The Deadly Charm

Part 60 : Shadows Behind the Smile (Part 1)

Nattapat sat in deep contemplation at his desk. Stacks of documents detailing information on dark enchantments and mind-controlling spells lay scattered before him—intelligence he had privately commissioned a detective to gather.

And yet, no matter how meticulously the reports explained the mechanics of dark charm magic, his logical mind still refused to fully believe it.

Spells that could manipulate a person's heart...
It all sounded too fantastical.

Nattapat had lived in a world of tangible truth—logic, facts, science. But these documents hinted at something else, something beyond the veil of reason... and dangerously close to his own home.

His fingers ran down his face in frustration.
If all this was true, then what was happening to his family—especially his father, Ekawat—was far more terrifying than he'd imagined.

"How could this even be possible...?" he muttered to himself.

Still, terrifying or not, he knew what he had to do:
Find the truth.
And right now, the only two people he could trust to help him do that... were Akira and Nattrinee.

"Maybe... I need to talk to them," he said aloud.

—

The next morning, Nattapat made a detour to visit his father before heading into work. He had heard unsettling things from people close to the family. Whispers. Concerns. Observations he'd begun to notice for himself.

Ekawat, once so full of vigor, now looked like a shadow of his former self.

As Nattapat stepped into the house, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the sofa—his father, pale and gaunt. Nearby, Chanya stood with a graceful smile, hands folded neatly.

But all Nattapat could do was stare at his father.

Sunken cheeks.
Hollow eyes.
Skin that had lost its vitality.
There was no doubt—something was draining the life from him.

"Oh! Khun Phat, what a surprise," Chanya greeted him sweetly.

"My younger brother told me Dad wasn't feeling well. I thought I'd drop by to check,"
Nattapat replied casually, masking his concern.

"Dad..." he said gently, stepping closer.

"You really don't look well."

"Mr. Ekawat's just been lacking rest lately," Chanya interjected, her voice soft and affectionate—too affectionate. Her eyes glimmered in a way that made the hairs on Nattapat's neck stand.

Ekawat nodded slowly, offering no words.

Even seated upright, his gaze seemed detached—like his spirit was being held somewhere else.

"Dad... maybe you should see a doctor."

"Oh don't worry, I'll take him myself,"
Chanya smiled again, her hand resting lightly on Ekawat's shoulder.

Nattapat narrowed his eyes.
Her movements... her tone... they were too controlled.

She wasn't just caring for his father.
She was controlling him.

"I see... that's good then."
Nattapat forced a smile, keeping his expression calm.

"Please get some rest, Dad."

But inside, his mind was already racing.
He couldn't confront Chanya—not yet.
He had to be careful.

First, he needed to talk to Akira and Nattrinee.

—

At the office later that morning, Nattapat entered with a tense expression still clouding his features.

"Call Akira and Nattrinee to my office," he told his secretary.

She nodded and left promptly—but returned just minutes later, looking apologetic.

"I'm sorry, sir. Both Miss Akira and Miss Nattrinee are on vacation leave today."

Nattapat frowned.

So much for timing.

After a moment, he spoke again.

"Find me Akira's contact number."

Soon, the secretary returned with a small slip of paper. He stared at the digits in silence before lifting his phone and dialing.

The line rang once...
Twice...
Then finally—

"Hello?"

It was her voice—Akira's.

"Akira? It's Nattapat."

"Kh-Khun Phat?!"

She sounded surprised, flustered.

He smirked just a little.

"I need to speak with you and Nattrinee. It's important. Would you happen to have a moment?"

A pause.

"...Is this about Mr. Ekawat?"

His brows knit together.

"You know?"

"I'll send you a location on Line," she said shortly.

Then the line went dead.

✨ To be continued in Shadows Behind the Smile (Part 2)💬 Will Akira reveal what she knows? Or is the danger already too close for comfort?