(The novel was translated from Thai.)

It was nearly dawn before sleep finally claimed them, leaving both Ploysuay and Ae looking utterly drained, their faces pale as ghosts and their eyes shadowed with exhaustion. When the seven o'clock alarm blared, Ae insisted they go make merit at a nearby temple, hoping for peace of mind. Though Ploysuay doubted it would solve their dilemma, she readily agreed.

On the return journey, they paused for coffee to chase away the fatigue. But as they neared the lane leading to Rin Fah House, the atmosphere immediately grew heavy again. The road was permanently shadowed by a dense canopy of rain trees (Samanea saman) planted along its entire length, creating a perpetual dusk. Only Rin Fah House and one other house—whose owner remained unseen—stood in the clearing. A fresh wave of apprehension began to form.

Ploysuay, in her ankle-length dress and white sandals, her long hair neatly tied back with a pink lace scarf, moved with the grace of an angel gliding through the shaded path. Ae, by contrast, wore a casual cotton shirt and blue jeans. Their footsteps echoed loudly in the silence, broken only by the chirping of birds from the overgrown edges and the gentle brush of the cool morning breeze against their skin. The soft sunlight dappled through the leaves, creating relaxing patterns of light and shadow on the road.

They gazed over the white wooden fence at Rin Fah House. The two-story Colonial structure was embraced by frangipani trees, with an irrigation canal running along the back, giving the whole area a profound serenity and a complete, natural scent. Beautiful as a painting in the morning light, it remained utterly terrifying in the dark.

“When I first saw Rin Fah House, I instantly fell in love. It was my dream house, but I never thought…” Ae trailed off, turning to Ploysuay with a look of worry.

“I know. I loved it instantly too,” Ploysuay replied, looking into the house. Why should such undeniable beauty be overshadowed by terrifying, uncertain tales from a traumatic past?

As the two women stood by the gate, a car approached almost silently. Its tires gently crunched the dry leaves on the road, scattering them into the air. The morning wind lightly swept their hair as the car drove past them, pulling up to park in front of the white concrete house next door. The two friends watched in surprise.

Then, everything seemed to stop.

The engine died. The car door opened slowly, and a tall man stepped out with an undeniable air of quiet dignity. His face was finely sculpted with a sharp, attractive jawline. His medium-sized eyes possessed a penetrating, powerful depth. A well-defined nose and naturally contoured lips completed his handsome features. He was tall and well-built with broad shoulders—the epitome of a distinguished middle-aged man. His jet-black hair was neatly styled. He was dressed in a striped blue shirt, black slacks that emphasized his long legs, and polished leather shoes that stood out sharply before them.

His gaze was fixed on the stately house before him, his expression as serenely motionless as a deep lake. The faint breeze stirred only a few strands of his hair. The two women remained captivated, unable to look away. Finally, he turned his head slowly to look at them, his face reserved yet possessing an irresistibly deep and charismatic composure.