(Originally translated from the Thai language.)

(Originally translated from the Thai language.)

The watch hands on his wrist moved to meet at the number six as evening approached. The final golden rays of the sun pierced through the tall glass windows of the skyscraper in the heart of the city. Yet, that light could not reach the darkening mind of the young man surrounded by an immense weight of responsibility. Kawin stood alone in the hallway in front of the grand boardroom. His tall frame, dressed in a light brown shirt made of breathable fabric, was now soaked with cold sweat seeping through his broad back, which was tensed with anxiety. As he stopped before the door, a middle-aged male secretary approached to assist him into a finely tailored dark brown velvet blazer.

His determined gaze was fixed forward. If life were a chessboard, Kawin was merely a pawn that had been suddenly thrust into the position of the King.

Only a few weeks ago, he was an independent young man, never having to spend his days hunched over financial statements or devising strategies to dismantle competitors. However, the illness of his father—the pillar of Wonder Package—was a storm that leveled the walls of his peaceful life. His duty as the blood heir forced him to shoulder the hopes of hundreds of employees and billions of baht that could vanish if he misstepped even once.

Kawin stared at the meticulously carved sign on the boardroom door. His eyes, which used to sparkle with playfulness, now bore faint dark circles and traces of worry that couldn’t be hidden. His dark eyes flickered slightly as he took a deep breath, as if trying to gulp down a final bit of oxygen before diving into an ocean filled with sharks.

He could sense the murderous aura radiating from behind those doors. The faint whispers leaking out sounded like a brewing storm. The board members were old tigers, veterans of the industry. Everyone was watching, waiting to see him fail. Many had their claws out, ready to snatch what remained of his power. Even more terrifying was the mysterious shadow that had been haunting him for the past several days—a shadow that seemed to know him better than he knew himself, sending warnings of unseen dangers.

“I can do this... Kawin, you can do it,” he murmured to himself to gather his scattered courage.

His hand, trembling slightly, slowly moved to touch the dark, polished teak door. The wood felt as cold as the hearts of those waiting for him inside. With a gentle push, the heavy double doors opened with a soft creak that cut deep into his emotions. It was the announcement of the arrival of the new leader... a leader whom everyone in the room viewed as nothing more than an inexperienced cub.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, dozens of pairs of eyes turned to fixate on him like spotlights burning his skin. The silence in the room was so stifling that he could hear his own heart beating like a war drum. Kawin forced his back straight; though the velvet suit made him feel stifled and hot, he had to maintain the image of a cool, collected CEO.

He walked slowly across the thick, soft carpet. Each step felt heavier than any he had ever taken. The gazes of the executives were filled with skepticism and calculated judgments hidden beneath fake smiles. Kawin headed straight for the vacant chairman’s chair at the head of the table—the chair his father had occupied for most of his life, a chair that today looked far too large for him to fill.

However, as he sat down, something shifted. The immense pressure transformed into a cold, driving force. He clasped his hands on the expensive wooden table, scanning the senior businessmen with a gaze he tried his best to keep steady.

“Good evening, everyone...” His voice might have wavered at first, but as the next sentence began, the CEO lineage within him took over. “I know many of you have questions in your minds. But as the Acting CEO of Wonder Package, I am here to confirm that... the next chapter of this company will begin by my own hands.”

Despite the lingering fear of the dark threats following him and his own business inexperience, Kawin knew that in this battlefield, the first thing he had to do was project authority. He had to show everyone that he was not the easy prey they thought he was.