she knew better. They both did.

Orm had wanted her to go with him, to leave Bangkok and recover at their parents’ home. But Ling had refused. She couldn’t run. She wouldn’t.

“You sure you don’t wanna come, sis?” Niran’s voice cut through the quiet. “Mom’s already planning to spoil me to death. You could use the break.”

Ling forced a smirk, leaning against the counter. “I’d rather not be force-fed until I explode, thanks.”

Niran laughed, but his eyes held something deeper—concern, maybe even regret. He adjusted the collar of his jacket, wincing slightly. “You could at least pretend you’ll be safe here.”

Ling’s smirk faltered, but before she could respond, the sound of approaching footsteps drew their attention.

Papa Oct entered the apartment with the air of a man who had already made up his mind about something. His presence was always grounding, a quiet force of nature that carried authority without needing to raise his voice.

“You’re coming with me,” he said simply, crossing his arms.

Ling blinked. “Excuse me?”

Papa Oct leveled her with a look. “You need somewhere safe. One of my villas. You’ll stay there.”

Ling shook her head immediately. “Papa Oct, I—”

“You will,” he cut her off, his voice calm but firm. “You don’t have a choice.”

Ling clenched her jaw. “I can’t—”

“You can and you will,” Papa Oct pressed. “Because if something happens to you, Orm will never forgive me. And that is a weight I refuse to carry.”

At the mention of Orm’s name, Ling swallowed, looking away. She could fight this. She could argue, tell them all that she could handle it, that she wouldn’t let Thanom push her into hiding.

But Papa Oct was right. If anything happened to her, Orm would never forgive herself. And Ling… Ling would never forgive herself either.

She inhaled sharply before finally nodding. “Fine.”

Papa Oct exhaled, satisfied. “Good. The security detail is already assigned. You leave in 30 minutes.”

Ling didn’t argue this time. But as Niran shot her a knowing look, she knew they both understood the same truth—this wasn’t over. Not even close and she needs to listen.

And as she thought about what it meant to be close to Orm, what it meant to drag her into this darkness, she began to wonder—should she walk away?

Would loving Orm be the very thing that got her killed?

As Niran settled into the backseat of the car, he let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. His ribs still ached, and every movement reminded him of just how close things had been. But right now, none of that mattered. Right now, he had a promise to keep.

Pulling out his phone, he scrolled through his recent calls until he found Orm’s name and pressed dial. The line rang only once before she answered.

“She’s staying, isn’t she?” Orm’s voice came through, dry and unsurprised, but carrying a note of something deeper—resignation, maybe. Or relief.

Niran smirked, resting his head against the window as the car pulled out onto the main road. “Like there was ever a chance she wouldn’t. Your father takes her to a secluded villa, did you know?”

A pause. Then, a quiet exhale from Orm. “Did he? No I didn’t… Well, your sister just gained a roommate then.”

Niran chuckled, shaking his head. “As if that wasn’t already the case.”

Orm didn’t argue. Because it was true. Ling had been orbiting around her for months now, memory or no memory, pain or no pain. And now that she had everything back? Now that she remembered all the love, all the heartbreak, all the promises they never got to keep? There was no way in hell she was leaving.

The silence stretched for a moment, not awkward, just heavy with unspoken understanding.

Then Niran’s voice softened. “She’s scared, you know.”

Orm’s grip tightened around the phone. “I know.”

“No, Orm,” Niran said, shaking his head slightly. “I mean, she’s really scared. Not just of Thanom. Not just of what he might do. She’s scared of what loving you could cost. And I don’t think she’s even figured that out herself yet.”

Orm swallowed hard. “She doesn’t have to be scared.”

“You and I both know that’s not how this works.”

Orm closed her eyes briefly, the weight of it all pressing against her ribs. “I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“I know.” Niran’s voice was quieter now, a little less teasing, a little more serious. “But don’t let her push you away because of that fear. She’s got this stupid idea that loving you makes you a target.”

Orm’s chest tightened. “She’s not wrong.”

“No, she’s not.” Niran sighed. “But that’s not the point. The point is, Ling is gonna fight this battle with or without you. And if she pushes you away thinking it’ll protect you… are you gonna let her?”

Orm’s jaw locked. “Not a damn chance.”

Niran smirked. “Good answer.”

Another beat of silence, then Orm exhaled. “Thanks for calling.”

Niran let out a soft laugh. “Please, I only called to let you know you’re stuck with her now. Officially.”

Orm huffed, shaking her head. “Yeah, well. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Niran chuckled. “Knew it.” Then his voice turned warm, teasing. “Take care of her, alright? And try not to kill each other before this is over.”

Orm rolled her eyes but smiled despite herself. “No promises.”

Niran laughed, then after a moment, his voice softened again. “Take care of yourself too, Orm.”

The call ended before Orm could respond, leaving her standing there, phone still in her hand, heart still heavy with everything that had been left unsaid.

She looked up at the villa in front of her, knowing that inside, Ling was waiting. Stubborn as ever. Fierce as ever. Hers.

Orm slipped her phone into her pocket and took a deep breath. Time to go call her father, she didn’t know he planned this for Ling and she wanted to thank him, her father was always there for her

___________________________

Thanom Ratchada was losing patience.

His fingers drummed against his desk as he stared at the city skyline, his phone pressed to his ear.

“You assured me she’d be dead by now, how the hell did she leave her condo without me knowing?” he said coolly, his tone betraying none of the fire burning beneath the surface.

The voice on the other end stammered, full of excuses. Thanom’s grip tightened.

“I don’t want explanations. I want results,” he hissed, leaning forward. “Lingling Kwong should not be breathing by the end of the week. I don’t care how you do it. Make it happen. If I have to do it myself it won't” be pretty.”

He ended the call, his jaw tightening.

Orm Kornnaphat thought she had won. Thought she had protected her.

She was wrong. By the time this was over, Lingling Kwong would be nothing more than a memory.

And Orm? She would finally belong to him. He will make sure of it. But what he didn’t know is that Papa Oct hates his guts for years and now that he comes after her daughter and lover, he doesn’t know what comes for him.

___________________________

Orm inhaled deeply, steadying herself before pulling out her phone again. She didn’t hesitate this time—she needed answers.

The line barely rang once before her father picked up.

“Orm.” His voice was composed as ever, carrying that effortless authority she had grown up under.

She exhaled sharply. “I just got off the phone with Niran.”

Her father didn’t speak, waiting for her to continue.

Orm clenched her jaw. “You moved Ling to one of our villa?”

A pause. Then, simply, “Yes.”

Orm huffed out a quiet laugh, shaking her head. “And you weren’t going to tell me?”

“I was going to,” her father answered smoothly. “You just found out first.”

Orm pinched the bridge of her nose. “Dad.”

“You would have insisted on being involved in the decision, and we didn’t have time for that,” he continued, his voice even. “This was the best course of action. You know that.”

Orm sighed, pacing slightly where she stood. He wasn’t wrong. But still—

“You should have told me.”

“Telling you everything will put you in danger too honey” he said, unyielding. “My men are with her, don't worry, she should be at the villa now .”

Orm exhaled, running a hand through her hair. “I would’ve—”

“—Done exactly what you always do,” her father cut in, voice firmer now. “You would have put yourself in danger for her. And Orm, I need you to listen carefully.”

Something in his tone made her pause. “What?”

There was a beat of silence. Then, his voice dropped lower, colder. “Thanom is looking for her, he will not stop.”

Orm’s stomach dropped.

Her father continued, each word measured, controlled. “He has men searching. He knows she left the apartment. We don’t think he knows exactly where she is yet, but it won’t take him long to start narrowing it down.”

Orm’s breath hitched. “You said you were stopping him.”

“I said I was working on it.” A pause. “But Thanom is more powerful than even I accounted for. His network reaches deep. I’ve had to pull every favor I have just to keep him from making another move.”

Orm’s hands curled into fists. “Then let me help.”

“No.” His response was immediate. “That is exactly what you won’t do.”

Orm’s jaw tightened. “Dad—”

“I need you to stay out of this, Orm.” His voice softened, but the command in it was clear. “You are already a target in his eyes. The only thing keeping him from coming after you directly is the fact that he believes Ling is the main obstacle.”

Orm’s breath came uneven now. “That’s bullshit. He’s obsessed, Dad. If he can’t have me, he’ll make sure no one else does.”

Her father sighed, weariness slipping into his tone. “I know.” A pause. “That’s why you need to go to the villa.”

Orm stilled. “What?”

“You’re going there tonight,” he said firmly. “To be with Ling. To lay low until I can handle this.”

Orm frowned. “Why?”

“Because she needs you, and because I need to know you’re safe.”

Orm swallowed, heart pounding. Her father rarely ever asked anything of her—not like this. He let her live her life, trusted her judgment, even when he disagreed. But now, he was making it clear.

She had no choice.

She exhaled, defeated. “Alright.”

A pause.

Then, softer, “Thank you.”

Orm’s grip on her phone loosened. “Just… don’t keep me in the dark anymore, okay?”

Her father hesitated. “I’ll do my best.”

It wasn’t a promise, but it was close enough.

Orm nodded to herself. “I’ll head there soon.”

“Good. I already told your mother”

The line clicked, and the call ended, leaving Orm standing in the dim light, her heart pounding with the weight of what she now knew.

Thanom wasn’t just dangerous. He was coming. And this wasn’t over. Not yet. But she will do everything in her power to not let him near her again.

_____________________________

Orm was on her way to the villa with her father’s bodyguard when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the caller ID—her father. This was weird, their last call was only an hour ago.

She picked up immediately. “Dad? I’m on my way what’s the —”

“Orm.” He cuts her, his voice was steady, but there was an edge to it. “You need to listen carefully. Thanom is on the move. He loses patience and starts to lose control”

Orm’s stomach turned. “What? Does he know where we are?”

Her father’s voice dropped lower. “No but he’s looking for Ling and he’s not far. I’m trying to stop him. But I need time. He is very close. My business partner sent me some messages exchanged between Ling and someone who looks like Thanom last year. DId you know that?”

Orm’s grip tightened. “What? Last year? She never told me anything Dad…”

Her father’s voice was firm. “That’s what I thought… I’m gonna send you the screenshots but please don’t be mad at Ling ok?”

Orm’s heart pounded.

“Ok. Thank you dad” answers Orm before calling off.

This wasn’t over. It was only just beginning and Orm was ready to do everything for her woman, even if she keeps some things from her.

________________________

The villa was grand, secluded, and surrounded by the kind of silence that felt suffocating rather than peaceful. It was a fortress, built for safety, for protection—but inside, Ling felt anything but safe.

She sat on the couch, one knee drawn up, fingers absently rubbing against the sling supporting her healing arm. Her cheek still carried the faint discoloration of the bruise, a reminder of just how close everything had come to disaster. But the worst wounds weren’t the ones on her skin.

She heard the door open. Orm’s footsteps were familiar, steady—yet there was an edge to them, a weight Ling could feel before she even turned around.

Then came the words. Quiet. Sharp. Laced with hurt rather than anger.

“You kept things from me.”

Ling flinched. She knew this was coming, had been dreading it. But knowing didn’t make it any easier to face.

Orm stood a few feet away, arms crossed over her chest, her jaw clenched tight. “You knew Thanom was threatening you. You knew he was watching you. And you never told me.”

Ling forced herself to meet her eyes, but her voice was weak when she answered. “Orm, I—”

“Don’t.” Orm’s voice wavered. And that hurt more than if she had yelled. “Don’t give me an excuse. Just tell me why.”

Ling swallowed. “I didn’t want you to get hurt. I wanted to protect you.”

Orm let out a sharp, bitter laugh, one with no humor. “And how did that work out for you, huh? Ling, you almost died. Niran almost died. And you thought that lying to me—hiding from me—was the best way to protect us?”

Ling squeezed her eyes shut. “I didn’t want you to blame yourself.”

That made Orm pause, her breath catching. “Blame myself?”

Ling hesitated, but there was no point in pretending anymore. She had been cornered by the truth, and Orm wasn’t letting her go without an answer.

So, she exhaled shakily and confessed, “If you knew earlier… you would have thought it was your fault. And I couldn’t let you carry that.”

Orm went still. Completely still. The silence stretched between them, heavy, suffocating.

When Ling forced herself to open her eyes, Orm was staring at her, her hands trembling slightly at her sides.

Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she asked, “How long?”

Ling blinked. “What?”

“How long has Thanom been threatening you?”

Ling hesitated. And that hesitation was an answer.

Orm’s jaw clenched, her breath coming out in sharp, uneven bursts. “My father told me everything. How long, Ling?”

Ling’s voice barely made a sound. “Last year was the first threats...”

Orm sucked in a sharp breath. “Last year.” She took a slow step back, like the weight of it was physically pushing her away. “And you never told me?”

Ling’s chest tightened, guilt burning deep. “I thought if I ignored it—”

“God, Ling.” Orm wiped at her face, her voice breaking. “You don’t ignore a man like Thanom.”

Ling reached out instinctively, desperate to close the space between them. “Orm, please—”

Orm took another step back. “Do you even trust me?”

Ling froze.

“I—”

“Because it doesn’t feel like you do.” Orm’s voice was quiet now, but the pain in it sliced through Ling like a knife. “It feels like you still think you have to do everything alone and I count for nothing.”

Ling opened her mouth—then shut it. Because Orm was right. She had been running. Fighting alone. Keeping Orm at arm’s length, convincing herself it was the only way to keep her safe.

But that wasn’t the whole truth, was it?

Ling swallowed hard, her voice cracking as she finally whispered, “I was afraid.”

Orm’s expression softened—just barely. “Of what?”

Ling’s fingers curled into fists. “Of losing you. Of being the reason I lose you.”

Orm let out a shaky breath, running a hand through her hair. “So, what? You were just going to leave?”

Ling’s breath hitched. She couldn’t lie. Not now.

Orm saw the hesitation in her face and snapped.

“You were,” Orm whispered, realization hitting her like a gut punch. “You were going to walk away. Again.”

Ling squeezed her eyes shut. “I thought it was the only way—”

“No.” Orm’s voice cracked. “The only way is us, together.”

Ling’s heart pounded as she finally looked at Orm, really looked at her—the frustration, the fear, the raw, undeniable love shining through all of it.

And suddenly, the walls she had built, the careful distance she had tried to keep, felt like the most stupid, useless thing in the world.

Without thinking, she stepped forward.

Orm stiffened.

Then Ling wrapped her arms around her—her good arm pulling Orm in tightly, desperately.

Orm was tense, unyielding for only a second before her resolve broke. A quiet, strangled sob left her lips as she clutched Ling back, her grip tight, desperate, like she was holding onto something fragile, something that might slip away if she wasn’t careful.

Ling whispered against her hair, voice raw, broken, “I’m so sorry.”

Orm didn’t say anything. She just held on.

____________________

Thanom Ratchada sat in the dim glow of his private office, the air thick with the acrid scent of cigar smoke. The room was dark, the only light coming from the numerous monitors lining the walls—each flickering with images of Bangkok’s streets, security footage, and blurred satellite views. His fingers tapped erratically against the polished wood of his desk, the rhythm uneven, impatient, unhinged.

His patience had run out.

Lingling Kwong was still alive.

That fact alone made his blood boil. She was supposed to be a stain of the past, erased from existence, gone like she had never even been here. And yet, she was still breathing. Still walking. Still standing next to Orm like she had any fucking right to.

His jaw clenched as he turned his sharp gaze to the men standing before him—his most trusted enforcers, men who had done his bidding for years without question. And yet, even they had failed him.

"You assured me she wouldn’t make it past the apartment." His voice was eerily calm, too calm, the kind of quiet that sent chills down a man's spine.

One of the men shifted uncomfortably, choosing his words carefully. "We did everything as planned, boss. But her brother interfered—"

Thanom slammed his fist against the desk so hard that the whiskey glass beside him toppled over, spilling amber liquid onto the wood. "Her brother?” His voice rose, a twisted laugh breaking through, one laced with disbelief. “You’re telling me a goddamn washed-up actor and his little sister outplayed all of you?"

No one dared to answer.

Thanom exhaled through his nose, his breathing uneven, his control slipping. His fingers twitched before he stood abruptly, chair scraping against the floor. His gaze burned into them, pupils dilated with something far beyond anger—something unhinged.

"Where is she?"

His second-in-command, a man named Chai, cleared his throat. "She’s not at her apartment anymore. She vanished after the attack, and none of our sources have been able to confirm her location. But we have leads."

Thanom's lips curled into a slow, mirthless grin.

"Leads?" He stepped around the desk, closing the space between him and Chai in a single, deliberate movement. "I don’t need leads, Chai. I need results."

Chai swallowed but didn’t look away. "There have been reports that someone powerful is shielding her. The level of security around her has increased significantly. Cameras were wiped, financial trails buried. Whoever is helping her isn’t just covering tracks, they’re erasing them entirely."

Thanom's grin vanished. His expression darkened, twisted into something dangerous.

Someone was protecting her?

His fingers flexed before he reached for the knife on his desk—idly, casually, like he wasn’t even thinking about it. The blade glinted under the dim light as he turned it between his fingers, letting the sharp edge skim against his palm.

"And who," he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, "is stupid enough to defy me?"

Another man shifted, hesitating before answering, "We suspect Orm’s father."

Thanom’s fingers froze around the blade.

Silence fell.

Then—

A slow, hollow chuckle left his lips, growing into something unhinged, something manic.

"Papa Oct?" He laughed again, louder this time, but it wasn’t amusement. It was the sound of a man unraveling, of something snapping inside him. "Of course. Of course, that old bastard would meddle."

His grip on the knife tightened until his knuckles turned white.

Papa Oct thought he could protect her? Thought he could interfere in something that wasn’t his business?

Thanom’s nostrils flared, his breath uneven. "If they think they can hide her from me, they’re sorely mistaken."

He turned sharply, throwing the knife in a single, vicious motion. The blade embedded itself into the wooden pillar across the room with a sickening thud.

Lingling Kwong wasn’t going to walk away this time.

He would find her. He would rip her away from Orm’s life piece by piece.

And when he was done?

She wouldn’t just be dead.

She would be erased.