A Heart's Promise Beneath The Night [E-Book on MEB]

CHAPTER 3 : The Truth to Face

A new morning dawned at the mansion. The sky, which had been gloomy the day before, began to brighten. A gentle breeze blew through the wide windows of the bedroom. Thanida stood by the window, looking out over the mansion grounds. She could see the vast gardens and the shimmering pool under the morning sunlight. This place was more beautiful than she had ever imagined, but it also made her feel isolated.

Thanida's heart was still heavy. She had begun to adjust to life in this luxurious mansion, but the feeling of being trapped in a golden cage still haunted her. She knew well that Nawin didn't see her as anything more than a woman used as collateral for a debt. The hope in her heart that he would change his mind or treat her with kindness was slowly fading away.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sound of knocking came from the door.

"Miss Thanida," came the voice of Manee, Nawin's maid, from outside.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Nawin asked me to fetch you."

"Alright."

Thanida responded softly before walking out of the room and following Manee to Nawin's office. As she walked down the long corridor, she felt a heaviness in her heart. She didn't know what he would say to her today.

When she opened the door to his office, the atmosphere in the room was full of solemnity. The furniture, made of fine wood, was arranged neatly. A large desk stood in the center of the room, behind which was a tall bookcase filled with numerous books. Nawin sat at the desk, his eyes showing no emotion as she entered.

"Sit down," Nawin said without looking at her. He opened a document folder in front of him and read with a serious expression.

Thanida sat down quietly. Her heart began to race as she waited for him to speak.

Nawin closed the folder and looked up at her. "Today, I have something to discuss with you about your father's debt."

Thanida lowered her eyes, trying to suppress the fear and displeasure that rose in her heart. "Yes, go ahead. I'm ready to listen."

Nawin paused for a moment before speaking in a cold tone, "You may not know this, but the debt your father owes is much more than you think. It's not just the money he borrowed. Your father also used my reputation to play games with my political enemies."

"What do you mean?" Thanida looked at him in shock.

"He used my name in negotiations with people I don't want to be involved with," Nawin said flatly. "It's not just about money anymore. It's about the risk to my life."

Thanida was silent for a moment. She felt her heart sink. The complexity of this situation was beyond what she had ever imagined.

"Then... what can I do?"

Nawin turned to look at her, his gaze cold but full of expectation. "You must stay here until I decide how you will repay the debt... or maybe you'll have to take punishment in place of your father."

Thanida's face turned pale. She tried to breathe deeply to calm herself. "I don't understand. Why do you have to do this to me? I didn't do anything wrong."

"You may not have done anything wrong," Nawin said calmly. "But you're the one your father chose to use as a tool to repay his debt, and that puts you in this game."

The atmosphere in the room was tense. Thanida felt that everything had stopped after hearing the words from the man in front of her. The sound of the clock hanging on the wall ticked rhythmically, and that alone kept time moving forward. Thanida felt the pressure weighing down on her until she could barely breathe. She knew well that she couldn't easily escape this situation.

"You... I'll do anything. I'm willing to take responsibility for everything," Thanida finally said. Her voice trembled slightly but still maintained a good measure of determination.

"What did you say?"

"I'm ready to do anything to repay my father's debt."

Nawin looked at her silently. His eyes seemed to hold some thought.

"Good. I'll remember these words. Then I'll decide what you should do next."

After the conversation ended, Thanida was sent back to her room. Amidst the silence that made her feel even more isolated, she sat down on the bed, trying to organize her chaotic thoughts. Knowing that her father had not only created debt but also brought her into a world full of danger and threats, she didn't know how her life would proceed from here.

The atmosphere of the beautiful mansion now seemed dark in her eyes. Thanida sat by the window, watching the sky begin to darken again. Her heart was filled with fear and despair. She knew she had no choice but to accept the fate that had been set for her.

"Father," she whispered to herself softly. Tears slowly flowed from her tired eyes. "Why did you do this? Why did you bring me into this situation?"

In the silence of the mansion, Thanida began to feel the weakness that was consuming her more and more. She began to realize that escaping from here might not be an easy way out because escaping from Nawin wouldn't be easy. Although there was a glimmer of hope in her heart, the reality she faced made her feel increasingly burdened.

Time passed slowly on a night full of confused thoughts and feelings. Thanida knew she had to endure, to face everything, no matter how difficult it might be. Even though she felt hopeless, deep in her heart, she hadn't given up.

She decided that from now on, she would not just be a woman used as collateral. She would fight for her own future, not easily surrendering to fate.