The air in the apartment was electric—thick with fear, anger, and a fragile thread of hope.
Mr. Sakda's eyes glinted, cold as steel.
"So… this is how it ends," he said, voice smooth but deadly.
"My son refuses to obey. He chooses… *you*."
Arthit stepped forward, fists clenched.
"I choose him," he said, voice unwavering.
"Always. No matter what you say, no matter what you do."
Mr. Sakda smiled thinly, as though Arthit had just admitted to walking into a trap.
"You don't understand the consequences, boy."
"I do," Arthit said, voice low, dangerous.
"I've spent years knowing what your threats mean. I've lived with the consequences. And I've survived. Because now I know… love is stronger than fear."
Karan's breath hitched, standing close to Arthit.
"Arthit… please…" he whispered, trembling.
"Don't make this harder than it already is."
"Harder?" Arthit's gaze snapped to Karan.
"Do you know what he's done to us? To *me*? Do you know the nights I spent thinking I'd never see you again?"
Karan shook his head, tears blurring his vision.
"I know… I know now. I'm sorry. I never left because I wanted to hurt you. I left because I had to… to keep you alive."
Mr. Sakda's expression darkened.
"Alive? You call this alive?"
He stepped closer, voice low and deadly.
"You will both regret this. You think your love can withstand the world I built? I am not a man you can fight."
Arthit's jaw tightened.
"I am not afraid of you," he said firmly.
"You could destroy everything I have, everything I love—but you will never take him from me. Not again."
Mr. Sakda's eyes narrowed.
"So, you're ready to die for love?"
Arthit's answer was immediate:
"Yes. And if you want him… you'll have to go through me."
Karan's heart leapt and sank at the same time.
Arthit was strong, brave, determined—but Mr. Sakda… he was merciless.
And Karan had no weapons. No defenses.
Only love.
Mr. Sakda's smile vanished.
He circled them slowly, like a lion inspecting two prey animals.
"You are naïve," he said softly.
"Love… loyalty… they are weaknesses. And weaknesses get people killed."
Arthit didn't flinch.
"I don't care," he said, stepping closer to Karan.
"If loving him is a weakness… then I'll embrace it. I'll fight with it. And if you try to take him…"
"You *will* regret it," Mr. Sakda interrupted, voice slicing the air.
"I have built an empire on obedience, fear, and precision. And now, you threaten all of it… for love?"
"Yes," Arthit said firmly.
"And if I have to burn the world to protect him, I will."
For the first time, a flicker of something raw—pride? admiration?—crossed Mr. Sakda's face.
A dangerous, fleeting expression.
"You are reckless," he said quietly.
"But perhaps… I underestimated you."
Arthit's eyes didn't leave Karan.
"I will never back down," he said.
"And neither will he," he added, gesturing to Karan.
Karan swallowed, heart racing.
"I… I'll fight too," he whispered, voice trembling.
"Not with weapons. Not with schemes. I'll fight with my heart. And my love. And I won't let him… I won't let you… take him from me."
Mr. Sakda's lips curled into a slow, dangerous smile.
"So be it," he said softly.
"But know this… the storm you have chosen to stand in? It has only just begun."
And in that moment, the air seemed to thicken, the walls close in.
Every shadow, every heartbeat, every breath was charged with a storm that was coming—
One that would test love, loyalty, and the limits of courage.
Arthit took Karan's hand, fingers intertwining, trembling but resolute.
"Whatever comes," he whispered,
"We face it together."
Mr. Sakda's gaze lingered on them for a long, tense moment.
Then he turned, walking to the door, voice cutting like ice:
"Enjoy your fragile happiness while it lasts. Because the world outside is merciless… and I will make sure you understand that soon enough."
The door clicked shut.
Silence fell.
Heavy. Dangerous.
Karan sank to the floor, heart pounding, chest heaving.
Arthit knelt beside him, hand on his cheek.
"We survived him," Arthit whispered.
"For now."
"But he's coming back," Karan said quietly.
"And next time… it won't just be words."
Arthit's fingers tightened around his.
"Then we'll be ready," he said firmly.
"Together."
And outside, the night waited.
Dark. Unforgiving.
The storm had arrived.
---
End of chapter 33