[Rain's Apartment - Night]
Rain stared at the message from Phayu, his blood running cold.
"Kinn and Porsche are family friends, by the way."
The lunch hadn't been a coincidence.
Those men—Kinn, Porsche, Vegas, Pete—they were connected to Phayu somehow.
But how? And why had they pretended not to know about Rain's relationship?
Unless... unless they did know.
Unless they'd been checking him out, assessing him, determining whether he was "worthy" of Phayu.
The thought made Rain feel sick.
But then he remembered Pete's eyes, the genuine understanding there.
Remembered Porsche's story about his relationship with Kinn, the honesty about their struggles. Remembered the business card Pete had given him, the offer of help with no strings attached.
That didn't feel like people judging him.
It felt like people trying to help him.
But if they were Phayu's family or family friends, why would they help Rain leave Phayu?
Rain's phone buzzed again.
Pai this time.
Pai: Thank you for lunch. I really enjoyed meeting you. And please don't worry about Kinn and the others—they're good people. If they seemed intense, it's only because they recognized someone who needed support.
So Pai knew them too.
Had he known they would be there? Had this all been some elaborate setup?
Rain felt like he was losing his mind.
He didn't know who to trust, didn't know what was real anymore.
The only thing he knew for certain was that he needed to talk to Sky.
He grabbed his keys and headed for the door.
What Rain didn't notice was the shadow that detached itself from the corner of his apartment building as he left, following him at a careful distance.
[Sky's Apartment - Late Night]
Sky opened his door to find Rain pale and shaking.
"What happened?"
Rain pushed inside, showing Sky the messages.
"Phayu knows about lunch. And those people we met—Kinn, Porsche, Vegas, Pete—they're connected to him somehow. Sky, I think I'm in real trouble."
Sky guided him to the couch. "Okay, breathe. Tell me everything."
Rain explained Phayu's message, Pai's response, his growing confusion and fear.
"I did some research after you left," Sky admitted, pulling out his laptop. "Look at this."
He showed Rain the photo from the charity gala—Pai standing with the four men, all with the name "Theerapanyakul."
"They're family," Sky said. "And Rain... the Theerapanyakul name? It's not just wealthy. There are rumors, whispers about organized crime, about—"
"Mafia," Rain whispered. "Phayu is part of a mafia family."
Everything suddenly made sense.
Phayu's wealth, his power, the way people seemed afraid of him, the way he acted like rules didn't apply.
"I need to end this," Rain said suddenly. "No more breaks. A real breakup. And then I need to disappear."
"Rain, if they're dangerous—"
"Then staying is more dangerous!" Rain stood, pacing. "I have to do this, Sky. And then... maybe I go stay with relatives upcountry. Get away from Bangkok."
Sky gripped his shoulders. "Okay. But not alone. When you break up with Phayu, I'm there. And you don't go back to your apartment alone."
"Thank you," Rain whispered. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
What neither knew was that every word had been recorded through Rain's hacked phone.
Phayu knew Rain was planning to leave him.
And he was already making plans of his own...