Chapter 27

Assassination attempt

The three children sat happily eating sweets. Sister Prae mentioned that she had tried making Siamese desserts for John to taste, and he loved them. They were just the right amount of sweet. He even started selling Praewa's desserts in his store, even though his shop wasn't a dessert shop at all.

Customers who entered John's store were all confused. The shop sold perfumes, but there were desserts for sale too! Initially, everyone was puzzled, but eventually, they got used to it.

Customers who tasted them just let it slide because the shop owner himself said they were his lover's desserts!

John elegantly packaged Praewa's desserts in boxes matching the style of his perfume shop.

"That's so nice~ Working together to make a living, and they're not even married yet," Mafueang teased.

Praewa pinched Mafueang's cheek. "You really love teasing me, don't you?"

"How long have you been selling them?" Manfah asked.

"It's only been a week, but the feedback has been quite good so far."

"That's great."

John sipped his hot coffee. "Praewa's desserts are delicious, so they'll sell well and make a profit, especially with me around."

The three children chuckled. Mafueang asked, "What do you do for work, Brother Jon?"

"I produce perfumes for sale, but it's not a big business."

He says it's not big, yet he sells luxurious, expensive products!

"Brother Jon comes from a well-off family, doesn't he?" Mafueang recalled that on the first day, Sister Prae had mentioned that Brother Jon had an extraordinary background.

Praewa looked at John, who didn't really like talking about this topic.

"Brother Jon’s family is nobility, but he prefers to act like an ordinary person. He seems down-to-earth, but not quite."

Praewa laughed. No matter how friendly and approachable he was, he couldn't erase the aura of a high-born noble.

John frowned. "I just find my family annoying. Besides, I don't like being a noble, so I came here to start my business."

"Your parents followed you here, didn't they? You should visit them, John. It's not good to ignore them," Praewa was concerned for her lover.

"Have you met Brother Jon’s parents before, Sister Prae?"

"Yes, Brother John’s father wanted me to help with his work."

"I'm not going. It's too bothersome. My family has six other brothers. If I'm missing, it won't ruin the family. Some of them even have kids, so there's no worry about the family lineage."

Wow... such a big family, Manfah thought to herself.

Praewa sighed. "They even threatened you about the inheritance."

"Are you interested in my family's inheritance?"

"What do you think?" Praewa asked with a smile.

"They told you to marry me and stay at home, but you didn't agree. I know you're not interested."

"That's right," Praewa smiled sweetly at her lover. "You should talk to your parents properly. They see Siam as an underdeveloped country and are naturally worried you'll face hardships."

"Have you ever seen me struggle? They're just imagining things."

Mafai asked while sipping his drink, "Do Brother Jon's parents dislike Sister Prae?"

The plot of parents disliking the daughter-in-law is too common.

Praewa replied casually, "I don't know. Maybe they aren't very impressed with me."

"I don't care. I've chosen to live my life here. The woman I'm going to marry is you, Praewa."

The three little ones slurped their drinks loudly. That's too sweet, hey!

Manfah spoke up, "When it comes to parents not accepting someone, I think it takes time. Sister Prae is very lovely and a good person. Someday they'll see that. Look at my parents. You all know it's not easy with cross-class love."

John “…’

Praewa “…”

"Don't fight with stubbornness, okay? Because in the end, the one who gets hurt the most is yourself," Manfah gazed out the window, pretending to be dramatic.

Mafai scratched his head. What to do when a friend is sad?

Mafueang's eyes were red. She was deeply moved by her friend's drama.

John and Praewa exchanged glances. Praewa said, "We'll try our best to support each other. I love John, but I'm also scared. Scared of being hurt, scared of us separating."

This was the real reason she fled here. Praewa was just an ordinary woman. She thought John might forget her after she ran away, but instead, he followed her here. John embraced Praewa.

"I'll be more patient. This is a delicate matter. I should face it head-on and speak clearly, not run away and show annoyance to my parents."

Manfah turned back at just the right moment. "That's good. I don't want you to regret your stubbornness later. Gradually prove your love to them. Even if you marry without Brother Jon's parents' consent, when you both are happy and living well, and they see their grandchildren, Brother Jon's parents will eventually understand your happiness. Not every couple can live on love alone like my parents. Let me tell you, my grandfather was quite a rebel to go against my parents like that. At first, I was angry, but now I'm too tired to be mad because, in the end, my grandfather loves me the most and spoils me the most."

John nodded. "Thanks for reminding this Brother Jon."

Manfah smiled broadly. Mafueang and Mafai felt relieved. Being an adult is truly not easy.

Praewa said, "Little Manfah, you don’t seem like a twelve-year-old at all."

Mafai teased, "This girl is so worldly-wise, all for money."

Ha ha∼ Everyone laughed heartily as usual.

Manfah rode her bike to take Mafueang and Mafai home.

As she looked up at the sky, she saw it was already dark.

"Oh no, I'm definitely going to get scolded by Grandpa."

Manfah hurriedly pedaled her bike home, feeling uneasy. She tried to cycle as fast as she could. Suddenly, she fell along with her bike. Before she could cry out in pain, someone dragged her into the garden forest. Her heart raced with fear.

Manfah was dragged far away, then kicked. Her small frame curled up from the blow to her stomach.

"You bastard!"

"For such a little kid, you've got quite the mouth," this man’s voice was all too familiar to her.

"Who are you?"

"You're close to dying, so you don't need to know. Blame your grandfather. Don't be scared. I'll take you to be with your parents, so your whole family can be happy."

Manfah tried to prop herself up, breathing heavily, her body shaking. It hurt like hell!

"Well... you really are trash among trash. You even target a pretty kid like me."

"Hmph! Just like your father, you have a sharp tongue."

"From what you said, it seems you really hate my father. You must have been the one who had Aunt Oradee kill my mother. But you're also the one behind my father's death."

"You're well-informed. Actually, you should have died too, little girl, but I haven't had the chance."

"Coming to kill me sneakily like this means my grandfather must have dealt with Aunt Oradee already. No wonder he left so early."

"Then hurry up and die. There's nothing more to say."

The man pulled out a knife, intending to stab Manfah.

“Ah... I just bought this today and haven't had a chance to practice using it yet,” the corner of Manfah’s mouth lifted into a smile.

Her eyes grew colder and more intense.

As the atmosphere shifted, the killer was startled, unable to help but feel fear towards this child. Despite her age, she remained remarkably composed.

He had to kill her quickly!

Bang!

Manfah intended to use the gun from her dimension to shoot the man dead, but a gunshot rang out from behind her first. She watched as the killer was shot right in front of her, blood splattering across her face. His body fell backward onto the ground.

The killer was dead!

Manfah turned around and saw Phraya Decha Damrongsak standing there, holding a rifle.

“Grandfather!”

“Man!” Phraya Decha Damrongsak handed the gun to Somyot and rushed to embrace Manfah.

“I’m sorry I came late.”

Phraya Decha Damrongsak’s body trembled as he hugged her tightly, as if afraid his granddaughter might disappear. Then he checked her over, noticing the severe bruising on her abdomen.

“I’ll take you to the hospital. You're badly hurt.”

Soldiers came to deal with the killer's corpse, and Phraya Decha Damrongsak and Somyot took Manfah to the hospital in the provincial city.

When they arrived at the hospital, Manfah received treatment and was placed in a private room. She remained unconscious throughout the night due to the medication. Phraya Decha Damrongsak stayed by her side all night, so Somyot had to return home to get a change of clothes.

Sudlor and Grandpa Puang stayed at the house, their hearts uneasy because of Manfah's injuries.