Phu ended up booking our stay at Navana Nature Escape—a perfect little hideaway that felt just right for what we all needed.
For the two of us, he reserved the Banyan Pool Villa—private, quiet, and surrounded by nature. The kind of place where time slows down.
For my sister, he booked the Deluxe Pool Access Seaview—beautiful and relaxing, with a direct view of the water and steps away from the pool. She'd love it.
It was just a short getaway: 2 nights and 3 days.
We all agreed to head back early on Sunday morning, since Phu had work to settle by 4 p.m. that day.
The plan was set, the location was perfect, and for the first time in a while, something felt simple—something to look forward to.
We arrived at Navana Nature Escape around 10 p.m. on Friday. The drive had been mostly quiet—my sister barely spoke, her energy low, eyes distant. Phu and I exchanged a glance, both of us sensing she was carrying something heavy, but neither of us dared to pry.
As we stepped out of the car, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the sea greeted us. The night air was warm and still, wrapping around us like a quiet lullaby.
Phu pulled me closer, his arm circling my waist as he rested his chin gently on my head.
"It's perfect, isn't it?" he murmured, his voice low and warm.
"More than perfect," I whispered, leaning into his touch. "I just wish…"
He didn't let me finish—he didn't have to.
"She'll be okay," he said softly, though I caught the flicker of uncertainty in his voice."This place… it has a way of working its magic."
I nodded, hoping he was right.
After checking in, the staff guided us through softly lit garden paths toward our rooms. The night air was warm, with a hint of salt from the nearby sea. We reached the separate entrances to our rooms—hers just down the corridor from ours.
Phu gently asked, "Do you want to grab a late dinner? We can order room service if you're hungry."
My sister offered a faint smile and shook her head. "Thanks... If I need anything, I'll just order. But for tonight, I think I just want to be alone."
Phu nodded respectfully. I walked over and pulled her into a hug. "You know where to find me, okay? Anytime."
She hugged me back tightly for a moment, then let go, her smile a little more genuine. "I know."
She turned and quietly slipped into her room, leaving the door to close softly behind her.
Phu reached for my hand, and we made our way into the Banyan Pool Villa—our own little space for the weekend. Still, a part of me stayed at her door, hoping the peace of this place would find its way to her too.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Around 2 a.m., my phone buzzed quietly on the nightstand. It was a message from my sister:
"Can you come over to my room?"
I slipped out of bed gently, careful not to disturb Phu, who was still at the desk with his laptop, focused on something for work.
"I'll be back in a bit," I whispered, and he just nodded without looking up.
I padded softly down the corridor and knocked on her door. She opened it almost instantly, her face tired but relieved to see me.
"Where's Phu?" she asked.
"Still in the room. Working on something," I said, stepping inside. She sat on the edge of the bed, and I settled into the armchair across from her.
There was a long pause. The silence between us was thick.
"What happened?" I asked gently.
She hesitated for a second, then her voice broke.
"Someone's been harassing me at work," she said. "One of the director's sons. It's been going on for months, and nobody's done anything because of who he is."
I froze. My heart dropped.
"What?" I said, sitting forward. "Why are you only telling me this now?"
Her eyes welled up, and her voice was barely a whisper.
"Because I kept hoping it would stop. Because I didn't want to be seen as weak. Because… no one at work listens anyway."
I stood and walked over, sitting beside her. My hand found hers, holding it tight.
"You're not weak," I said firmly.
I looked at my sister, heart heavy with the weight of what she'd just told me.
"I'm going to call Phu," I said gently. "We need the right guidance here, and I might be too emotional because… you're my sister."
She nodded silently, trusting.
I stepped aside and called Phu. "Baby, can you come to my sister's room?"
"Okay," he said immediately.
Exactly a minute later, there was a knock at the door. I opened it, and he walked in, concern already etched across his face.
He greeted her softly, took a seat, and waited.
She took a deep breath and began, her voice more steady than before.
"His name is Kawin Thitiphat Inthanon," she said. "Most people call him Kawin or just Win. He's the son of our Finance Director—currently working as his assistant, but it's clear they're grooming him to take over the role soon."
She looked down for a moment, gathering herself.
"He's well-educated, smart-looking, charming even. Everyone in the office seems to like him. At first, we were okay—we worked together fine. But over time, things changed. He started rejecting most of my finance project requests. No proper reason, just… said things weren't important."
Phu leaned forward, listening intently.
"Because of that, my KPIs began to drop," she continued. "Now, I've been placed under a PIP—Performance Improvement Plan. When I tried to explain, to defend myself, they said my concerns weren't valid."
Her voice cracked just slightly.
"And no one questions him. Because of who his father is."
Phu exchanged a look with me, something dark and thoughtful flashing through his eyes. He exhaled slowly.
Phu listened quietly, then leaned back slightly, eyes steady and calm—but there was a sharpness beneath it, something calculating.
"Okay," he said after a moment. "I'll give you two options."
He looked her straight in the eye.
"One—you handle it. But know this: if you go in alone, they'll push back harder. It could lead to more pain… to the point where they might try to force you out."
He paused, letting that sink in before continuing.
"Two—let me handle it. I won't promise it'll be quiet. But it'll be effective."
She was silent, the weight of both choices settling around us. Then she looked at me, then at Phu.
Her voice was soft, but steady.
"I don't mind resigning," she said. "I'm not afraid of starting over. It's just… I've been with that company for a long time. I built that team from scratch. I've sacrificed a lot for it. That's what hurts."
Her eyes glistened, but she didn't cry. She looked tired—but determined.
I reached for her hand and squeezed it.
Phu nodded slowly, his jaw tightening.
"Alright," he said. "Then we don't let them take what you built. Not like this."
Phu gave her a reassuring nod, his voice calm but firm.
"I'll handle it. Rest assured."
Then, more gently, he added,
"For now, try to get some sleep. Clear your mind before you head back."
She nodded slowly, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.
"Thank you," she whispered. Then she turned to me, pulling me into a hug.
"Thank you for being the best."
I wrapped my arms around her tightly, holding her like I used to when we were kids and she needed comfort. I kissed her gently on the forehead.
"Of course, my girl. You're my precious."
She smiled, just barely, but it was there—and that was enough for tonight.