Chapter 3
"What? Someone is pestering you, P'Prae, and won't leave even after being told off!"
The "villain" of the house, who had just become a freshman at the university, held her dessert spoon mid-air after Unakarn recounted the story of Isara. However, Unakarn omitted the part about Ginjutha and her friends' threats for two reasons.
First, Supannika might go on a rampage and turn it into a major incident. Her younger sister was cheerful and affectionate toward their mother and sisters because she was the pampered baby of the family. Yet, she was hot-blooded—loving and hating with equal intensity—and her "villainous" streak only grew with age. She was sharper than anyone, equally cunning, street-smart, and far more formidable than her older sisters.
Second, Unakarn didn't want her family to worry, thinking that the other party was likely just trying to scare her.
"I've refused to see him many times, but P'Isara has classes and likes to lie in wait for me."
"Who is this P'Isara? His surname sounds familiar."
"The business family... LN Holdings."
"Oh..." The little villain drawled. She had always been interested in business and finance, paired with a stinginess that ran deep in her veins, which was why she had successfully enrolled in the international program of the Faculty of Commerce and Accountancy. "It's a multi-company dealing with chemicals, paper pulp, fertilizer, polymers, and all that stuff, right? They're a big player here, but still lose out to Kent Industries."
"Is that the multinational corporation?" Unakarn asked about the latter, as the name rang a bell.
"Yup. But the major shareholder and the current president is Thai—the Siwaratpakdee clan."
"Ah, put that way, I can recall them." After all, the name of Tycoon Saratch Siwaratpakdee was constantly on the list of the country's top billionaires.
"If this P'Isara is the son of the owner of LN Holdings, I think I've seen him," the freshman, who had been at the university for less than a year, snapped her fingers. "Is he the one dating the fourth-year faculty star named Ginny—Ginjutha Kridakul?"
"You know Khun Ginny too, Mai?" Unakarn asked in wonder.
Her younger sister shook her head vigorously. "She wouldn't know a newbie like me. She doesn't join the freshman orientations. That group is all children of the rich with massive family businesses; some of them have even started working."
"Then it's likely him."
"I hate people like that. He already has a girlfriend but still messes with my P'Prae." She spoke with squinted eyes. "But P'Prae doesn't have feelings for him, right?"
Unakarn gave her sister a stern look. "If I did, why would I be telling you this?"
Supannika made a playful face, having just been testing the waters. "Understood. Then give me your class schedule."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to wait for you at your faculty when it's time to go home. If I haven't finished my classes yet, you try to stay with others like P'Khwan or P'Kae. Don't go anywhere alone until we're sure he's backed off."
Normally, the two sisters went to school together. But lately, as Supannika became a prominent figure in her year and gained more friends, coupled with their different class times, she had let Unakarn—who had fewer classes—return first. Supannika would take the bus or hitch a ride with friends heading the same way to get dropped off near their home.
And if she ever returned after sunset, one of her friends would always drive her right to their front gate.
At first, Unakarn refused to let her sister travel alone out of worry. But during a period when their mother's health declined, Unakarn had to rush back to care for her, so she urged her sister to be careful, checking in via phone when she left the university and during her commute. Within a few months, the "villain" was more adept at navigating than she was, and she had a rotating cast of friends constantly dropping her off.
Prayong, being considerate of her daughter's friends, would invite them to stay for meals and snacks. She often prepared home-cooked food or baskets of organic fruits and vegetables grown in their own garden for the friends to take home to their parents.
Their mother's domestic skills were of the authentic royal court standard; she excelled in crafts, savory dishes, desserts, and even various Western cuisines. Anyone who tasted her cooking was instantly hooked.
For that reason, there was never a shortage of volunteers wanting to drive Supannika home, to the point she rarely had to take the bus. In return, she would help tutor her friends, as she had always maintained excellent grades.
Isara visited the faculty several times after that, only to be met by the younger sister who stood as a shield for her.
"P'Prae, wait right here. I'll handle this myself."
"Is that a good idea?"
"Better than letting his girlfriend find out that P'Prae went down to meet him."
Stunned by that logic, Unakarn was left speechless. Still, she watched from a distance to ensure things didn't escalate, knowing full well the "villain's" temperament from her many previous exploits.
"Remember what you promised me?"
"I'm not a goldfish!" The youngest made a pouting face and got her cheek poked. "Hmph..."
"You're just here to help me solve a problem, not to make enemies."
"I know, I know. Making trouble with wealthy people like the Lucknaras wouldn't be good." The young girl repeated the sentence Unakarn had told her.
"If you know that, then don't cause a scene."
The girl gave a firm nod and ran down the stairs.
Unakarn didn't know what method her sister used, but in less than ten minutes, she walked back up with a jaunty air to report the results in a chirpy voice.
"He's gone. Let's go home."
"What did you say to him? Why did he agree to leave?" Unakarn asked in amazement, as it sounded far too easy.
"It's a trade secret," she said in a high-pitched tone with a mysterious look. "If you want to know, when we get back, make some coconut milk stew with lotus stems and mackerel, and some Purple Blossom dumplings (Chore Muang) for me first."
Unakarn playfully shook her sister's head out of affection. "I cook for you every day anyway, don't I?"
The qualities of a "Lady of the House" had been passed down by Prayong to all her daughters. However, only Unakarn had fully embraced them, as she had to care for their sick mother and raise her sister after their father's tragic death. It eventually became her personal passion.
Pudpitchaya had the skills but lacked the time, as she had to work to earn money even before graduating. As for the youngest daughter, despite being the smartest, her domestic skills were merely enough to survive. She was only good for low-level labor like cleaning, taking out the trash, running errands, gathering ingredients from the garden, or performing tasks requested by her sister and mother.
"You do it every day, but I haven't had the lotus stem stew in a long time."
"We have the ingredients at home. We'll just stop by the market for the lotus stems, mackerel, and some fresh items before we head in."
"Love P'Prae the most!"
"I'm sorry for dragging you into this mess."
"Ugh, it's nothing. But I bet that P'Isara won't give up easily."
The young girl's eyes gleamed as she turned her head to hide her emotions. Unakarn, who didn't see it, nodded gloomily, thinking the same. Although she didn't know him well enough to judge his true character, she had rejected him so many times and he kept coming back. He wouldn't just vanish after the first time she sent her sister to deal with him, would he?
The sisters' assessment of Isara was almost exactly right. The young man continued to visit the faculty several times before his graduation, though at longer intervals, with Supannika handling him as usual.
Except for the last time, when the younger sister was stuck in a long lecture. Unakarn, who had finished her classes first, was sitting and reading while waiting.
"Nong Prae, how much longer are you going to hide from me?"
"Oh!" Unakarn sprang up in surprise, caught off guard. "P'Isara... how did you get here?"
"I knew your sister would be in class right now."
"How do you know Mai's schedule?"
Isara momentarily showed an expression between frustration and resentment, which quickly shifted into a reproachful look.
"I missed you. I had to find a way to see you."
The young woman let out a breath with a calm face. "When will you understand that it's impossible?"
"What if I've broken up with Ginny?"
Unakarn was stunned. "Since when?"
"Indeed, since when?"
Isara didn't have time to answer because another voice cut in, causing his face to change color instantly.
"Ginny!"
Ginjutha glanced at the junior standing frozen with a cold look, which hardened further when she turned to her boyfriend. "You promised me faithfully that you'd stop involving yourself with other women, especially this one. But you never keep your word."
"I..."
"I've forgiven you many times in the past. But if I allow myself to be led by the nose any longer, I'd be stupider than a donkey." The socialite spoke and pulled a small stack of papers from her Hermes bag, slapping them against Isara's face. "Take your things back!"
The young man caught the falling papers and unfolded them before quickly grabbing the arm of Ginjutha, who was about to walk away. "Wait, Ginny. These are the price quotes I asked you to give to your mother. Business shouldn't be mixed with our personal affairs."
"To me, it's all connected," the woman smiled mockingly. "My mother is training me and giving me the right to consider new suppliers. We were just thinking of switching to Kent Industries because Khun Wasawat recently came to discuss it himself."
Isara's face changed immediately. "You're mixing work with personal matters. Our companies have been doing business for a long time."
"Personal matters? I can't even trust you there." Ginjutha gave him a look of utter contempt until his handsome face turned crimson. "So how can I trust you with something that requires even more reliability, like business?"
"Isn't it because you're seeing that guy Wat?!"
The tall, slender figure of the socialite, who was about to walk away, stopped. Her expression when she turned back was one of pure satisfaction.
"Are you jealous, Isara?"
"You've been with me. What will Wat say if he finds out?"
"Khun Wat probably won't mind because he's half-Thai, born and raised abroad since he was a child. Not to mention he's handsome, wealthy, and from an excellent lineage. A man like that is likely too smart to look for nothing but a woman's virginity." Her voice, praising the qualities of the other man, cut deep to spite the listener. "He is ten times the man you are. Most importantly, he has never been rumored to cheat on a woman."
"How could he cheat when he's never accepted anyone as a girlfriend? He just messes around with everyone."
"I've had my share of freedom before we were together," the socialite said nonchalantly. "So I know that some men might look like playboys, but deep down, they are gentlemen. They have sincerity for women. They never deceive anyone to use love as a bridge to facilitate themselves, only to go around lying every day because they want to trick other women into bed."
"Watch your mouth and show some respect, Ginny."
"What respect is left for a person like you that I should speak well of? Oh!" In her last sentence, Ginjutha glanced at Unakarn, who was packing her things and preparing to slip away. "I've dumped this man. If you want to use him next, be my guest!"
The tall figure turned and walked away immediately after speaking. Unakarn then glanced at Isara with a look of unease.
"I'll take my leave now."
Isara, who had been momentarily stunned by the guilt on his back, quickly protested. "How can you? I told you I was taking you to lunch."
"P'Isara, please don't do this."
The sentence was sweet and cold, with no trace of accusation or blame. Yet it made the handsome man's face fall with a mix of shame and resentment. "I told you, I'm not involved with Ginny."
"Ginjutha is from an old family. I believe the heritage of her ancestors plays an important part in ensuring their descendants are well-bred. A woman like Khun Ginny is not easy to find. You should go back and reconsider, P'Isara."
"But I'm free now. Are you still refusing to date me?"
The young woman shook her head. "Instead of asking me, you should ask yourself what you truly want."
"I don't understand."
"Some women can only give you love, but some can give you other things as well. I don't mean money or superficial benefits. But you come from a large family." Her chosen words were gentle and cautious, and her eyes held no hint of blame. "If you rely only on love, but both parties aren't stable enough when facing the many tests that follow, one day that love will fade. It will be hard to sustain the relationship."
Isara stared at her with a feeling different from how he had looked at any other woman.
"You're trying to teach me to feel ashamed."
"You have more experience in everything than I do. I wouldn't dare presume to teach you."
"What if one day I can prove that I am sincere toward you?"
"Wait until that day comes, then you can ask me again!"