Hello, everyone...

I want to apologize for the long delay... I promise that I'll try my best to update regularly from now on.

Thank you for your long and patient wait... I hope you like this chapter.

Please, Read, vote and comment. Your reviews give me the motivation to write more.

This chapter is edited by Grammarly only. Please, excuse the mistakes.

Enjoy! ^^

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A week later, Monday,

The sound of the heated argument that was going inside the office of the Head of Sexual Assaults department was filling the entire place. Gun's eyes were on the closed door as the voices of his superior and Phet arguing behind it could be heard for an hour. Last week, Gun was called to his head's office and was ordered to stop all the investigation related to Arthit's case. Why? Because the Police's Commissioner himself sent an official letter to the Station Chief and the department's Head, reprimanding them for the 'unruly' and 'obnoxious' behavior of the department's detectives towards 'respectable' and 'upright' citizens who came from honorable families. Gun was called and was chastised for seemingly insulting and harassing a high-status figure, namely Mr. Suthiluck's oldest son-in-law while conducting his investigation on the case. And as a desperate measure to please the Commissioner and appear tough on his subordinates, the Chief ordered all the investigations related to the case to be halted until further notice.

Phet was outraged when he heard this and had been arguing with both of the Chief and the Head of the department every day since then but without success. Both men refused to give up, fearing that they would lose face in front of the Commissioner.

"Even if you want to discipline Gun for his supposed misbehavior," Phet exclaimed angrily. "what the case has to do with this matter? Why did you stop all investigations?"

"For the million times, Phet," the other man said. "It's the Chief's orders."

"I didn't see you standing up against it!" Phet chided. "You gladly agreed to whatever he had decided."

"This is just temporary. Gun can resume his investigation once the fire is doused down, and the matter is forgotten." The Head tried to explain.

"This case already over one year too late!" Phet roared. "Any further delay may make us lost the trail that Gun had worked so hard to find."

"My hands are tied, Phet," the other man said with a sigh. "If Gun hadn't troubled that rich man, none of this would have happened. Be patient for a couple of weeks, and I'll convince the Chief to resume the investigation."

Phet locked his eyes deeply into the head's eyes. "You and the Chief are the ones in charge here, and if the culprits who destroyed my son's life got away, you two would be the ones I blame," he said quietly before he turned around and walked away.

"Phet, wait!" the head called just as Phet was about to leave.

Phet halted in front of the door with one hand on the handle.

"I'll ask Gun to resume his investigation, but he will have to do everything un-officially without any legal support. He will be fully responsible for everything that happens. I can't risk angering the Chief or the Commissioner."

Without showing any reaction or response, Phet left the room.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Back at his office, Phet sat behind his desk motionless with his eyes closed, taking deep, measured breaths as he tried to decide on the next step he should take. The decision to stop the investigation on his son's case was unexpected and unacceptable. The investigation was moving much slower than he had hoped for in the first place, but now that it was stopped completely, he feared that it would soon be forgotten and thrown away like many unsolved and long-forgotten cases before.

'I must find that scum Yu!' he thought bitterly. 'Only if I found him, I can force this investigation to move forward again.'

Phet opened his eyes when someone knocked on his door.

"Come in!"

"P', may I have a word with you?" Gun said as he appeared from behind the door.

"What do you want?"

"My superior told me it would be okay if I continued my investigation privately," the young detective said as he sat in front of Phet' desk. "as long as no one from above knew about it."

"There is no need for you to trouble yourself with this case anymore," Phet said distantly. "I'll continue this investigation myself."

"What? Why? Don't you trust me, Sir?" Gun felt deeply hurt at Phet's cold dismissal.

"It's not that. I don't want you to get into trouble, Gun," the older detective replied. "If you ran into another similar problem, your Head of Department or the Station's Chief may be forced to suspend you from work or even fire you."

"And it's okay if you got into trouble, P'?" Gun snapped as he stood up abruptly and slammed one palm hard against the desk surface. "I can see what you're trying to do, sir, and I won't allow it! I'm not a child who needs protection. I'm a responsible detective who wants to see justice served."

Phet stared at the young man in front of him with an emotionless expression. "It's not your case anymore," he said quietly. "You were officially relieved from it. Me, on the other hand, have a personal connection to it."

"I too have a personal connection to it!" Gun exclaimed. "I may have started this case as a mere job, but that had changed. I want those who hurt your son to pay! They had to pay not only for what they had done to him but also for destroying such beautiful, innocent, and pure love between two people!" —Phet blinked several times, unsure of what Gun meant— "I don't care about what will happen to me," the young man continued passionately. "As long as I bring those bastards to justice."

A small smile forced itself upon Phet's face despite himself.

"Sit down," he said quietly.

Realizing what he had done, Gun flushed in embarrassment before he returned to his seat.

"What do you mean by beautiful, innocent, and pure love between two people?" The older detective asked.

Gun took out his cellphone and opened a video before he showed it to Phet.

The old detective watched the video silently until its end before he returned the cellphone to Gun.

"I must admit that I was moved by the love shared between your son and Mr. Kongphop," the younger detective said. "What happened had destroyed that love. It's simply too cruel!"

Phet' features showed no emotion. It was hard for the young detective to know what the older man was thinking or the impact of his revelation upon him.

"Are you willing to risk your entire career for such sentiment?" Phet finally asked after a few moments of silence.

"Yes," Gun replied determinedly. Others might call him soft, sentimental or foolish, but he was angry at those who butchered such love, whether it was intentionally or not. He wanted justice, not only for Arthit but for the love that was killed as a result of their actions.

"Fine," Phet said. "But you will have to work without the help of the police."

"I know," Gun answered.

"What about the technical stuff? Do you know someone good at hacking and such?"

"I've already explained the situation to Robin, and he wants to help too. Also, one of the staff, Hathai, down in the lab, is willing to help us in her spare time."

Phet raised an eyebrow. "That was quick," he commented.

"I've learned from the best," Gun said with a smug smirk, causing Phet to raise the second eyebrow in great amusement.

"And how will we secure the cooperation of the suspects in that company without a police warrant?" Phet asked.

Gun smirked. "I don't think that Mr. Kerkkrai will refuse to help us, especially if you asked him yourself."

"Oh? And why is that?"

"When I interviewed him, I realized that he is very fond of your son, Sir," Gun replied. "Add to that, he, as a father himself, is sympathizing with you. I'm sure if you explain to him the situation and ask for his cooperation as a father, he wouldn't mind."

Phet raised one eyebrow but didn't comment.

"Yu's men were released from custody, weren't they?" the older man asked after few moments of silence.

"Yes," Gun replied. "Without a case, there is no reason for us to hold them in."

Phet let a low groan as he threw his head back. It seemed that they had to start from the beginning.

"They don't seem to know the whereabouts of Yu, though," Gun continued to speak. "Neither of them made any move to contact him since the time of their release."

Phet straightened himself, staring at Gun with puzzlement. "And how do you know that?" he asked.

Gun smirked smugly. "I kept them under surveillance," he stated casually.

"Are they still in Bangkok?"

"Yes. Unwise decision but it's for our advantage."

"Good," Phet said. "We'll pay them a visit after work, then."

"It's a date, P'!"

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Arthit stared in apprehension and doubt at the narrow walkway that was bordered with a long bar on each side, in front of him. After a week of intensive messaging and exercising his legs' muscles, Isra decided that it was time for Arthit to try walking. So here he was in front of this equipment with Kongphop, Isra and a nurse looking expectedly at him and waiting for him to start this exercise.

Arthit took several deep breaths, trying to find a way out of this situation but finding none.

"Come on, Arthit," Isra, who was standing several steps in front of him in the narrow walkway, spoke finally, breaking the pregnant silence that reigned around the four for some time. "Stalling will not avail you. Hold the bars tightly, plant your feet on the ground firmly, slide off the chair and lift yourself," she instructed.

Arthit gulped slightly before he hesitantly reached out for the bars and got hold of them before he tried to follow Isra's instructions. His body wobbled unsteadily, and he felt a little dizzy as he rose into a standing position, feeling as if his legs were made of jelly instead of flesh and bones. He nearly fell face first had he not tightened his grip on the bars, shifting the majority of his weight to his arms.

"Arthit, don't put your weight on your arms," Isra warned.

"I can't," he protested. "My legs are numb."

"It's only a temporary feeling, Arthit," the therapist reassured. "The numbness will disappear after a short while."

Giving her a doubtful look, Arthit shifted his weight to his legs and waited for the numbing feeling to disappear.

"Now, try taking a couple of steps forward," Isra encouraged. "Don't be afraid. We're all around you."

Taking a deep breath, Arthit took a step forward, feeling like a child who just started to walk. It wasn't hard moving his feet; however, his legs didn't seem to be able to bear down his weight. His knee bent slightly as his body pressured down on his legs and he swayed a little, but he managed to steady himself enough before he tried taking another step.

He took another couple of steps before suddenly his knees buckled and his body fell forward.

"P'ARTHIT!"

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Kongphop bit his lower lip as he watched Arthit anxiously slowly pushing himself off the wheelchair and standing up, slightly swaying as he tried to steady himself. While Isra stood in front of his lover, encouraging him to move forward, Kongphop positioned himself close behind the older man in case he stumbled and fell. Still, this arrangement hadn't eased the younger man's worries, and he still felt the need to hold his lover and give him support. Every step Arthit took, Kongphop was close behind, watching like a hawk.

A week had passed since Arthit started to eat solid food, but his body was still thin and weak. Not wanting to shock his body, his doctor only allowed him to eat small portions of specific types of food several times a day. And despite Isra assurance, Kongphop still thought that it was too early for Arthit to try walking.

Lost in his thoughts, Kongphop almost missed when suddenly Arthit's legs gave in, and he stumbled forward.

"P'ARTHIT!"

In a blink of an eye and on their own volition, Kongphop's hands reached out and hugged the older man tightly from behind.

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Arthit felt his entire body freeze as he stared with wide eyes ahead of him, trying to comprehend the situation he was in right now. His legs were bent as if he was about to squat, his forearms and elbows were resting on the wooden bars while his grip on the same bars tightened so firmly it was starting to hurt, his heart pounded hard inside his chest, his breaths were fast and shallow as a pair of strong warm arms hugged him tightly from behind. He felt the arms that hugged him and ultimately prevented his fall, tightened around his waist, pulling him up slowly until his back was pressed against a sturdy warm chest. A shudder ran down his spine as a familiar sweet scent filled his nose, spreading warmth inside of him. Arthit closed his eyes, relishing in the familiar and well-missed peaceful feeling that filled his heart and soul.

Hearing his name being called, he looked up and saw Isra's worried face only a few inches away from his.

"Are you alright, Arthit?" she asked.

"Y-Yes," he replied.

"Can you continue?"

He nodded. Silently, he planted his feet on the floor and slowly straightened himself up. The arms engulfing him, let go, and a sense of longing replaced his earlier peace.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Kongphop felt as if electricity ran through his entire body as he hugged Arthit closely to his body and the man's scent filled his nostrils. His body froze in that position as if it was trying to savor the moment, wishing that it would last forever. He unconsciously pulled Arthit closer before his face was only a couple of inches away from Arthit's silky hair. He inhaled deeply, savoring the sweet smell of his lover.

Isra's conversation with Arthit, however, snapped him out of his brief bliss, reminding him of where they were and what they were doing; so, reluctantly, he was forced to let go of the man he missed so much.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

The session lasted an hour and a half. Arthit had managed to walk the whole walkway, albeit slowly and with a little bit difficultly. He didn't fall again, though there had been few close calls. Isra had informed them that a walking aid was placed in Arthit's room for him to practice walking until the next session.

A heavy silence hovered over the two as Kongphop pushed the wheelchair back to Arthit's room. He silently helped Arthit into his bed before their lunch's arrival. Neither of them dared to even look into the other's eyes, let alone utter a single word, in fear that they would reveal what was storming inside of them.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Mrs. Suthiluck inhaled the fresh rose-fragranced air deeply as she sat in the garden of her house, enjoying the fine weather and the soft music that emitted from the small radio placed on the table in front of her.

She felt exceptionally cheery this day as she waited for her guest to arrive. Contrary to what her husband and son believe, she was fully aware of her son's whereabouts these past two weeks and what he was doing. She knew that he was in the hospital taking care of that man. At first, she was greatly upset but then decided not to make a big deal over the matter, knowing that the more she argued, the more her son would stubbornly do whatever he wanted regardless of what she would say. So instead, Mrs. Suthiluck decided to give her son some time for himself before she tried to bring him back to his senses. Mrs. Suthiluck smiled as a white car entered the driveway of the villa.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Wad looked through the papers in front of him with a frown. He had put the man called Kla Gruemor under his surveillance, studying his employee's file over and over again for the past week. However, all his hard work hadn't paid much for he couldn't find anything incriminating about Kla. The man's file showed little information about the man, and Kla kept to himself and never talked to anyone in the warehouse. Also, during the past week, Wad hadn't seen Mr. Benz in the warehouse or talking to Kla.

Wad tried checking the inventory of the items received or released from the warehouses but couldn't find a discrepancy in the numbers.

The young let out a frustrated groan, slamming the file shut. He must find what sort of shady business between that employee and Mr. Kerkkrai's secretary ASAP!

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Kongphop put down the book he was reading before he checked the time. It was 4:45 in the afternoon, and Arthit would be returning from his psychotherapy session soon. The older man never allowed Kongphop to accompany him to the psychotherapy sessions, no matter how much Kongphop insisted.

Kongphop sighed deeply. He was about to resume his reading when his cellphone rang. Picking up the device, Kongphop frowned upon seeing the name flashing on the screen.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Mayuree sat in the hospital café, playing with her fingers nervously as she waited, unsure of what she was about to do was the right course of action or not. A month passed since Kongphop ended their engagement, but Mayuree was still in love with him and unable to forget him. His mother had assured her that if she were persistent in pursuing him, he would come back to his sense and to her. So, here she was, waiting for Kongphop in hopes that they would save their relationship and future.

"Mayuree," she was snapped from her thoughts upon hearing Kongphop's voice.

Smiling, she stood up and greeted him sweetly.

"What do you like to drink?" Kongphop asked after exchanging greetings.

"I'll have a latte, please," Mayuree replied.

Nodding, Kongphop went to order their drinks before he returned with them.

Placing Mayuree's drink in front of her, he sat opposite to her and waited for her to speak. He was curious about the matter that she wanted to talk to him about or how she knew where he was in the first place. Her voice over the phone seemed urgent and desperate. But now, she didn't seem to be in a hurry as she took her sweet time, drinking her coffee.

"I miss you."

Kongphop's eyes widened at Mayuree's sudden soft confession. He stared at her with evident surprise on his face.

Mayuree looked directly into Kongphop's eyes, hoping to fully convey the amount of love and longing she was feeling towards him.

"I miss you, Kong," she repeated softly.

"Mayuree, please," he said pleadingly. "I—"

"Kongphop, I truly love you," she interrupted him before he could complete his sentence. "Please, why don't you give us a chance? I promise to be the woman you would surely fall in love with. Just tell me what you want me to do, and I'll do it!" She begged, not caring if she sounded desperate or pathetic. She wanted to be with Kongphop, and she was willing to do whatever to please him.

"Mayuree, there isn't anything you can do to make me love you the way you want me to," Kongphop said solemnly. "I'm in love with someone else."

"You say you're in love with someone else, but why you're not with her now?" Mayuree asked with hurt evident in her voice. "I think you're just making excuses, Kongphop. Is something wrong with me?" she asked bitterly. "If you don't like something about me, then say it clearly. I can change whatever you don't like about me."

Silently, Kongphop took out his wallet, pulled out two card-sized pictures, and showed them to Mayuree.

"This is the one I'm in love with," he said quietly.

Mayuree stared into the pictures in disbelieve; her mind and heart refused to believe the prove of Kongphop's love for someone else...and a man no less!

"I'm sorry, Mayuree," Kongphop's gentle voice burned into her soul like a searing fire.

"Who is he?" She asked softly after a few moments of heavy silence.

"He is my former senior in the university," Kongphop replied. "We've been in love with each other since my first year in university. But over a year ago, he broke up with me. I was heartbroken because I thought that he had stopped loving me," —Mayuree looked at him with an unreadable expression on her face— "Only recently, I came to know that he had been forced to do it."—he sighed deeply— "Mayuree, our marriage would have been a huge mistake because I couldn't forget P'Arthit."

"Yet, you got engaged to me for eight months," Mayuree reprimanded softly.

"I'm sorry. I selfishly thought that my wounded heart would be healed if I sought a new love, but as soon as I heard that P'Arthit's life is in danger, I realized that I could never love anyone else but him."

Mayuree's eyes widened in surprise as her mind quickly connected the dots. "He's the senior whom you donated your liver to," she stated. "the one you postponed our wedding for his sake!"

Kongphop nodded wordlessly.

Letting out a bitter scoff, Mayuree fought hard to hold back her tears. "You are so cruel, Kongphop Suthiluck," she whispered. "I'll never forgive you!" Not giving him a chance to utter a word, she stood up and left him by himself.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

After Mayuree's departure, Kongphop didn't return to Arthit's room immediately. Instead, he took a walk in the hospital's small garden to clear his mind. Sitting on a bench between the bushes and trees, Kongphop closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. It was high time for him to be honest with himself, face his true desires, and think seriously of his future.

It wasn't Mayuree's words only that made him finally confront himself about his inability to keep his feelings towards Arthit platonic; this morning's incident had shown him clearly that being near the older man would break his resolution sooner or later and his emotions would take control at the end.

After that night, a week ago, Kongphop sincerely hoped that Arthit would open up to him and accept his presence by his side; but he was mistaken. Arthit reverted to his cold attitude the following day. The older man never spoke to him unless it was absolutely necessary, fussed every time Kongphop tried to help him going to the bathroom or taking a bath, preferring the help of the nurses instead, and refused to acknowledge his presence most of the time.

It was only at nighttime that Arthit accepted his presence beside him. Kongphop knew that it was due to his fears and nightmares, but it was enough for the young COO. He was glad to know that his presence was providing the older man with some measure of security and reassurance. He never pressed Arthit to open up and talk about anything, though he could sense that the other man had somethings he wanted to speak of, for some reason, he was holding back. Kongphop didn't want to pressure Arthit, so he never asked, despite seeing the longing and desperation in his lover's beautiful eyes, giving the other man time to gather his courage to speak up.

Running his hand through his hair, Kongphop sighed deeply. He wanted Arthit back into his life; there was no doubt about this. But he was at a loss of how to approach the man when Arthit kept pushing him away. Kongphop truly wished that he knew what was standing so pungently between the two of them, but he was afraid at the same time.

"I'm really at a loss of what to do, P'Arthit," he whispered to himself.

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

Arthit sighed as he half-laid on his bed and continued to stare at his parents' picture. Thought his face showed no expression, the truth was a storm of turmoil was raging inside of his heart since this morning's incident in the rehabilitation center.

His mind was blown into tremendous chaos since that time, ceasing all his ability to reason and the electric currents that ran down his spine when he was engulfed in Kongphop's warm were still causing his body to tremble.

Arthit knew at that moment that as long Kongphop was near him, the icy wall he had surrounded himself with would eventually crumble. It already had lots of fractures that were making him weak in front of Kongphop's intensive care. He knew that his resolve to keep Kongphop away from his heart would be broken if he didn't act fast. The tension and uneasiness that loomed over him in the wake of the incident had lasted until a nurse came to take him to his session with Siriporn after lunch. Her presence was, for once, very welcomed as Arthit was too eager to be parted from Kongphop, even if it meant going to his psychotherapy with Siriporn.

This was his third session with the psychiatrist since she decided that two sessions a week would be fine as a beginning. Of course, every time Arthit was taken to Siriporn's office, he would be anxious about having to discuss the cabin's incident. However, so far, Siriporn hadn't talked about had happened to him; instead, in the past two sessions, she brought some albums of him and his parents and talked about them instead. She asked him about his childhood as if she didn't know most of it already, and such. They also spoke about his school days, his friends, and his love life. Today, she took him on a stroll in the hospital small garden and made him walk a little with the help of a walking aid.

Arthit had to admit that walking through the well-kept garden was refreshing and did help him calm his shaky nerves. He could even go to the extent of saying that it felt him feel happy and at peace...while it lasted, that is!

Arthit frowned as he remembered the sight that met his eyes on his way back to his room. As the nurse pushed his wheelchair through the ground corridors heading towards the elevators, they passed by the hospital cafeteria where Arthit spotted Kongphop sitting with a young woman behind the glass wall. At first, the older man didn't think much about it, but as soon as he was back in his room, he remembered where he had seen that young woman. He had seen her picture in the newspapers one morning standing beside Kongphop. She was Kongphop's fiancée!

Arthit didn't want to admit that he felt jealous or hurt upon seeing Kongphop with that woman when he was supposed to be staying with him, so he kept telling himself that it was only normal that Kongphop would meet up with his fiancée from time to time. It was his right and obligation towards her, after all.

Arthit unconsciously tightened his grip around his parents' photo as tears welled up inside his eyes.

'I'm not hurt. I'm not hurt,' he repeatedly chanted in his mind as he closed his eyes tightly, trying to lessen the pain growing in his heart. 'Don't be weak, Arthit! This is what you want, isn't it?! Remember why you broke up with him in the first place!'

"Oh, P'Arthit, you're back!"

Opening his eyes, Arthit stared at Kongphop who stood at the foot of the bed, smiling fondly at him.

"Where have you been?" the older man asked after few moments of heavy silence as he placed his parents' photo back on the nightstand.

Kongphop smiled before he walked forward until he was beside the bed. "Why do you want to know? Did you miss me?" he asked with a teasing smile.

"Answer the question, Kongphop," Arthit said with an emotionless tone and blank face.

"I was taking a walk in the garden," Kongphop replied as he sat on the edge of the bed. "I needed to clear my head."

Arthit let out a soft snort. "And how is your fiancé doing?" he asked.

"Eh?" Kongphop stared at Arthit with utter surprise. "My fiancée?"

"Yes," Arthit said coolly. "You should've brought her here and formally introduce her."

Kongphop lowered his head before looking up with a deep sigh. "You saw us in the cafeteria, didn't you, P'?"

Arthit stared at the young man in front of him silently before he looked away.

"It's none of my business," he said softly. "I'm sorry for prying into your private life."

"She's not my fiancée anymore, P'," Kongphop said abruptly, causing the other man to stare at him with surprise. "I ended our engagement a month ago."

"It's none of my business," Arthit repeated, averting his gaze once more.

"P'," Kongphop said as he took Arthit's hands into his and squeezed them gently. "I've ended my engagement because I realized that I couldn't live with anyone other than you. The person I truly want to be with is you, and no one else. But you keep pushing me away without reason. Please, P'Arthit! I truly want to be with you...only you!"

Closing his eyes, Arthit warred fiercely with his heart who was longing to be engulfed in Kongphop's warm arms once more...to feel the other man's love and warmth...to stare at his dazzling smile and sparkling eyes...

"We can't be together, Kongphop," Arthit finally whispered after long heavy moments of silence. "Our love story has ended a long time ago."

"Why, P'?" Kongphop exclaimed passionately. "What is the wall that is standing between us? Please, tell me! I'm ready to climb it over, no matter how tall it is! Please tell me!"

Arthit stared directly into Kongphop's eyes for few moments. "What do you know about what happened in the cabin?" he asked.

"The cabin?"

"Yes, what do you know exactly?"

"All I know is that someone from our company had lured you into the cabin by sending you some messages in my name and did what he had done without any apparent reason!" Kongphop replied. "Is that it?" he asked. "I swear, P', it wasn't me who sent you those messages. I didn't—"

"Do you know his identity?" Arthit interrupted.

"No," Kongphop replied. "I was hoping you would tell me! Who did this to you?"

Arthit stared at his ex-lover's anxious face before he let out a deep breath. So, Kongphop didn't know who was behind his assault. That was a huge relief.

"Please, P', tell me who was that employee?" Arthit was snapped from his thoughts upon hearing Kongphop's eager question.

"It doesn't matter now, Kongphop," the older man replied, shaking his head slightly.

"But—"

"I don't want to talk about this matter, Kongphop!" Arthit said sternly, glaring at the younger man.

"Alright! You don't have to," Kongphop said. "But, please, P'Arthit, allow me to stay. Don't push me away! We don't have to be together! Just allow me to remain by your side!"

"Staying near each other will only hurt us, Kongphop," Arthit said softly, averting his gaze away from Kongphop. "It will only result in pain for both of us."

"The pain of being away from you and not able to see you is much more excruciating," Kongphop almost sobbed the words. "Please, P'! I'm ready to endure anything just to be by your side."

Arthit looked at Kongphop with an unreadable expression for several long minutes before he nodded his head slightly.

A bright smile broke on Kongphop's face in response. "Thank you, P'Arthit! Thank you!"

}{ }{ }{ }{ }{

In a dark and narrow alley somewhere in Bangkok slums, two men could be seen, pounding the hell out of another two men while a car stood in front of the alley, blocking the view from any curious spectators and any escape route from the two men who were being beaten into mush.

For the first time in over a year, Phet finally felt stressed-free as he let out all of his frustration that had built up by pounding down the ones who hurt his precious son. The old detective delivered more couple of kicks to the body laying underneath his feet before he stopped. Lifting the unconscious man, he dragged him to a barrel full of sewage water and dipped his head in for a few seconds before taking it out.

"Now," Phet hissed as he slammed the semi-conscious man against the wall. "tell me where Yu is?"

"I swear, I don't know," the stricken man whispered difficulty. "I haven't seen him for over a year now."

"Really?" Phet asked disbelievingly. "I find that hard to believe." —he took out his gun and pressed it against the man's temple— "You better tell me where he is, or I'll blow your brain out of your skull!"

"I swear, I don't know," the man cried frightenedly. "He disappeared after that weekend in the cabin. I haven't heard from him since! Please!"

"Do you have his number?"

"No! I swear," the man replied.

"Then how he contacted you one year ago?"

"He met us in the stripping club where we usually hang out," the man answered.

With his gun still pressed against the man's temple, Phet looked at Gun, who was handling the second man involved in Arthit's abduction.

Gun caught Phet's eyes and shook his head. Their second suspect also denied knowing the whereabouts of Yu.

Looking back at his prey, Phet lowered his gun before he dragged the man to where Gun was interrogating the other gangster. The two were thrown next to each other before Phet squatted in front of them.

"Tell me exactly what happened from the moment Yu had contacted you," he said in a quiet yet dangerous tone.

"Yu had disappeared after he ran away from your last attempt to catch him," the first man said. "However, we saw him at the stripping club occasionally. One day, he invited the whole gang to a party at his friend's cabin, but only three of us accepted his invitation. The gang was already starting to break up, and most of the gang didn't want to be linked with him anymore."

"So, you went to his friend's cabin?" Phet asked with gritted teeth.

"Yes," the second man replied. "He said that he arranged for a male prostitute to—" the man didn't have the chance to continue his sentence as Phet's punch sent him to the ground.

"Don't you dare call my son that!" he hissed, gripping the man's hair. "You low-lives had held him captive against his will and raped him!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry," the man cried. "But at that time, we didn't know. Yu said that he was a male prostitute who liked rough sex. We really didn't know that Yu was lying."

Phet took several deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself before he released the man and ordered him to continue.

Finishing their interrogation, Phet and Gun left the two gangsters unconscious in the alley and headed to the car where Robin was waiting for them.

They couldn't find anything new about the whereabouts of Yu, who according to his men, hadn't come to the club since that weekend or even contacted them. Feeling exhausted and depressed after what he had heard, Phet asked Gun to drop him off in front of his house.

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To Be Continued...

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Glossary:

Hathai (F.): Heart

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