Bitter Rivalry, Sweeter Love

Prologue

Bangkok was a city of beauty and chaos, where tradition and progress clashed as vibrantly as the city's skyline. But beneath its dazzling surface, two families ruled over their respective empires with an iron fist: the Kwongs and the Kornnaphats. Both were titans in the business world, each carving their own space in luxury markets, high-end fashion, and hospitality.

The Kwongs were known for their dominance in the tech world, revolutionizing industries with cutting-edge software that kept the city—and much of the region—running smoothly. Ling Ling Kwong, the eldest daughter of the family, was a symbol of that innovation. She was brilliant, ambitious, and as sharp as the strategies she crafted for her family's empire. From a young age, she had been groomed to take over the company, her cold and calculated demeanor mirroring her father's, whose vision for their family's future left no room for distractions—or weaknesses like love.

On the opposite end of the battlefield stood the Kornnaphats. Their power lay in tradition, their family having built an empire based on luxury hotels, real estate, and a personal touch that their clientele paid a fortune to experience. Orm Kornnaphat was their crown jewel: beautiful, sophisticated, and poised to take over the family's global operations. She embodied the elegance of her family's brand, but there was fire behind her quiet, composed exterior—a fire that burned hotter each time she thought of the Kwongs.

For decades, the two families had been locked in a vicious cycle of one-upmanship, each vying to outshine the other, tearing apart any hope of cooperation. To the outside world, it was a glamorous rivalry between powerful families, but to Ling and Orm, it was war. Raised in an atmosphere of disdain, the two women knew nothing but hatred for one another. They had seen their parents destroy deals, tear apart reputations, and wage silent corporate wars.

And they hated each other just as much.

Ling had always regarded Orm as nothing more than a pretty face propped up by her family's wealth, while Orm saw Ling as arrogant and ruthless, willing to crush anyone who stood in her way. The idea of working together was unthinkable; the idea of being anything more than enemies? Impossible.

But this wasn't just their story. It was the story of two empires