...Thais Pov:...

I don’t know what I’m feeling right now.

I don’t know if I’m happy… or sad.

All I know is—I’m standing here, frozen, dressed in a white suit that probably costs more than everything I’ve ever owned combined.

I’ve never even looked at clothes like this before.

Because I always knew…

They weren’t meant for someone like me.

My fingers tightened slightly around the bouquet in my hands.

The groom wasn’t here.

Soft whispers filled the hall. I could hear them—people talking, some even laughing.

At me.

“Hey… don’t think too much.”

Jack’s voice came from beside me. His hand rested on my back, gently patting it.

I let out a quiet breath.

In this whole world… he’s the only person I have.

The only one I trust.

I nodded, but even I didn’t believe it.

It had already been an hour.

An entire hour of standing here… waiting for someone I had never even seen.

Yes.

I was about to marry a man I knew nothing about.

Not his face.

Not his voice.

Nothing.

How does someone even prepare for something like that?

My thoughts were spinning when suddenly—

The large doors of the hall opened.

The sound echoed through the room, silencing the whispers instantly.

Everyone turned.

And so did I.

Black suit. Perfectly tailored.

His presence alone felt… heavy.

Cold.

Like the air around him had dropped a few degrees.

He walked down the aisle slowly, confidently—like he owned every step he took.

My breath caught.

So this is him…

The person, I'm going to marry.

For a moment, I couldn’t look away.

My heart started beating faster—

Louder—

As if it was trying to escape my chest.

And for the first time…

I realized—

This marriage was real.

The priest began,

“Do you, Mr. Arthit Srisuwan, take Mr. Thais as your lawful husband?”

The priest’s voice echoed through the grand hall, but my attention was fixed on only one person.

Him.

Arthit Srisuwan.

I never heard his name before.

There was a brief silence.

Then, in a cold, husky voice—calm, detached—

“Yes.”

He didn’t even look at me.

Not once.

Something inside my chest tightened.

The priest turned to me.

“And do you, Mr. Thais, take Mr. Arthit Srisuwan as your lawful husband?”

My hands felt slightly cold. My heartbeat was loud—too loud.

Slowly, I turned my head.

And for the first time…

Our eyes met.

A chill ran down my spine.

His gaze was sharp. Distant. Uninterested.

I could tell in that single moment—

He didn’t want this marriage.

He wasn’t here for me.

He was here to fulfill a duty.

But strangely… I wasn’t afraid.

Taking a quiet breath, I straightened my posture.

“Yes.”

My voice came out steadier than I expected.

For the first time, his expression shifted.

Just slightly.

One eyebrow raised, as if I had surprised him.

Our eyes met again—but this time, something lingered.

Something unreadable.

“Then I now declare you husband and husband. You may kiss—”

“Let’s skip the formalities.”

His voice cut through the moment like a blade.

I blinked, startled.

He had already turned away from me, his attention elsewhere—towards the people standing behind him.

“Grandma,” he said calmly, “I have an urgent meeting. I’ll be leaving.”

And just like that…

He walked away.

No hesitation. No glance back.

Nothing.

I stood there, alone at the altar… still dressed as a groom.

The hall slowly filled with murmurs. Guests returned to their seats as if nothing unusual had happened.

As if this wasn’t my wedding.

As if I hadn’t just been abandoned.

“Thais, it’s okay. I’ll handle everything.”

Jack—my best friend—gave me a reassuring look before rushing off to manage the situation.

I nodded slightly, though my mind felt strangely empty.

Without thinking, I slipped my phone out of my pocket and typed his name.

Arthit Srisuwan.

The screen filled instantly.

CEO of Suwan Group.

Age: 30.

Top business leader in the country.

Handsome. Influential. Untouchable.

“The most eligible bachelor,” one headline read.

Another article caught my attention.

Rumored relationship with a male model from Suwan Group.

I frowned slightly.

So… this is the man I married.

Scrolling further, it was all the same—money, power, rumors, scandals.

None of it felt real.

None of it felt like him.

“Thais…”

A gentle hand rested on my shoulder.

I looked up.

“Grandma…”

It was her—Grandma Jade.

Her eyes were filled with concern.

“I’m so sorry for what happened,” she said softly. “That brat never listens to me.”

I forced a small smile.

“It’s okay, Grandma. Work comes first.”

The words felt strange even as I said them.

She looked at me for a moment—like she didn’t quite believe me.

“I know how you must feel,” she continued. “Being left alone like this… on your wedding day.”

Her voice carried both anger and guilt.

“I’ll teach that boy a lesson.”

I shook my head gently.

“It’s really okay.”

And it was.

Or at least… I thought it was.

Because the truth is—

I didn’t expect anything from him in the first place.

Because the truth is…

I never expected anything from him.

“Thais.”

Grandma Jade’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

“You should move to Arthit’s house today. I’ll have your things shifted from the orphanage.”

She smiled gently.

I nodded.

What else could I say?

After she left, silence filled the room again.

The truth is… I’ve been an orphan since I was six.

The orphanage is the only home I’ve ever known.

And Jack…

He’s not just my best friend.

He’s family.

We grew up together. Supported each other. Survived everything—together.

This marriage…

It’s the only way I can give something back to the people who raised me.

A hand landed on my shoulder.

I turned.

Jack.

“Will you be alright?” he asked, his voice low, worried. “I don’t know… I don’t like this. That Arthit guy—he doesn’t feel right. Who shows up that late to his own wedding?”

I let out a small laugh.

“I’m not that weak, you know.”

“It’s not that,” he said quickly. “I’m just worried about you.”

I looked at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

“You don’t have to be. I know why I married him… and I know how to handle myself.”

Jack stared at me for a second—

Then laughed softly.

“Alright. But if anything happens…”

“I know,” I said. “You’ll be there.”

We went back to the orphanage.

Home.

Father Adam was waiting for me.

We never knew his real name. We just called him Adam—like the father of all.

Because that’s what he was to us.

A father.

He looked at me… and I could see it in his eyes.

Guilt.

“Thais… I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “Because of me, you had to force yourself into this.”

I shook my head and smiled.

“Don’t be. I’m going because I want to.”

Before he could reply, the children ran toward me.

“Brother Thais! Don’t leave us!”

Their voices trembled.

Tears filled my eyes—but I held them back.

I couldn’t cry.

Not now.

I knelt down and pulled them into a hug.

“I’ll be fine,” I said softly. “And if anything happens… you’ll all protect me, right?”

“Yes!” they shouted together.

I laughed.

And for a moment… it felt normal.

After a while, it was time to leave.

A car was waiting outside.

I got in quietly.

As the orphanage disappeared from view, I leaned back and closed my eyes.

A new life.

A new beginning.

But I had no idea what was waiting for me.

At some point… I fell asleep.

“Mr. Thais… Mr. Thais.”

A voice woke me up.

I blinked slowly and looked outside.

We had already arrived.

I stepped out of the car.

A man stood in front of me, bowing slightly.

“My name is Yai, servant of the house. Madam Jade appointed me to assist you.”

“Okay, Uncle Yai,” I said politely.

His expression changed immediately.

“You may call me Yai, sir.”

I shook my head.

And said, “ don’t call me sir. And I can’t call someone older than me by name.”

For a second, he just looked at me.

Then nodded slightly.

As we walked inside…

I froze.

This wasn’t a house.

It was a palace.

Huge doors. Endless space. Cold, quiet walls.

Everything looked perfect.

But empty.

“How many people live here?” I asked.

“Three,” Yai replied.

I stopped walking.

“Three?”

“Yes.

Master… you… and me.”

“That’s it?”

He pointed outside.

“There is a smaller house. The master’s bodyguard and his secretary, Kulap, stay there.”

“Oh…”

I didn’t know what to say.

“Your room is on the first floor, right side,” Yai added.

I nodded and went upstairs.

The room was large.

Too large.

Too quiet.

I sat on the bed, trying to breathe normally.

That’s when I heard it.

A soft rustling sound.

I turned.

A document lay on the table, held down by an ashtray.

Something about it felt… wrong.

I walked closer.

And read.

A contract.

This marriage is valid for two years.

Mr. Arthit Srisuwan holds full authority.

Mr. Thais has no right to question his actions.

After two years, Mr. Thais will receive no financial claim.

My grip tightened.

I couldn’t read anymore.

It felt suffocating.

A drop of tear fell before I could stop it.

So this is what I am to him.

A contract.

Nothing more.

I placed the paper back on the table.

I didn’t want to think.

Didn’t want to feel.

I walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower.

Cold water ran down my skin.

Maybe it would wash this feeling away.

That night, I went to bed without eating.

I was hungry.

But I didn’t dare to ask.

Because deep down…

I already knew.

This place—

Was never meant to feel like home.