[Phayu's Penthouse - Afternoon, Day 2]
Rain sat by the window, staring at Bangkok sprawling below.
So many people living their lives, completely unaware that he was trapped here, just a few floors above them.
He'd been with Phayu for thirty-six hours now.
Thirty-six hours of walking on eggshells, of pretending, of surviving.
Phayu was in the shower.
Rain had maybe ten minutes alone.
His mind raced through possibilities.
The elevator needed a keycard—Phayu kept it on him always.
The windows were sealed.
The phone Phayu had given him was monitored; he'd tested it by trying to access certain websites and found them blocked.
But there had to be something.
Some weakness in this perfect prison.
Rain moved to Phayu's desk again, searching drawers quietly.
Files, documents, a second phone—
Wait.
A second phone meant for business, probably.
Rain grabbed it, hands shaking.
It wasn't locked.
Rain quickly typed a message to the last number that had called—it showed as
"Kinn."
Help. Held in penthouse.
Phayu won't let me leave.
Please find me. -Rain
He hit send just as the shower turned off.
Rain quickly replaced the phone and returned to the window, heart pounding so hard he thought Phayu would hear it.
Phayu emerged in a towel, water droplets on his skin.
Once, Rain had found him attractive.
Now he just felt revulsion.
"What are you thinking about?" Phayu asked, approaching from behind and wrapping his arms around Rain.
Rain forced himself not to tense. "Just... watching the city. Thinking about my thesis project. I'm supposed to present next week."
"You'll present when you're ready," Phayu said dismissively. "Your education can wait. This—is more important."
"But Phayu, I've worked for two years on this project. If I don't present, I might not graduate—"
"Then you don't graduate." Phayu's arms tightened. "Rain, do you really think I'd let you go back to that university? Back to people like Sky who poison your mind against me? Back to Prapai who wants to steal you?"
Rain's blood ran cold. "You're saying I can never go back?"
"Not until you're ready. Not until I can trust you won't run to them the moment I let you out of my sight."
"That could take months. Years."
"Then it takes years." Phayu turned Rain to face him. "Baby, don't you see? The outside world is the problem. Here, it's just us. Pure. Perfect. The way love should be."
Rain felt tears threatening but forced them back. "And my friends? My degree? My future career?"
"I'm your future," Phayu said simply. "You don't need anything else."
[FLASHBACK - Eighteen Months Earlier]
Rain had been accepted into a prestigious summer architecture program in Singapore.
Three months of studying under renowned designers, networking, building his portfolio.
He'd been so excited to tell Phayu.
"Singapore?" Phayu's expression had darkened. "For three months?"
"It's an incredible opportunity, P'Phayu. This could change my entire career—"
"No."
Rain blinked. "What?"
"I said no. You're not going."
"But... you don't get to decide that. It's my education, my future—"
Phayu had pulled Rain close, his voice soft but firm. "Rain, I love you. I can't be without you for three months. The thought of you so far away, surrounded by other students, other men—I'd go crazy."
"You could visit—"
"It's not the same." Phayu's grip tightened.
"Besides, who knows what could happen? Singapore is dangerous. You don't know the city, don't speak the language well. What if something happened to you and I wasn't there to protect you?"
Rain had felt his dream slipping away. "But this opportunity might not come again—"
"Then it's not meant to be. Baby, don't you see? The universe is telling you that your place is here, with me. Some things are more important than career advancement."
Rain had wanted to argue, to fight.
But Phayu had been so convincing, so concerned. And Rain had loved him so much.
So he'd turned down the program.
He hadn't realized it was the first of many dreams he'd sacrifice for Phayu's comfort.
[Present - Evening]
Dinner was another elaborate affair—Phayu had ordered from an expensive restaurant, complete with wine and candles.
"I want tonight to be special," Phayu said, pouring wine. "A celebration of us reconnecting."
Rain's body still ached from last night. The thought of another "special" evening made him want to run.
But there was nowhere to run.
"Phayu, I'm still sore from yesterday," Rain said carefully. "Maybe we could just... talk tonight? Watch a movie?"
Phayu's expression flickered with disappointment, but he smiled. "Of course, baby. I don't want to hurt you. We have all the time in the world."
The phrase sent chills down Rain's spine.
All the time in the world.
An infinite sentence in this beautiful cage.
They ate in silence for a while, then Phayu spoke. "I've been thinking about our future. Once you've adjusted, once you've remembered how good we are together, we should get married."
Rain nearly choked on his wine. "Married?"
"Why not? We've been together for years. It's the natural next step." Phayu reached across the table. "I want to make you mine officially. Legally. So no one can ever come between us."
"Phayu, I don't—"
"I'm not asking you to decide now," Phayu interrupted. "Just think about it. Picture it—you, me, a beautiful ceremony. My family would have to accept you then. Accept us."
Rain realized with growing horror that Phayu had this all planned out. This wasn't a temporary situation until Rain "came to his senses." This was Phayu's permanent solution.
Keep Rain isolated until he was too broken to resist.
Then marry him. Legally bind him.
Rain felt panic rising but forced it down.
He had to stay calm, had to keep playing along.
"It's a lot to think about," Rain said neutrally.
"Take all the time you need," Phayu said, his smile warm. "We have forever."
[Later - Night]
Rain lay in bed, pretending to sleep while Phayu worked on his laptop beside him.
The message he'd sent earlier—had anyone received it? Would anyone come?
Or was he truly alone?
Phayu's phone buzzed. He checked it, his expression darkening.
"Rain, are you awake?"
Rain kept his breathing even, feigning sleep.
Phayu shook his shoulder.
"Rain. Wake up."
Rain slowly opened his eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Did you use my phone today? My business phone?"
Rain's heart stopped. "No. Why?"
"Because someone sent a message from it. To Kinn." Phayu's eyes were cold.
"A message claiming to be from you, asking for help."
Rain's mind raced. Deny? Admit it?
"I don't know what you're talking about,"
Rain said, trying to sound sleepy and confused. "I've been with you all day. When would I have used your phone?"
"When I was in the shower."
"I was by the window. You saw me there when you came out."
Phayu studied Rain's face, searching for lies.
Rain kept his expression innocent, confused.
Finally, Phayu's expression cleared. "You're right. I'm being paranoid. Someone probably hacked my phone remotely." He pulled Rain close.
"I'm sorry, baby. I should have known you wouldn't betray me like that."
But Rain saw the lingering suspicion in Phayu's eyes.
And he knew his ten minutes of freedom had just cost him dearly...