The Deadly Charm

Part 51 : The Return of the Enemy

When Chanya returned from Laos with Ekkawat, the two of them showed up together at work on a bright Monday morning. The atmosphere at Ekkawat Corporation's headquarters had been tense in the past few days. Rumors of Ekkawat filing for divorce from his wife had spread throughout the office, leaving everyone watching him with suspicion.

But with Chanya standing beside him that morning, their smiles and united appearance seemed to dispel all the rumors at once. Chanya wore an elegant dark suit, sharp and commanding, while Ekkawat, as always, looked dignified in his suit. What everyone noticed most was the closeness and strong bond between them.

Chanya smiled and greeted the employees warmly, yet there was a newfound confidence and authority in her eyes. She knew she had Ekkawat completely in her grasp now, and she was determined to use that position to her utmost advantage.

Nattapat stood by his office window, gazing out at the bustling city. Yet inside, he felt unsettled. This uneasy feeling had started when his father, Ekkawat, began to change drastically—from a man of strength and resolve to someone wholly absorbed by Chanya, a woman who had only recently entered his life.

Lately, his father seemed obsessed with Chanya, as if under her spell. He took her out to social events almost daily, leaving his children behind without a second thought. Nattapat began to sense that something was wrong. He decided he wouldn't let this go unanswered.

One day, Nattapat chose to investigate things himself. Instead of eating in the executive dining room as usual, he went to the staff cafeteria. He knew that was where gossip and chatter about company happenings often surfaced. If anything strange was going on, the staff would likely be talking about it.

He entered the busy cafeteria filled with rows of tables and chairs. The room buzzed with chatter, but no one noticed his presence. He quietly took a seat in the corner and ordered a simple meal, just to have an excuse to linger, and began listening carefully to conversations around him.

"Have you noticed how much Mr. Ekkawat has changed lately? He barely works anymore, always taking Chanya out," one employee said with suspicion.

"Yeah, I heard Chanya's trying to control everything in his life," another replied.

The unease in Nattapat's chest deepened. These remarks only fueled his growing doubts about Chanya.

As he was lost in thought, he overheard a conversation at the next table—it was Akira and Nattrinee. They seemed to be discussing something quite intriguing.

"Hey, don't you think it's weird?" Akira whispered.

"Yeah, I've been thinking the same," Nattrinee replied.

"But didn't Krit say he already removed all the black magic?" Nattrinee asked in a hushed voice.

"He did... but now something else is following Mr. Ekkawat," Akira murmured.

"What? Again?" Nattrinee gasped.

"Shh! Keep it down!" Akira warned.

"What's more, there's this dark shadow constantly hovering around Chanya. It's creepy," Akira added with a shudder.

"Maybe she went to see a shaman in Cambodia," Nattrinee blurted out.

"What makes you say that?"

"A senior colleague who worked with her told me."

Nattapat could barely believe his ears. He glanced over at their table, trying not to give away that he was eavesdropping.

"If Chanya really did that, then it would explain Mr. Ekkawat's strange behavior."