[One Month After Rescue - Therapy Session]
"I had a bad week," Rain admitted to Dr. Anong.
"Tell me about it."
"I saw someone who looked like him. Just from behind, in a coffee shop. Same build, same hair. And I..." Rain's hands shook. "I had a full panic attack. Couldn't breathe. Prapai had to take me outside."
"That's a very normal response to trauma triggers," Dr. Anong said gently. "Did the grounding techniques we practiced help?"
"Eventually. But I felt so stupid afterward. It wasn't even him. He's locked up. I know that. But my body didn't care."
"Your body is protecting you. It's on high alert because it's trying to keep you safe." Dr. Anong leaned forward. "Rain, healing isn't about never having panic attacks. It's about learning to manage them when they come."
"But what if they never stop? What if I'm like this forever?"
"You won't be. But right now, your nervous system is recalibrating. It takes time."
Rain nodded, but doubt lingered. Would he ever feel normal again?
[Estate - Late Night]
Rain woke screaming. Again.
This time, the nightmare had been vivid—Phayu finding him, taking him back, and no one coming to rescue him.
Pete was first to his room, followed by Prapai. They'd developed a system over the past month.
"You're safe," Pete said calmly. "You're at the estate. Phayu can't reach you."
Rain's breathing slowly steadied. "I'm sorry. I keep waking everyone up."
"Don't apologize," Prapai said firmly. "That's what we're here for."
But Rain saw the exhaustion in their eyes.
How long before they got tired of his brokenness?
After they left, Rain sat in the dark, the old shame creeping back.
Burden. He was becoming a burden.
Maybe Phayu had been right. Maybe no one else would ever want to deal with someone this damaged.
Rain shook his head, trying to clear Phayu's voice from his thoughts.
But it was hard when the voice had lived in his head for so long.
[Next Morning]
Rain came down to breakfast red-eyed and exhausted. The family was already there—Kinn, Porsche, Vegas, Pete, Prapai.
"Rough night?" Porsche asked kindly.
"Sorry if I disturbed everyone—"
"Rain, stop," Vegas interrupted. His cold eyes were surprisingly gentle. "We've all had trauma. We all know what nightmares are like. You're not disturbing anyone."
"Vegas is right," Kinn added. "You're family now. This is what family does."
Rain felt tears threatening. "But I'm not really family. I'm just—"
"Just nothing," Pete said firmly. "Rain, you're ours now. Whether you like it or not. That's how this works."
Rain looked around the table at these people who'd saved him, protected him, cared for him.
And slowly, let himself believe them...