Ploysuay crept down to the ground-floor living room with measured, silent steps. She cautiously peered around the area. Though a faint, milky moonlight filtered through the door and window gaps, the pervasive darkness made it nearly impossible to distinguish anything. Outside, the wind whipped the curtains, making them flutter violently, and whistled through the tree branches in long, eerie moans that echoed the absolute silence. It was chillingly desolate... as if she were the only soul awake in the entire place.

Flicker...

A fleeting light wavered across a dark corner of the hall. A figure moved swiftly, like a gust of wind. Ploysuay spun around, her eyes wide with shock. It had dared to enter the house... Or was it a thief?

She slowly crept back to the dining table to retrieve a flower vase, then stalked toward the spot where the incident occurred. Yet, everything was silent. The shadow that had passed before her eyes was gone. Fear began to devour her composure once more.

"This is not good. I should go call Ae," Ploysuay muttered to herself, her voice trembling.

She was about to turn back toward the stairs when she collided abruptly with someone! A large, dark figure instantly encircled her slender waist, catching her just before she lost her balance and fell to the floor.

Ploysuay’s eyes widened, realizing his face was so close to hers they were almost touching. Though she couldn't clearly discern his features in the gloom, she felt a strange, inexplicable warmth radiating from him that spread into her heart.

Who was he... A ghost... or a man... Or what? Confusion and fear clashed violently within her, threatening to erupt.