A scar born from the illusionary game of wealth condemned an innocent soul to become its victim.
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When Kangsadan arrived home, she found her grandmother still awake, sitting on the living room sofa, waiting.
"How was it... did you meet his grandmother?"
The old woman's tone hinted that she already knew the answer.
"You know... Grandma Srinuan?"
"I've known her from the start," her grandmother replied softly.
"Really?!" Kangsadan was startled.
"The day that young man came to see us, I asked about his family background. From that moment, I knew what you were walking into."
"What do you mean, Grandma?"
"A cobra, my dear." Kangsadan's mouth fell open.
"They want us to move into their house," she murmured in shock.
"You're scared, aren't you?"
"No, Grandma. I'll fight, not if you're warning me like this."
"How, then, my little Bell?"
"A cobra should meet a serpent queen, right?" she said, raising her neck like a playful naga.
Her grandmother chuckled. "Just be careful it doesn't bite you to death, dear."
"Grandma, should we go see that feng shui master? Maybe he could warn us ahead of time."
"Why bother? You've studied so much, and you still want to throw your money at fortune tellers?"
"I thought you'd agree!"
"That Srinuan woman believes those fortune tellers like they're divine."
"No wonder... her grandson turned out so superstitious," Kangsadan giggled.
"Did he check if you're the right soulmate?"
"Yes... and tomorrow, he'll take me to see the auspicious time with his father, as well."
"That's normal. Everyone does that before a wedding."
Kangsadan excused herself and went upstairs. She didn't tell her grandmother that the man had given her something.
The moment she set her handbag down, a message alert popped up on her phone.
"Have you opened it yet?"
"Just about to..."
"Turn on video call."
His face appeared on her screen — half-naked, water still glistening on his chest.
"If you're doing that on purpose, I'll end this call…Vishpan," she said, squinting her eyes.
"I just got out of the shower. Why? We're getting married at the end of the month."
"But we hardly know each other... it feels strange."
"Open the box. I'm waiting."
"It's a silver necklace with a diamond pendant... thank you."
"My father gave it to me long ago. Try it on."
"I'll wear it on our wedding day."
She could tell that he wanted to stretch the conversation or perhaps show off his body, and the way his gaze lingered made her uncomfortable.
Before she could hang up, he teased,
"You'll have to show me anyway."
"Please behave, Mr. Vice President."
"Next month, that'll be my love, not Vice President," he laughed loudly before ending the call.
"...You snake!" she cursed under her breath.
… … … …
Before moving into his house, Kangsadan asked her grandmother to tell her everything about Srinuan.
"Grandma, you've known her a long time?"
"She used to be our neighbor. Always scheming to marry the rich," the old woman said, her tone sharp with memory. "She finally snatched a wealthy man, Prasan, even though he already had a wife."
"So, Prapan... is his son with the first wife?"
"Absolutely, Srinuan was the mistress. She had a secret son with Prasan before his wife passed away."
"No wonder she looked at me with such scorn yesterday."
"That's how she's always been…arrogant and bitter."
"You never spoke to her again?!"
"Never. Not since she called herself Madam Srinuan and stopped talking to anyone poorer than her."
… … … …
The wedding date was set according to the auspicious time chosen by the feng shui master. He was even invited to inspect the venue to ensure everything aligned with the flow of fortune.
Kangsadan and her grandmother were asked to move in a week earlier to help with decorations and the small guest list — only close relatives from both sides.
Her close relative, Rinya was invited to be a bridesmaid, while Vishpan's best man turned out to be someone she unexpectedly knew.
"What?! Bro Paul, you know him too?"
"Of course. I was the one who got you that internship at his company, remember?" said Ponson, her senior from the same university.
"Are you two... close?" she whispered, making Vishpan glance suspiciously at them.
"We went to the same school," Paul replied curtly.
But her heart began to piece things together. So, it was he, the senior, who had introduced her.
During the wedding reception, after the morning engagement and water ceremony, the teasing began.
"Vish, got your dream bride, huh? Bet! you're satisfied," Paul joked.
"Bell, don't frown! The photos will look terrible," Rinya chimed in.
"Oh my god, Bell, how did you snatch the groom before I could even blink?" Rinya teased.
Then Paul leaned in and whispered something to the groom. Vishpan smirked, turning to Kangsadan. He lowered his face — his nose brushed against hers, tracing slow circles before murmuring,
"Mmm... such tempting lips."
"Please... stop. It's not proper!"
"It's natural," he whispered, and before she could react, his mouth claimed hers — slow, deliberate, consuming.
Her heart pounded wildly; her cheeks burned crimson.
... ... ... ...
That afternoon, when the guests had left, she was summoned to the study.
"This is the contract. Sign it." He tossed a folder on the table.
"Finished putting on your little show for everyone?" she shot back.
"Tonight, our grandmothers and my father will escort us to the bridal room," he said evenly.
"The contract is for one year."
"What do you mean?"
"One year. If it's not renewed, you're free."
She opened the file — dense legal terms filled the page.
"So, if I breach the contract, I'll owe you three million baht plus interest?!"
"Exactly."
"That's not harsh, but that cruel…!!!," she replied sharply.
"Money wounds deeper than love," she said, locking eyes with him. "Tonight, maybe the first cut... by the end of the year, there may be nothing left of my heart to see."
He chuckled. "Brilliant line. I'll give you a like — ha ha ha!" His laughter echoed, cold and hollow.
"The first night of the bride... measured in interest and debt — every second a coin counted," she whispered, trembling. Tears welled in her eyes.
"You toyed with me — smiled, teased, comforted — all while knowing you held me in your hand. You could crush me anytime you wanted."
Her voice broke. "What counts as breaking the contract, exactly?"
"Infidelity!... or walking away first," he replied.
"And if you're the one who breaks it?" she asked, her tone faint but firm.
"Then you're free, and the money is yours."
It felt like a business negotiation, not a marriage. The world seemed to twist around her; love reduced to numbers, vows replaced by legal terms.
This marriage was nothing but an illusionary game of money — a trap for the innocent.
"You've created a scar on a pure woman's heart... without even realizing it…huh!" she whispered, sobbing.
"Not just you," he murmured. "I'm trapped in the same scar."