The night air was cool when Karan stepped out to the quiet side street near his restaurant. He had just finished cleaning the kitchen and closing everything down. His phone buzzed again.
**Arthit:** *"I'm outside."*
Karan's heart jolted.
Outside?
At this hour?
He walked slowly toward the back entrance, feeling strangely nervous.
When he stepped outside, he froze.
Arthit stood under the dim streetlight — hair slightly messy, shirt sleeves rolled up, tired eyes softened the moment they landed on Karan.
He looked… different.
Not controlled.
Not cold.
Not the perfect heir.
He looked human.
Wounded.
Raw.
And completely focused on him.
Karan swallowed.
"Why… why did you come so late?"
Arthit walked toward him slowly.
"I needed to see you," he said softly, voice low and intimate.
"I needed you."
Those words made Karan's breath stop.
Arthit stopped only a few inches away, close enough that Karan could feel his warmth.
There was no hesitation.
No distance.
Only truth.
"Karan," Arthit whispered, "I ended my engagement today."
Karan's eyes widened.
"…What?"
Arthit nodded.
"I ended it. Completely. Officially."
Karan's mind spun.
"You—You did WHAT? Why? Arthit, that was your business future—your family—"
"I KNOW," Arthit cut him off, voice rough with emotion.
"I know exactly what I gave up."
He stepped closer.
"And I would give it up again without thinking."
Karan stared at him, stunned.
"Arthit… why?"
Arthit lifted his hand and cupped Karan's face gently, thumb brushing his cheek in a way that made Karan's body shiver.
"Because I chose you."
He said the words slowly, deeply.
"I chose you over everything. Over power. Over contracts. Over expectations. Over my father."
Karan felt his heartbeat in his throat.
"Arthit… you can't say things like that—"
"I can," Arthit whispered.
"And I will."
Karan looked away, overwhelmed.
"What about your father? He'll be furious—"
"He already is," Arthit confessed quietly.
"He threatened you."
Karan jerked back.
"What?!"
Arthit stepped forward again, his expression deadly serious.
"But I told him if he ever touches you… he will lose me forever."
Karan's chest tightened painfully.
"Arthit… why are you doing all of this? Why risk everything for me?"
Arthit exhaled shakily and leaned his forehead against Karan's.
"You want the truth?" he whispered.
Karan nodded slowly.
Arthit's fingers slid into Karan's hair, holding him gently.
"Because I love you."
Karan's breath caught.
Everything froze.
The night.
The street.
His heartbeat.
He felt Arthit's breath against his lips, warm and trembling.
"I love you, Karan," Arthit repeated.
"More than I've ever loved anything in my life."
Karan stepped back, stunned, shaking.
"You… you can't love me. Arthit, this is dangerous—your family, your fiancée—your world is too—"
"I ended the engagement," Arthit interrupted, stepping closer again.
"I confronted my father."
"I faced Anant."
He lifted Karan's chin gently, forcing him to meet his eyes.
"And I'm facing you now.
Because you are my decision.
You are my peace.
You are my future."
Karan's voice trembled.
"I… I'm just a chef's son. I'm not rich. I'm not powerful. Why would you—"
Arthit silenced him by gently placing a finger on his lips.
"Because you make me feel alive."
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"When I'm with you, I'm not the Sakda heir. I'm not a weapon. I'm not a puppet."
"I'm just… Arthit."
Karan's eyes filled with tears he didn't understand.
Arthit wiped them with his thumb, tender and slow.
"Don't cry," he whispered.
"Not because of me."
"But everything is so complicated," Karan murmured softly.
"You're from a powerful family. You had a fiancée. And I… I'm just me."
Arthit's expression hardened — protective, fierce.
"Don't ever say *just you*."
He pulled Karan closer by the waist.
"You are the person I want. The person I choose. The person I'm willing to fight my whole family for."
Karan felt his legs weaken.
"Arthit…"
"Look at me," Arthit whispered.
Karan lifted his eyes.
Arthit leaned in slowly, painfully slowly, giving Karan every chance to move away.
But Karan didn't move.
Not this time.
Arthit's voice brushed against his lips.
"I'm yours, Karan. All of me."
Karan didn't breathe.
"And I want you to be mine."
Their lips met — soft, deep, emotional.
Not hunger this time.
Not desperation.
**A confession.
A promise.
A beginning.**
Karan trembled, gripping Arthit's sleeves tightly, kissing him back without fear.
When they finally parted, breathless, their foreheads remained touching.
Arthit whispered,
"You don't have to answer now.
But don't walk away from me anymore."
Karan's voice was soft, fragile.
"…I won't."
Arthit exhaled in relief and pulled him into a tight, warm embrace.
They stayed like that for a long time, under the quiet night, holding onto each other like the world didn't matter.
And for that moment—
**It didn't.**
---
END OF CHAPTER 16