Chapter 1 Cracks Within the Heart
In Anan Village, Khok Mo Subdistrict, Mueang District, Ratchaburi Province, a luxurious two-story modern grey-and-white mansion stood proudly on a plot of over eight hundred square meters. Its proximity to the city center heightened its imposing magnificence, drawing admiring glances from outsiders who marvelled at the family's seemingly perfect life that of a high-ranking military officer.
Yet, behind this glamorous facade lay deep, festering cracks that had devoured all happiness, taking root in the hearts of those inside for over a decade.
"I told you to take proper care of our son! What kind of mother are you, Namping?!"
The sharp, furious barrage of insults echoed loudly through the living room.
Namping, twenty-nine years old, still possessed a sweet and delicate beauty that looked entirely untouched by hard labor. He froze, his hands gently cradling his three-year-old son, Nong Panpan, to soothe his crying.
His once-gentle body had now grown numb to the vibrations of that harsh voice. Throughout their ten years together, Namping had dedicated himself to being more than just a devoted homemaker, meticulously tending to the household and meals without fail. Yet, all the goodness he had strived to uphold meant nothing it was never enough to evoke sympathy or make the man he called his life partner see his value.
"It was an accident. Children play, and I was watching him the whole time."
Namping replied, keeping his tone as even as possible. Soft as dew, his voice still held a quiet attempt to explain that their energetic little boy had simply fallen off his small bicycle, leaving nothing more than a faint scrape on his knee.
For Colonel Thanet Woraphakdi, standing dignified and imposing in his military uniform like a carved statue, the minor incident was blown vastly out of proportion. Sharp, icy eyes flickered with intense displeasure at the slight oversight.
It's natural for kids to get scraped up while playing, Thanet thought wearily. He buried his irritation at his spouse's weakness beneath a taut, cold expression.
"Are you talking back to me now?!" Colonel Thanet roared, his harsh voice echoing through the hall. His sharp, powerful features twisted in absolute rage, causing Namping to tremble instantly.
"I'm just explaining," Namping whispered weakly, attempting to defend his innocence once more. But his effort only added fuel to the fire. The moment the words left his lips, his husband's eyes flared with a fury ready to reduce everything in its path to ashes.
SLAP!
The heavy palm of the high-ranking officer struck Namping across the corner of his mouth with merciless force. The impact sent his body flying against the wall with a sickening thud, followed by the terrified sobs of Nong Panpan, who scrambled into his arms. The child's cries of fear served as a heartbreaking reminder of the broken home they lived in.
"Ah!" Namping gasped softly from the rushing pain before tasting the familiar metallic tang of blood filling his mouth a bitter taste he had swallowed countless times before.
"Remember this! Don't you dare talk back to me again!" Colonel Thanet glared down at the blood-stained corner of Namping's mouth with a cold, unrepentant stare. He turned on his heel and strode out of the grand house without a second glance, leaving behind a terrifying, heavy silence.
Namping collapsed to the floor, all strength drained. Clasping his son tightly, he wept until there were no tears left to shed. The tears he used to cry while begging for his husband's mercy had long dried up, replaced by a dull numbness and a pain so deep it left him with barely enough strength to endure another moment here.
To outsiders, this beautiful mansion worth tens of millions made him seem like the luckiest person in the world married to Colonel Thanet, enjoying status, honor, a adorable son, and a picture-perfect family. But no one knew the agony he endured behind the scenes: the cruel words, the physical abuse, and his husband's repeated physical and emotional infidelity.
The patience he had held onto for ten years had finally shattered.
Nong Panpan's chubby three-year-old hand reached out, gently touching the sore corner of his mother's mouth. His big, round eyes, usually sparkling with innocence, now held a sadness far beyond his years as he tried to offer comfort.
"Mommy... does it hurt?" the soft little voice asked with genuine concern.
Namping forced a smile despite the throbbing pain in his lips. He used the back of his hand to tenderly wipe away the remaining tears on his son's cheeks.
"No, sweetheart. Mommy doesn't hurt at all. You don't need to worry."
"Let's go live somewhere else, Mommy. Daddy doesn't love us." The words coming from a three-year-old child sent a sharp, agonizing ache through Namping's chest. He hadn't realized just how much his little boy had absorbed from this fractured home.
"Shh, don't say that about your father," Namping gently admonished, though his heart wasn't in it. Deep down, he agreed completely.
"I'm sorry, Mommy..." The little boy nodded politely, just as Namping had always taught him.
"How about I take you to visit Grandma Nit's house in Si Sa Ket?" Namping quickly shifted the topic to distract his son.
"I don't know her," Panpan tilted his head in confusion. Ever since he could remember, he had known only this mansion.
"She's your late grandfather's younger sister. She's a very kind relative of ours."
"Oh! Yes! I want to go see Grandma!" The little boy's eyes sparkled once more at the mention of a trip.
"Alright! Let's go take a bath then. So you're all clean and fresh for bed."
"Okay!"
Namping carefully helped his son up from the floor. Though his body and heart were battered, his son's pure smile was the sole beacon of strength keeping him upright.
He reflected on the escape plan he had been quietly harboring for months. Colonel Thanet kept him entirely confined to the house as a homemaker, leaving him unemployed and without an income of his own. Running away aimlessly was not an option. He had long dreamt of taking his son far away from this gilded hell, and the only place that came to mind was his late father's hometown.
His father had passed away when he was fifteen, and his birth mother had remarried and moved to Suphan Buri. If he went to Suphan Buri, Colonel Thanet could easily track him down due to its proximity to Ratchaburi.
But Isan... Ban I-So in Si Sa Ket... Colonel Thanet would never be able to find him there. In all their years of marriage, Namping had never brought his husband to set foot in that village. Even Namping himself had only stayed there briefly during his father's funeral a decade ago and had never returned since.
Grandma Nit, his father's younger sister, was his sole hope and final refuge a sanctuary to rest their bruised bodies and minds. This decision
was a gamble... putting his freedom and their new life on the line.