The Sakda residence was quiet. Too quiet. Arthit sat in the lounge, staring at his phone. It had been three days since Karan had gone cold. Three days of empty messages, ignored calls, and unanswered texts.
He gritted his teeth.
"What the hell is going on?" he muttered.
"This isn't like him."
Ren leaned against the wall, arms crossed.
"You've been staring at your phone for hours," he said lightly. "Maybe he's busy."
Arthit slammed the phone down.
"No. Karan always finds time. Always."
Lucas frowned.
"Maybe he's upset about the competition."
Arthit's laugh was bitter.
"Upset? He's a chef. He thrives on challenge. He doesn't… vanish."
He rose suddenly and began pacing. His fists clenched.
"I—I need to see him. I need to know what happened."
---
The Avoidance Begins
The next day, Arthit went to Karan's restaurant. His heart raced as he stepped inside, expecting the warm, familiar greeting, the sparkle in Karan's eyes.
Instead… silence.
"Hey, Karan!" he called softly.
Karan was arranging plates, focused on the new menu. His expression polite, but distant.
Arthit's stomach sank.
"Karan, can we talk?"
Karan didn't look up.
"I'm busy." His tone was calm, almost clinical.
Arthit stepped closer, desperate.
"I—please, just a minute."
Karan finally looked up, eyes avoiding his gaze.
"I said I'm busy," he repeated.
"And I need you to leave me alone."
Arthit felt his chest tighten.
"What… what's wrong? Did I do something?"
Karan shook his head slowly.
"No. Nothing you did. I… I just need space."
Arthit's hands clenched into fists at his sides.
"Space? You're avoiding me. You're freezing me out. Tell me why, Karan!"
Karan swallowed hard, eyes dropping to the floor.
"I… I can't. Just… leave me alone."
Arthit's voice grew desperate.
"No! You can't just disappear like this. Talk to me, damn it!"
Karan didn't answer.
Arthit's chest tightened as he realized the truth he couldn't accept: Karan was trying to push him away.
---
Confronting Mr. Sakda
Arthit stormed into his father's office later that evening, anger radiating from every step.
"Father!" he yelled, slamming his hand on the desk.
"Where is he? Where is Karan?"
Mr. Sakda looked up calmly, adjusting his cufflinks.
"Karan? Calm down, Arthit. He's fine."
"Don't lie to me!" Arthit roared.
"I've been trying to reach him for days. He's avoiding me. Something happened, and I know it's connected to you!"
Mr. Sakda's expression hardened.
"You think I would touch him? That I would risk my empire for a trivial relationship?"
Arthit took a step forward, voice shaking with fury.
"You're lying! I know you did something! You're controlling everything, as always!"
Mr. Sakda leaned back, his cold, calculated gaze fixed on his son.
"Arthit… listen carefully. Some matters are not for you to interfere. Karan is… delicate. He needs protection from… realities he doesn't understand."
Arthit's jaw tightened.
"You mean you kidnapped him!" he shouted.
"I know you did! Don't lie to me, Father!"
Mr. Sakda's hand lifted, gesturing slightly.
"He's safe. That is all you need to know."
Arthit shook his head, trembling with rage.
"Safe? Do you call isolating him, scaring him, keeping him away from me… safe?"
Mr. Sakda's voice remained calm, almost cold.
"He is safe, yes. And he will stay that way until you… calm down. Until you understand what is at stake."
Arthit took a deep breath, fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned white.
"You can't control him like this! He's not part of your empire, and he's not just a piece in your games! He's Karan! He's mine!"
Mr. Sakda's lips pressed into a thin line.
"Arthit, you are the heir to everything I built. You will make alliances, you will marry strategically, and you will protect what is yours. Karan is… different. He is not trained for this world."
Arthit's eyes burned.
"I don't care about your world! I don't care about contracts, alliances, your damn mafia or business games. I care about him! Do you understand?!"
Mr. Sakda's gaze was piercing.
"And if your emotions endanger him?"
Arthit's voice dropped to a whisper, trembling but firm.
"Then I'll fight anyone. Anyone. I don't care if it's you. I don't care about your threats. I'll do anything to protect him."
---
The Emotional Confrontation
That night, Arthit returned to the restaurant. Karan was closing up, exhausted from a long day.
Arthit stepped into the kitchen quietly.
"Karan…"
Karan looked up, startled.
"What… what are you doing here?"
Arthit's voice was soft, urgent.
"I can't stay away. I need to know why you're avoiding me. Talk to me. Please."
Karan shook his head.
"I… I can't. I told you—I need space."
Arthit stepped closer.
"Space? You think this is just space? You're shutting me out, and it's killing me, Karan!"
Karan's hands trembled as he arranged plates.
"I… I can't… not after everything… I can't risk anyone…"
"Risk anyone? Karan, what are you talking about?"
Karan's eyes filled with tears.
"My family… my friends… you don't understand… your father… he's not just a businessman… he… he can destroy everything I love…"
Arthit's eyes widened in shock.
"You… you knew?"
Karan looked away, voice breaking.
"Yes. And I… I can't let anyone get hurt… not because of me. I… I can't… be with you."
Arthit's chest tightened.
"You mean… you're leaving me? Just like that? Because of fear?"
Karan's tears fell freely.
"I… I have to protect them. I can't protect them *and* be with you. I… I have to choose."
Arthit's hands gripped his shoulders, shaking him gently.
"Karan… look at me. Look at me!"
Karan finally met his gaze, his eyes filled with pain and heartbreak.
"I… I can't," he whispered.
Arthit's voice broke.
"You think I care about fear? I don't care about your family's safety—I care about you! Me! Karan, don't shut me out! Please! You're mine!"
Karan shook his head violently.
"No! You don't understand! If we stay together… everyone will suffer! I… I can't…"
Arthit fell to his knees, desperate.
"Karan! I don't care what your father, my father, anyone says! I'll face them all! I'll risk everything! Just… just don't leave me!"
Karan's tears streamed down his face.
"I… I love you… so much…"
Arthit grabbed Karan's face, holding him close.
"And I love you. More than anything. I don't care if your world or mine burns… we can face it together! Please… give me a chance! Don't do this!"
Karan's lips trembled as he whispered:
"I… I can't… I have to… I have to leave…"
Arthit pressed his forehead against Karan's, voice raw.
"Then let me carry you through it. Let me fight for you. You're not alone. You're mine, Karan, and I will never let anyone hurt you—ever."
Karan's knees weakened.
"Arthit… I…"
Arthit's lips brushed Karan's cheek.
"Say nothing. Just… stay."
For a long moment, Karan trembled. The weight of fear, love, and loyalty warring inside him.
And then… he finally leaned into Arthit's arms.
---
The First Step Toward Reconciliation
Arthit held Karan tightly, whispering against his hair.
"I don't care about your family, your friends, your father, or mine. You're mine, and I will protect you. I swear it."
Karan's voice was a mere whisper.
"…I'm scared…"
Arthit kissed the top of his head gently.
"I know. But I'm here. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'll fight for you… even if it's the last thing I do."
Karan clung to him, sobbing quietly.
"I… I love you… I'm so scared I'll fail you…"
Arthit pulled back slightly, cupping his face in his hands.
"You could never fail me. You're everything. And no one… no one will take you from me."
The tension in the room slowly dissolved, replaced by raw, fragile hope.
---
End of CHAPTER 19 — "WHEN SILENCE HURTS