Painful memories… are wounds, carved deep in the heart.
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After Vishpan left for work, Kangsadan asked Grandmother about his family.
"I'm warning you… this family is a mess, worse than a pit of cobras."
"Whoa… that bad?!"
"I heard that this woman, Srinuan, is the one who caused Prasan to fall out with his children over the will."
"Did the problem affect the grandchildren too?" Kangsadan assumed Vishpan must have been affected.
"I don't know more than that."
"Um… yesterday I saw his uncle at the restaurant." Kangsadan remembered.
"Uncle Anupan. He was having dinner with a woman named Rapee." She wanted to know if Grandmother knew them.
"That should be Srinuan and Prasan's son."
"From what Rin told me, Disaya is Rapee's daughter."
"Really… when is Rin getting married again? I forgot."
"This Saturday."
At 4 p.m., Kangsadan was surprised to see Son, the driver, park in front of the house. She had already told Vishpan she would go by herself since Disaya's gym wasn't far from the train station.
"My boss told me to return and pick you up… Madam."
"Could you stop by Aunt Uma's shop too?" She almost forgot his instructions from LINE, as she needed sportswear for the gym.
"He already told me." Kangsadan immediately sensed how attentive her husband was despite his busy work.
When she stepped into the gym, she saw Vishpan talking with Disaya. Both seemed cheerful and laughing.
"Hello," Kangsadan greeted.
"Bell, Daisy prepared gloves for you. Try them on and see if they fit," he said cheerfully.
"Yes, but… um—"
"What? Don't know how to punch? Just watch the instructional video. She's turning it on for you," he nodded as Disaya pressed the remote to start the TV.
Kangsadan watched Disaya strap on gloves and walk toward her.
"I can be your sparring partner if you want," she said with a challenging look.
"No thank you. First time, I'd rather hit the sandbag." Kangsadan noticed the provocation in Disaya's eyes.
"Fine… but next time, let's spar. With headguards—nothing too rough," she teased.
After learning basic punches from the video, Kangsadan found it wasn't that difficult. Vishpan walked over and discussed punching and kicking techniques with Disaya — it was obvious the two had sparred together before.
"Bell, try with me first — just jab slowly. You'll get better soon."
Kangsadan had never boxed, but she did have Taekwondo experience. While she was practicing jabs in the air, she heard footsteps and Disaya stepped in front of her.
"Try jabbing at me, maybe?" she taunted.
"Okay…careful. I'm just throwing nonsense punches," Kangsadan chuckled, which earned a mocking look from Disaya.
"Nonsense indeed…" Disaya sneered.
Just as Disaya tried to sneak a punch at Kangsadan's face, the newlywed bride — now fitter than ever — saw it coming and instinctively lifted her leg, kicking her square in the face.
"Ow…God! Sorry, I didn't mean to. Reflexes!" Kangsada hurried over and helped Disaya up, while Vishpan looked at the two of them nervously.
"Impressive. Didn't realize you had such deadly kicks," Disaya complained, then turned her glare toward Kangsadan's husband.
"Forgot to mention. Bell kicks hard," he said laughing, almost mockingly. Disaya's expression soured, clearly annoyed at him too.
On the way home, Vishpan whispered into Kangsadan's ear, making her eyes widen.
"That was a light kick. In the past, someone would've passed out on my foot." She chose not to say on my damn foot, as it sounded too crude.
"You'll see…"
"What?" she shot back. He just smiled and didn't answer.
During dinner, Grandmother peeked in and quietly ordered Jaem, housemaid to prepare the meal. Vishpan blamed her for eating too little despite having exercised.
"You'll have no energy tonight."
"Please…"
"I didn't do anything."
"Don't speak ambiguously."
"I'm being very clear," he replied with a teasing face.
Once they entered the bedroom, he asked to shower first, complaining that he was sweaty from the gym.
"Bring me a towel from the bed," he shouted.
"Same old trick…" she muttered.
"Here." She handed it through the bathroom door. Without checking, she grabbed the wrong one!
He pushed the door open and pulled her inside with a head towel.
"Taking revenge on me?" he pretended to be upset.
"Sorry… I was clumsy."
Still in her gym clothes, Kangsadan was pulled into his arms. He tugged her toward the warm bath prepared for him.
"You soak alone… I'm tired. I want to sit and rest." She tried to remove his hand pulling her into the tub.
"I said this morning we'd continue tonight. A promise is a promise."
"Mr. Vice President… the contract didn't specify anything like this."
"Remember what you told me, Bell?" She turned to face him in the bath.
"The contract never said we couldn't be close… remember?"
"That was your trick, not mine," she snapped, blushing.
"Even if this is just a marriage in name… we can be close. I can't go further than what happened this morning anyway," he said sorrowfully.
"Yes, well… I'll get going."
Before she finished speaking, he pulled her into the hot water. She grimaced at the heat.
"Wait… I'll turn on some cold water."
Before she realized it, Kangsadan had become his plaything — from morning until night, and it seemed it would keep escalating.
"You said it yourself — you only hired me for one night and I wouldn't have to 'work' for real. Did you forget, Mr. Vice President?" She stared him down while sitting on top of him in the tub.
"Correct, Bell. Haven't you noticed? I'm not a complete husband at all," he said seriously.
"Or… should I move in deeper?" His sorrowful expression almost broke her heart.
The little intern once harshly judged by this man now felt her heart crushed just as deeply. His words sounded like self-mockery about his inadequacy in bed.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered, sincerely remorseful.
She continued bathing quietly, eyes lowered to avoid looking at him — afraid she would feel even more pity. He shifted, as if nudging her to get up — perhaps he had lost the mood.
"Really sorry." She left the bathroom and opened the small adjoining room, hoping to calm herself.
Then the door creaked open. His voice sounded softly.
"I'm sorry too… Bell."
He walked over and stopped at the bed. She lay face-down, shoulders trembling as she cried. He sat beside her.
"Don't cry over how pathetic I am."
His voice was weary.
"I've been suffering like this… for a long time." She sat up and hugged him tightly.
"Remember yesterday… at the pool?"
"Yes… I remember. It shocked me the entire day," she sobbed against him.
"I'll never forget it," he said softly.
"Grandmother poured boiling water on me when I was five." His words made her flinch, looking up at him in shock.
"She wanted me dead." Her eyes widened.
"Those painful memories… even now, they're wounds that have never healed."
She hugged him tightly, hearing his heartbeat echo into hers. Then she whispered softly:
"Forget that past. Keep only the beautiful things. I will make you happy."