Rattanakorn Mansion,

Living Room,

“Brother,” Tawan said, his voice calm but edged with urgency. “They are definitely planning something.”

“I know,” Kiet responded, his voice flat but carrying the weight of his resolve.

Milo stepped closer, his voice soft but edged with concern. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his eyes darting between the brothers.

Kiet met Milo’s gaze, his expression carefully neutral as he clenched the invitation tighter, the paper crumpling under his grip. He forced a small, dismissive smile, masking the storm brewing within him.

“It’s nothing to worry about,” he said, his tone calm but carrying an unmistakable edge.

Milo nodded and then turned to Thanaya, his eyes warm and gentle. “So, what should we do now? Should we celebrate your recovery?” he asked, his voice light and playful.

Thanaya’s eyes sparkled with excitement, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! Let’s celebrate!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with pure delight.

Milo smiled at her enthusiasm. “Okay, then what shall we do? We’ll do everything our princess wants,” he promised.

Thanaya’s face lit up even more. “Really, Daddy?”

Milo nodded, his own smile growing as he looked at her. “Yes, anything you want.”

Thanaya paused, her eyes thoughtful as she considered her options. Then she looked up at Milo with a hopeful expression. “Shall we go for a family picnic?”

Milo blinked in surprise. “A picnic?”

Thanaya nodded eagerly. “Yes! I’ve never been on a family picnic, Daddy. All my friends went with their families, but I never got to go.”

Her innocent request hung in the air, and the room’s mood shifted instantly. The joyous expressions faded into a heavy silence. Thanaya’s grandparents shared a sad glance; their smiles dimmed. Milo, sensing the sudden change, looked around in confusion. He caught Kiet’s gaze, noting the tightness in his expression—the subtle but unmistakable pain of a father who couldn’t give his daughter what she had longed for.

Kiet’s face softened with a rare vulnerability, the weight of Thanaya’s words cutting deeper than any threat from the second family. It was a simple wish, yet one that laid bare all the moments he had missed, all the normalcy that had been stolen by their complicated lives.

Milo, still determined to keep Thanaya’s spirits high, swallowed his own uncertainty. He smiled gently at her and said, “Sure. We’ll go for a family picnic.”

Thanaya’s face broke into a radiant smile, her joy infectious as she bounced on her toes. “Really? We can go?”

Milo nodded, saying, “Yes, we can,” he said, his voice calm and warm. “We’ll have our very own family picnic.” He looked at Kiet, seeking confirmation. “Right?”

Kiet, his expression softening slightly, stepped forward. “Sure—but not now,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. 

Thanaya’s smile faded instantly, her excitement dimming as she bowed her head in disappointment. She shuffled her feet, the earlier joy draining from her face. Milo’s heart tightened at the sight; he glanced between Kiet and their daughter, sensing the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air.

Kiet sighed, kneeling to meet Thanaya’s eyes. “We will go for the picnic next week, Thanaya,” he promised, his voice firm but gentle. “I promise.”

Thanaya’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she tugged at Kiet’s sleeves. “Why not this week, Papa?”

Kiet looked down at her with a soft but firm smile. “This week, we have to attend a party.”

The words barely left his mouth before Tawan’s eyes widened in shock, his posture stiffening with the sudden realization. “But, brother,” he began, only to be cut off by Kiet’s sharp glare.

Kiet’s gaze was a silent command for Tawan to halt. The room fell into a tense silence, the atmosphere growing heavier with each passing second. Tawan’s anxious expression deepened, and his brow furrowed in confusion and concern.

Thanaya’s grandfather, his face a mixture of disbelief and unease, stepped forward. “Which party?”

“The second family’s celebration party,” Kiet replied immediately.

The reaction was immediate; Thanaya’s grandparents both froze, their eyes widening in shock. Thanaya’s grandfather stepped forward, his face flushed with anger. 

“Kiet—” he started, his voice a mix of frustration and alarm.

But then his gaze flickered to Thanaya, who was watching the adults with innocent curiosity. He stopped himself, biting back his words, though the anger in his eyes was unmistakable.

Milo could feel the tension thickening in the room—an invisible wall building between them. Then he recalled the grandmother's words where she said, “The second family...” Thanaya's grandmother had whispered, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. “They were the cause of my daughter's death.”

Kiet bent down to Thanaya again, his expression softening as he tried to ease her disappointment. “I promise you, we will go for a family picnic next week,” he said, his voice gentle. “Until then, why don’t you decide on a good place for us to go?”

Thanaya looked up at him, her eyes still clouded with sadness, but she nodded slowly, holding onto the promise he had made.

Kiet's Office, Later,

Kiet stepped inside his office, and Thanaya grandfather and Tawan followed him. 

Tawan stepped forward, his anxiety palpable. “Brother,” he said, his voice edged with a mixture of concern and urgency, “why do we need to bring everyone there? Milo and Thanaya—it's not necessary. They don’t need to be part of this.”

Kiet turned to face his brother, his expression unyielding. “It is necessary, Tawan,” he replied, his voice firm and unshakable.

Thanaya’s grandfather, his frustration simmering just below the surface, finally lost his composure. He stepped forward, his voice rising in both anger and desperation. “How is it necessary, Kiet? This isn’t just about a party—you’re putting them in danger!”

Kiet’s weary eyes met his, the weight of the situation evident in his expression. He sighed deeply, trying to convey the gravity of his decision. “I know...” he began, his voice strained. “I know I’m putting them in danger. But if we leave them alone here, we don’t know what might happen. It’s better they stay around us. That way, we can protect them.”

Thanaya’s grandfather’s face turned more worried, his anxiety palpable. Kiet took a step closer, placing a reassuring hand on the older man’s shoulder. “Don’t worry,” he said with a determined edge in his voice. “This time, I won’t let any of my people get harmed.”

The room fell silent, the gravity of Kiet’s words hanging heavy in the air. The promise of protection, though solemn, was a fragile hope in a world fraught with danger.

                                                                                    ***

The Day of Celebration Party,

Rattanakorn Mansion, Evening,

Milo stood in front of the mirror, adjusting his collar one last time. The reflection staring back at him was a mix of nerves and determination, the weight of the evening’s event heavy on his mind. Taking a deep breath, he stepped out of his room and made his way downstairs.

As he descended the grand staircase, Milo spotted Kiet standing with Arhit at the bottom. Kiet’s expression was serious, his voice low but commanding as he gave final instructions. “Make sure the best guards follow us to the party,” Kiet said, his tone leaving no room for error.

Arhit nodded sharply, understanding the weight of the task before him. As he turned to leave, he noticed Milo approaching and gave him a brief, respectful nod before stepping aside.

Milo reached the bottom of the stairs and hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Do we really need to go?” he asked, his voice soft but laced with concern.

Kiet turned to him, his stern expression softening into a faint smile. “Yes, it’s important,” he said simply, his tone carrying a quiet resolve. Milo nodded, still unsure but trusting Kiet’s judgment.

Kiet's gaze lingered on Milo for a moment before he stepped forward, his fingers gently brushing Milo’s cheek. His eyes, usually so guarded, were filled with an emotion Milo rarely saw—tenderness.

“Can you promise me one thing?” Kiet asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

Milo tilted his head, curious. “What?”

Kiet held Milo’s hand, his grip firm yet reassuring. “Please protect yourself,” he said, his eyes locking onto Milo’s with a seriousness that made Milo’s heart skip a beat. “By now, you’ve seen enough to know that my other family... they’re dangerous. So please, be careful around them. Okay?”

Milo smiled softly, squeezing Kiet’s hand in return. “I will,” he promised. 

There was a warmth in his voice—a quiet reassurance that settled some of the unease that had been bubbling within him. Just then, the soft sound of footsteps caught their attention. Tawan, Thanaya, and her grandparents emerged from the hallway, ready for the evening ahead. Thanaya’s face was bright with innocent excitement, completely unaware of the underlying tension.

Kiet straightened, letting go of Milo’s hand as he turned to the others. “Let’s go,” he said, his voice steady but laced with the unspoken weight of what lay ahead.

                                                                                                ***

Second Family Mansion,

Celebration Party,

The second family’s mansion was alive with the hum of chatter and the clink of glasses as guests mingled in the opulent ballroom. Crystal chandeliers bathed the room in a warm, golden light, casting a glow over the richly dressed attendees who moved through the space with practiced elegance. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes, fine wine, and the subtle tension that lingered beneath the surface of the celebration.

Sarut moved through the crowd with a charismatic ease, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit that accentuated his sharp features. He navigated the room like a predator among prey, his sharp eyes scanning the faces of influential guests who had come to pay their respects—or perhaps to seek favor. His demeanor was one of casual authority; each movement was calculated, and each smile was carefully measured.

As Sarut entertained the guests, Phaithun emerged from the crowd, gliding smoothly towards him. He was impeccably dressed, his presence commanding attention even amidst the grandeur of the setting. With a glass of wine delicately balanced in his hand, Phaithun approached Sarut, his expression one of cold satisfaction.

“Just like you said,” Phaithun murmured, his voice smooth and low as he sidled up beside Sarut. He took a slow sip of his wine, savoring the taste as if it were a victory in itself. “Milo and Thanaya are coming to the party.”

Sarut’s smile widened, but there was no warmth in it—just a cold, calculated amusement. “Of course,” Sarut replied, his tone dripping with quiet triumph. “Kiet is predictable when it comes to those he cares about. He would never leave them behind.”

He took a slow sip from his glass, savoring the taste of victory that was already beginning to bloom in his mind. The night was still young, but Sarut knew that the real game was just beginning. And this time, he was determined to be the one holding all the cards again.