Soulful (TayNew)

part-21

Author Pov

**Back to Thailand**

After the harrowing incident in Paris, Tay and New returned to Thailand, their once joyous honeymoon now clouded by a deep sense of unease. New tried to shake off the feeling, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t forget the stranger’s face—the man who had followed them across Paris, obsessed with New in a way that made his skin crawl.

The moment they landed back home, Tay’s first priority was to ensure New’s safety. He spent hours researching, trying to find any trace of the man, any clues as to who he was or where he might be. But no matter how deep he dug, he came up empty. The stranger had vanished, leaving no trail behind. It was as if he had never existed.

Tay became obsessed with ensuring New’s protection. He installed extra security around their home, upgraded their alarm systems, and even hired a private investigator to keep an eye on things. But despite his best efforts, the man was never found.

New, on the other hand, couldn’t shake the feeling that he was still being watched. Every time he stepped out of the house, he felt eyes on him. Every time he heard footsteps behind him, he feared it was the stranger returning. It got so bad that New stopped attending school for a while, too afraid to leave the house. He clung to Tay, his only sense of safety in a world that had become unpredictable.

“Tay, what if he comes back?” New asked one night, his voice trembling as they lay in bed.

Tay held him close, his arms wrapped protectively around his husband. “He won’t,” Tay whispered. “I won’t let him get near you again. I promise, New.”

Despite Tay’s reassurances, New couldn’t shake his fear. Days passed, and eventually, at Tay’s urging, New slowly returned to school. But it wasn’t easy. The fear still lingered, like a shadow always following him. Tay, for his part, did everything he could to calm New’s fears. He took time off from work, stayed by New’s side, and made sure he never felt alone.

Gradually, as months passed and no further incidents occurred, New began to relax. The fear didn’t disappear entirely, but it became manageable. Life slowly returned to normal, and New and Tay were able to start focusing on the future once again.

---

Years passed, and the memory of the stranger in Paris faded into the background of their lives. Tay and New had built a strong, happy life together. Their bond had only grown deeper, and the fear that had once gripped New was now little more than a distant echo in his mind. They had created new memories, filled with love and laughter, that slowly overshadowed the darkness of that time.

New was now nearing the end of his college studies, and graduation was just around the corner. His future was bright, and he had been given the exciting opportunity to intern at Tay’s company. The arrangement had been a secret between them—no one at the company, except for Tay’s trusted secretary, Gun, and New’s close friend, Nunew, knew that New was the CEO’s husband.

New was both excited and nervous about starting his internship. Though he had often visited Tay’s office before, this time was different. Now, he was entering as an employee, a part of the team. He wanted to prove himself, to show that he could stand on his own and succeed without relying on his relationship with Tay.

On the morning of his first day, New stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his tie with slightly trembling hands. Tay, dressed sharply in his usual suit, watched him with a smile from the doorway.

“Nervous?” Tay asked, stepping into the room and fixing New’s collar for him.

“A little,” New admitted, meeting Tay’s eyes in the mirror. “I want to do well.”