Chapter 5: Boss Sak

    Inside the bedroom, where most of the furniture was made of teak, an old, frail man lay on a large bed.

    That old man was Thamrongsak Khunlakorn, or Boss Sak, a powerful agricultural business tycoon and the third-generation owner of the renowned Denchai Farm, a famous dairy farm. He possessed assets worth over ten billion baht, but neither money nor followers seemed to help him escape the clutches of death. The 65-year-old man lay there, breathing heavily, with an oxygen mask covering his face.

    “Dad, we're all here now.”

    Thanrada hurriedly stepped in and sat beside her younger sister, who was holding back tears, her nose red. Theerapat took a deep breath and slowly moved to lean against the bedpost, looking at his father with a calm, sharp gaze.

    “Take care... of each other, love each other... I, I, cough, cough.”

    Thamrongsak could not continue speaking. Every word he uttered came with pain, as if someone was slicing his windpipe with a knife.

    “Don't worry, Dad. We can handle the rest ourselves, no problem.”

    Tanatcha said, her voice trembling, then nodded for Theerapat to come closer.

    “Jitra... Jitra.”

    As the end of his life approached, the old man called out for someone he had once been close to.

    “Mom can't come... but she said she's forgiven you for everything.”

    Thanrada replied.

    “Saban... Sabangna.”

    The name escaped his dry, cracked lips in a faint whisper.

    “Please... forgive me.”

    Theerapat closed his eyes and clenched his jaw. Despite trying to remain calm, he finally reached out to hold his father's hand, gently stroking it with his thumb. The old man's pained expression began to relax.

    "Thee... I'm sorry."

    Theerapat nodded, tears welling up unexpectedly. Even though he tried to convince himself that he had no attachment to his father or this place, the truth was quite the opposite.

    "Thep... I'm coming."

    With no more burdens holding him back, Thamrongsak's eyes slowly closed, accompanied by his final breath.

    Theerapat sat there holding his father's hand while his sisters embraced each other, crying. He quietly watched the lifeless body of the old man until he felt the stiffening touch. He gently withdrew his hand, leaving the important matters to his sisters, and then walked up to his bedroom, with the image of his dying father replaying in his mind.

    But the last words Thamrongsak uttered...

    Thep? Who was Thep?

    Theerapat was curious, and he needed to find the answer.

    "Boss Sak has passed away."

    Within an hour, the news spread throughout the mansion. The workers were startled but not entirely shocked. Thamrongsak had been in poor health for years, and this year his condition had worsened significantly. In addition to suffering from a stroke, he had also slipped and fractured his hip, rendering him unable to walk, and he had developed a lung infection. Many had already braced themselves for this moment. Calling back the youngest son, who had been living abroad for over a decade, was a clear sign that the end was near.

    Thanrada took charge, organizing everything according to Thamrongsak's wishes. The funeral was to be held at home, with five nights of prayer services before the cremation. His ashes would be placed in the same temple as the other deceased family members.

    The Khunlakorn mansion was bustling with activity throughout the week. Thanrada was responsible for handling the paperwork, coordinating with the temple, and checking all the insurance policies Thamrongsak had taken out, ensuring the family's benefits were secured. Meanwhile, Tanatcha took charge of organizing the funeral. She hired an event planner to construct a luxurious dome with a ceiling over 10 meters high, equipped with air conditioning, and adorned with flowers. This served as a pavilion for the prayer services, accommodating over a hundred guests. Naturally, many prominent figures attended Boss Sak's funeral. Although Theerapat was reluctant to do anything, he could not help but feel sorry for his two sisters, who were overwhelmed. So, he tried to be helpful by meeting and taking care of the guests himself.

    "Is that Boss's only son? He's quite handsome."

    "I heard he studied abroad and just returned."

    "No wonder we haven't seen him much."

    The attendees whispered among themselves, commenting on the handsome young man standing at the entrance of the pavilion. Theerapat heard some of the remarks but mostly ignored them unless someone criticized him, at which point he would confront them.

    "You ladies must have never met Mr. Thep, right?"

    Theerapat raised an eyebrow before discreetly glancing at the group of women chatting behind him.

    "Mr. Thee is just as handsome as Mr. Thep."

    "But speaking of Mr.... Oh, hello Mr. Prem!"

    Theerapat clicked his tongue as the women changed the subject upon encountering the high-ranking police officer attending the event. He then put on a sweet smile and raised his hands in a respectful gesture to greet the guests arriving.

    Meanwhile, Thongdee was busy helping out in the surrounding area. Upon hearing of Boss Sak's passing, he hurried to finish his work at the farm and immediately came to assist at the main building. He often found himself glancing at Theerapat and the group of ladies, some of whom were leading their similarly aged daughters to introduce them. The young man smiled warmly, conversing politely, his manners reflecting true gentility.

    "Uncle Thong, could you go inside and bring out the tables from the back?"

    The call snapped Thongdee out of his reverie.

    "Sure," he replied, then continued his work diligently.

    By midnight, the guests had departed. The long-time workers of the Khunlakorn family volunteered to take turns keeping watch over the master's coffin in the pavilion. Thongdee was among them, and Tanatcha ensured the workers had access to bathrooms, prepared bedding, and provided food.

    As Thongdee walked out of the bathroom, he saw Theerapat sitting with his legs stretched out on the raised platform behind the pavilion, a cigarette in his mouth. His clean-shaven face glistened with sweat, and the top two buttons of his shirt were undone, making him look utterly exhausted. Out of concern, the cowboy picked up a cold drink to offer the young master.

    "Mr. Thee... have some water."

    Theerapat turned to look at the large man, then stubbed out his cigarette on the ground.

    "Sit down."

    "Yes, sir."

    "I said sit down, right here."

    The young man patted the empty spot next to him. Thongdee glanced around to make sure no one was watching before slowly lowering himself beside his boss.

    "Open the water, put in a straw."

    The older man followed the instructions.

    "Feed me."

    "Uh... Mr. Thee."

    "I'm dead tired. Don't make me talk too much."

    "Yes, sorry."

    Thongdee brought the bottle close to the handsome face, lifting the straw to Theerapat's rose-colored lips. Theerapat took several big gulps of the cold water before saying, "That's enough." The cowboy then closed the bottle and prepared to get up, intending to head back into the pavilion.

    "I haven't told you to leave yet."

    A pale hand gripped Thongdee's arm, so he sat back down.

    "Stay still."

    Theerapat said before leaning in to rest against the broad chest, inhaling the faint scent of the freshly showered cowboy. He even lifted a hand to squeeze the soft flesh as if it were a stress ball.

    "Ah, Mr.... Mr. Thee."

    "Just the first day and I'm already this exhausted. I really don't like funerals... I don't like them at all."

    The muffled yet trembling voice of the young man stirred sympathy in the cowboy. He had no intention of moving away, but when he raised his hand to gently pat the rounded shoulder, Theerapat shook him off and stood up.

    "Don't get any ideas. You're just a cowboy."

    The words hit hard, but Thongdee simply nodded. "Yes, I apologize if I overstepped."

    The other man continued to smile, accepting his mistake, which made Theerapat's sharp nose crinkle.

    "Knowing your place is good. Go wherever you want."

    The young man dismissed him, and the larger man immediately stood up, bowed his head, and left.

    "Hmph, following orders like a champ. Does he think he’s a dog or something?"

    Theerapat muttered under his breath as he walked back into the grand building, only to find a luxury Benz parked at the entrance. The driver opened the door for a slender woman to step out. Despite the wrinkles marking her face, a testament to her sixties, her striking features and well-suited makeup gave her an elegant and age-appropriate beauty. She wore an expensive pearl necklace, carried a rare crocodile leather handbag, and donned heels over three inches high. Her strong, confident stride indicated she took good care of her health. Her snow-white hair added an air of calm and composure, reminiscent of an ice queen.

    "Mother."

    Theerapat greeted and raised his hands in a respectful wai. The woman turned to look at him, her bright red lips curling into a smile.

    "Is that you, little Thee? You've grown into a fine young man."

    She spoke as she gazed at the handsome face of the young man, finding it hard to believe... how much he resembled him.

    "Mother."

    Thanrada and Tanatcha came out to greet her, throwing themselves into their mother's arms with a mix of emotions—exhaustion and sadness. The three of them then walked inside to continue their conversation, with Theerapat following behind.

    Though the young man called this elderly woman Mother Ying, she was not his biological mother. Mrs. Jitra was Boss Sak's first wife and the biological mother of Thanrada and Tanatcha. Theerapat was the son of Boss Sak's second wife,

    who had passed away several years ago.

    Let's take a step back. In his youth, Thamrongsak was known as quite a playboy. Handsome, well-educated, and the eldest son of the wealthy Khunlakorn Family, he never dated the same beautiful woman twice in a month. But when he turned 30, his parents gently but firmly insisted that he marry Jitra, the eldest daughter of a local politician. Naturally, this marriage was a strategic alliance to bolster the prestige of both families. Denchai Farm had influential backers, while the other family received financial support from the Khunlakorns for their political endeavors.

    Initially, Thamrongsak and Jitra's married life went smoothly. Besides their equal status, age, and education, both were strikingly attractive. Wherever they went, people praised them as a perfect match. However, Thamrongsak did not love Jitra enough. After having two daughters, his old habits resurfaced. Fortunately, he never went as far as keeping a mistress. He always regarded Jitra as his number one, respecting her as his lawful wife, as long as he could occasionally indulge in a change of scenery.

    Jitra understood the nature of men well enough, as her own father had mistresses scattered throughout the province. At least Thamrongsak loved his daughters dearly, treating Thanrada and Tanatcha like princesses. So, she turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to his indiscretions. However, nothing improved in the end. The love that was once sweet turned into mere familiarity. They lived together as friends, no longer sharing the same bed or looking at each other with affection. After ten years of marriage, Thamrongsak and Jitra amicably divorced.

    The following year, while negotiating a purchase, Thamrongsak met Sabangna, the daughter of an agricultural equipment factory owner. Sabangna was beautiful, cheerful, and seemed innocent, unlike Jitra, who was a confident and capable woman with a mature allure.

    Of course, this was because Sabangna was only 19, while Thamrongsak was already 41!

    In less than four months of courtship, the widower charmed the young woman into becoming his wife. Part of the reason might have been the factory's financial troubles, which led Sabangna's father to agree to his daughter's marriage before she even finished university.

    It was from this second marriage that Thamrongsak gained a son, Theerapat.

    And so began the tragic tale within the Khunlakorn Family.

    Back to the present, Theerapat sat with his sister and Jitra, the kind-hearted mother who treated him with affection and fairness, despite him being the child of his father's second wife. Jitra inquired about the well-being of the three siblings and offered to host them the following night before flying off to meet with her design team in Paris. Yet, during their conversation, Theerapat could not shake the feeling that Jitra was secretly watching him the entire time.

    That night, the young man could not sleep.

    His tall figure wandered out of his room to find some wine, but he noticed light coming from his father's old study first. If he were someone who believed in the supernatural, he might have thought it was Thamrongsak's ghost and run away in fear. But Theerapat did not think that way, so he went to check it out. That was when he discovered Jitra sitting in his father's favorite chair, flipping through an old photo album while sipping champagne.

    "Sorry for intruding. I haven't been back to this house in a long time. After Sak passed away, I started reminiscing,"

    she said. Theerapat smiled and walked over to get a crystal glass, offering it to the older woman. "May I join you for a drink?"

    "Of course."

    Jitra quickly poured a drink for the young man.

    “Last time we met in London, little Thee was just 12. Now you're all grown up and can drink. Cheers to adulthood.”

    She swayed her head and raised her hand in a gesture of celebration. Her true personality was quite the opposite of her outward appearance.

    “How have you been?”

    “I'm doing well, still keeping up with my Pilates.”

    “What are you looking at?”

    “Oh, just some old photos. I never thought Sak would keep the album in the same place.”

    Jitra opened the album for Theerapat to see, as he had never seen it before. When they reached the last page, there was a photo of two tall men dressed like cowboys from a 70s movie. One of them was a young Thamrongsak.

    “Look at him, your father was quite handsome in his youth. No wonder women were drawn to him even though he had a family.”

    Jitra laughed as if it were a funny story, though it was actually a painful past. But Theerapat was not interested in looking at his father's picture. He was focused on the other man standing beside him.

    “Who is this?”

    The build, the height, even the face...this man looked exactly like him, down to the mole under the eye.

    “That's Thep. Don't you know Uncle Thep?”

    Theerapat frowned, looking at Jitra silently before shaking his head in response.