"Loyalty is a weapon;
Love is the battlefield no lie can conquer."
—Kao Neptune
Kao's eyes widened—a fissure in his usual calm. His spine straightened, shoulders coiling, a half-step forward before he forced himself still.
Breath hitched.
On the throne, Phawin lounged like a devil in human form, gaze falling on Kao with leisurely malice. A low laugh slipped from his lips, "The Kao Neptune... welcome..."
"...welcome."
Nil's lashes trembled, too heavy to lift. Yet when he forced them open, his blurred vision cleared to reveal a tall figure—white shirt, broad shoulders, layered black hair falling in quiet disarray, a steady presence impossible to mistake.
His lips parted, a faint smile, "Stranger..." he breathed, "... you came." struggling through weakness.
Kao drew a slow breath, storms hidden behind calm eyes. Fingers unclenched, fury silent. He dropped the black case at Phawin's feet and stepped forward—only to be barred by two men.
Phawin chuckled, cold and amused. "Don't be so eager. Let me check first."
Phawin's smile curved sharper, wolfish, "Kao, your father and I were once friends. I even held you in my arms when you were a child. I know what you are..." As he sifted through the briefcase, his voice sank, eyes glinting cold, "A tiger. If you're stepping back—it only means you're ready to pounce."
Kao's hands clenched tight, "I've never broken my word."
"Release him. I'll leave."
Phawin leaned forward, laughter twisting into something darker, "Release him? No...no...I've changed my mind."
"I want more."
Kao as if he could incinerate everything in his path with a single glance—"What do you want?"
"What's intoxicating about him..." Phawin tilted his head, lips curling, a thread of curiosity threading through the menace. "Is that you'd do anything for him?"
Kao's eyes were expressionless, sharp as flint.
Phawin tilted his head, studying Nil with an almost reverent fascination.
"You've already taken him night after night." His gaze slid down Nil as though stripping him bare, "Can't you let your dearest Uncle have one night?"
"...One night is all I ask."
"I want—"
Phawin never finished. Before he could even react, Kao's fist slammed into his jaw. Pain exploded through him, head snapping sharply to the side.
In the next instant, he pinned him to the wall, fingers pressing at his throat. Kao's eyes ablaze, voice ragged,
"You dare?"
Nil struggles against his bonds, useless hands scrabbling at the rope. "Stranger, calm down—" he pleads.
Phawin's three men fought to wrench Kao off him, but failed. "I already warned you!" Kao thundered, his hand crushing Phawin's throat, choking off his breath. "I'll end you."
One of the men leveled a gun at Nil. "Stop, or he dies!"
Kao's eyes landed on the men. He made a single sharp sound and released his grip. Two of them seized his arms to hold him back.
Phawin collapsed, gasping, knees wobbling, the panic raw in his voice. "I—I won't let you go..."
Kao's eyes flicked toward the gun, his grip loosening. In an instant, two men seized his arms and dragged him back.
Phawin stumbled, clutching his throat, dragging in air like a drowning man. His voice rasped, low with fury. "I...I won't let you go..."
A bottle was shoved into his hand. He drank deep, then upended the rest over his face, water dripping down as his breath steadied. Straightening, his lips twisted into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"I wasn't hard on you... But you forced me."
His gaze cut to Nil, "Beg me for him. On your knees."
"...beg."
Nil's voice broke. "Stranger... don't."
"Never..."
Kao's eyes stayed locked on Nil. He didn't hear the words; he only saw him—the face that usually shone with easy smiles, warm and bright, now pale under his gaze.
"I can do anything for him..." Kao sighed.
"Never kneeled before this pig..." Nil continued, voice rising, desperation breaking through. "...Stranger... are you hearing me?!"
Phawin leaned back, chest heaving, a cruel smile twisting his face. "It's... satisfying to see... ha... haa."
Kao's lips lifted ever so slightly, a faint, cold curve that made the man hesitate. Then he began to count.
"One..."
Phawin's smile faltered. "You... bastard... w-what are you counting?"
"Two..."
"I'm warning you," Phawin barked, gun raised toward Nil.
"Three..."
Kao excelled, his expression unreadable, calm as ever.
Phawin's brows drew together. "Kao. Stop!"
A few gunshots cracked in the distance. Phawin covered his ears, snapping orders. "Go—see what's happening!"
Then crimson-and-gold uniforms flashed on the stairwell. Eight bodyguards stormed onto the second floor and cut them off. Phawin's eyes went wide. "My bodyguards—pointing guns at me? I said Remove your weapons!"
A statue‑like guard answered, voice flat and without hesitation, "We cannot obey you."
At the head of them stood a woman in a deep‑red Chanel blazer over silk, the tailoring sharp, her hair in a sleek chignon. A small gold brooch caught the light; her gaze burned like a hot coal. The guards bowed their heads in respect.
"Ratchanok..." Phawin breathed.
"I have tolerated enough." Her tone was quiet and final. "I'm divorcing you. You will be erased from everything I own."
Kao moved silently toward Nil. He said nothing, his hands already working to untie him. Nil could only watch, heart hammering.
After two weeks, the closeness became unbearable. Nil leaned forward and pressed a quick kiss to Kao's cheek. Kao paused, his eyes narrowing. "Nil... behave."
Others froze, eyes widening at the display, but Kao's stare sent them quickly averting their gaze.
"Stranger..." Nil whispered, finally using his name.
"No need to speak," Kao said, voice low, "I'm here. I will never let anyone harm you." Then, with deliberate care, he finished freeing Nil.
Nil exhaled, leaning back slightly. "Hmh... water," he muttered.
Kao handed him a glass of water without a word. Nil drank greedily, as if he hadn't sipped in days. Kao's chest tightened at the sight, a pang twisting in his heart. I wish you didn't have to go through this... I'm sorry...he exhaled.
Meanwhile, Phawin sank to his knees before Ratchanok. "My love... I never imagined life without you."
"I will never repeat this mistake. Don't abandon me,"
Turning toward Nil, his eyes sharpened. "That boy... don't be fooled by his innocent look. He tried to seduce me, and when I refused... he crawled into Kao's bed. His debut."
Phawin's face paled. "He's framing...me..."
"You know how much I value talent. I rejected him. So he wanted revenge—he lured Kao after me." He sank to his knees, reaching for Ratchanok's hand, but she pushed him away, "Don't touch me."
Before he could utter another word, a sharp kick struck his back, and he fell face-first to the floor. "Ahh..."
As Phawin lifted his head, his eyes widened. Kao's were red, his shirt collar already rolled to his elbows, and his hand shot toward him. "My love... save me..." he begged his wife.
Kao's fingers clamped around Phawin's collar, lifting him slightly off his feet; his eyes burned like molten embers. "You dare touch him!" His voice was low and restrained, yet every syllable burned with ice and fire.
Phawin's stammered pleas for forgiveness fell on deaf ears. Before he could finish, a sharp fist struck, and blood welled at the corner of his mouth.
Kao's grip didn't waver—shoulders squared, posture perfect—dragging Phawin forward. "Face me!"
Phawin couldn't meet his gaze. Again and again, Kao's words struck like hammers, each one driving fear and pain deeper. "I warned you."
Each motion landed with precision, leaving Phawin trembling, broken. The bodyguards tried to intervene, but Kao's wrath froze them in place. Shian appeared beside him, while Nil stepped between them, "Enough..."
"Nil—stay back! I will end him today."
"How dare he touch you!" Another fist slammed into Phawin.
Bloodied and staggering, Phawin barely held himself upright. Nil stepped forward, trembling, "Stranger... stop! This isn't you. Let him go. I... I want to go home."
Kao nodded, "Let's go," and released him. Phawin slumped to the floor, back against the wall.
He pulled Nil into his arms. Phawin hissed, voice cracked: "Kao Neptune... you deceived me. You weasel out with your words."
Kao turned, calm and lethal. "I never weaseled. I warned you. One more mistake... and ruin will follow."
"You chose ruin," Kao said, voice low and ice-cold, "I simply grant it."
Kao held Nil close, his gaze steady on Ratchanok. "Khun Phuying, thank you for your understanding."
Ratchanok's expression remained calm. "It's not that I didn't know what he was truly doing. I was merely waiting for the day he might tire and abandon his... habits."
Kao nodded, listening.
"But now I see that day will never come," she continued. "Thank you for showing me the truth. Take Nil home. I will deal with him."
Finally, Shian drove them onward. Kao sat in the backseat, Nil's head resting on his lap. After a while, Kao noticed Nil had fallen asleep. He cupped Nil's hair gently in his hand.
"I won't let anyone harm you again," he murmured.
A few hours later, Nil's eyes fluttered open, and the first thing he saw was Kao's face—tense, cold, alert. He looked around; they were still in the car, Nil lying across Kao's lap. Nil groaned softly, "Ughh..."
"Stranger... why didn't you wake me?"
Kao brushed his thumb lightly over Nil's cheek. "You were tired. I didn't want to disturb you."
Nil cozily rested his head deeper on Kao's lap. "You could have simply woken me. Sitting in the same posture for two and a half hours must have been uncomfortable."
Kao lowered his eyes to him. "When you sleep like this, I cannot move. I do not want to."
Nil chuckled softly, then winced. "Ouch."
"Nil, don't laugh. It will hurt," Kao warned.
Nil gently held Kao's warm hands. "Sorry... you had to come before the time. It's my fault. I should have been more careful."
"I already finished my work. Don't apologize," Kao said.
Nil tilted his head. "Are you sure? I mean..."
"...I hope you're not just saying that so I won't feel bad."
Kao leaned down, his lips brushing Nil's,
"Don't talk..."