Chapter 4

An official rivalry

Stubborn and spoiled as ever... That was the only way Boramat could describe his little sister at the moment.

The young man closed the folder in front of him, pushing it away as he leaned back in his chair. The main reason he’d been working nonstop since his return was all because of his headstrong sister. The sooner he could clear his work, the sooner he could bring Mongkutmook home.

He’d already spoken with a friend who owned a private university in Bangkok, who agreed to transfer her credits as soon as her injuries healed, even though she had only one semester left.

“Matt,”

A tall, slender young woman with a face strikingly similar to Mokkutmook's entered the room, carrying a large stack of files. Her voice betrayed a hint of weariness.

“You should’ve had someone help you bring those in.”

Boramat said, standing up to relieve her of the weight and moving the grey files to his desk. Then he guided his sister to sit on the sofa in the seating area.

“The secretary’s already overloaded with work, so I brought these myself. Besides, I needed to talk with you about something.”

A discussion… it would no doubt involve their troublesome little sister.

“As I reported over the phone, your precious little sister is still as busy as ever stirring up trouble.”

“Dad and Mom are starting to get suspicious. They keep asking about Mook, and you know I’m not good at lying. I’ve been lying so much that I feel guilty at this point.”

If they kept pressing, it was only a matter of time before they learned the truth—that their precious daughter was bedridden.

Although their parents’ marriage had ended in divorce, Mr. Putch and Mrs. Puangyok had remained on good terms. Paramee who had faced her own failures in marriage, had moved back in with their mother. Mr. Putch handed over the family’s renewable energy business to his two eldest children and retired to a simpler life with his new wife in the north, while still serving as an advisor to his children when needed.

As for Boramat, he was rarely home, often traveling around the country to oversee various branches of the company. Even when he was stationed at the headquarters in Bangkok, the free-spirited young man preferred to stay in his own house on the outskirts rather than with his mother and sister.

“Think of it this way: if lying brings them peace of mind, then it’s not that bad.”

“You’re always joking around, Matt.”

“Mook just hung up on me before you came in.”

“Another fight, I presume?” The elder sister looked exasperated. Lately, her brother and sister couldn’t even go a moment without a quarrel. Despite this, Boramat was the only one in the family who could (and dared to) reach out to Mongkutmook.

“You say that like it’s something new. If Mook and I ever greeted each other sweetly, that would be the real shock.”

“Couldn’t you just let her win for once? You’re always so harsh on her,” the one, ever the protective older sister, continued to defend Mook.

“Hah, I’ll let up when pigs fly.” If I back down even once, Mongkutmook will only get more spoiled. “Besides, the VIS project in Songkhla is progressing quickly. Soon, I’ll need to be stationed there until everything’s set up.”

Paramee nodded in understanding. Her brother had made her proud in more ways than one. Originally, their father’s business had been mid-sized, bordering on small, but after Boramat graduated, he overhauled the company’s entire operations.

It had been thirteen years since he started working full-time, all while completing his master’s degree. Eight years ago, he’d been appointed CEO by their father, with her as Vice President, both receiving the full support of the board of directors.

Boramat had successfully listed VIS on the stock exchange early on in his career, renaming it to VIS Group Public Company Limited. Under his leadership, the company had risen to prominence as a leader in renewable energy across the Asia-Pacific region, branching into wind, solar, and hydroelectric power both domestically and internationally.

Currently, VIS Solar Thailand, a solar power subsidiary he had established eight years prior, was headquartered in the VIS building, with four solar production and quality testing facilities distributed throughout the country.

One VIS Solar branch was already operating in the South, and the new Songkhla power plant under construction would become the second. Paramee knew perfectly well that Boramat had chosen that location to stay close to Mongkutmook. She, as the eldest, sometimes felt outdone by his confident decision-making, but their father had recognized long ago that Boramat was the right one for the job.

“You had this plan all along, didn’t you?”

“There was no plan,” the young man dodged the pointed questions, reaching for a file on the table to review quarterly revenue figures instead.

“No need to act so tough. Just admit you’re worried about Mook. Honestly, I think your stubbornness could break a rock.”

His hardened demeanor, she thought, was probably why his subordinates feared him as much as turtles feared leaving their shells.

“Since you’re already set on relocating to oversee the new site, I think Mook should just finish up her last semester there instead of transferring to Bangkok.”

“That place has been her playground for mischief for years now. You, staying with Mom, know better than anyone just how much she misses Mook.”

“But will bringing her back really help? As much as I love her, Mook’s peace of mind has to come first. Mook is still stubborn. Even if we bring her back to live under the same roof as Mom, what’s the point if they can’t understand each other? Sometimes being physically close only makes the emotional distance feel even greater.”

“Where do you go to get someone’s personality reconditioned? We should have Mook’s bad habits straightened out.”

“There you go again,” she’d never win in conversations like these. “Will you go see Mom now that you’re back?”

“Yeah, this evening. But don’t tell her.”

“Don’t let me tell mom. Worried she’ll set you up with someone? Honestly, meeting some women might do you some good—keep things lively.” Mom said to her that she’d love to have a grandchild and have her eye on the daughter of a VIS Group executive for him. But Boramat clearly wasn’t on board.

“More of a nightmare, if you ask me.”

Paramee held back a laugh. It was remarkable how even someone as small and charming as Apsorn could make Boramat want to avoid coming home.

“You know, Somjeed is lovely and very attentive, and she often comes over to take Mom shopping, for manicures, to charity events, and even to the spa.”

“All that trivial women's nonsense—Somjeed is definitely not my type. If I’m going to marry, I want a wife, not a kindergarten kid to babysit. If she’s so well-liked, Mom should marry her.”

“And where are you off to now?” The young woman called as her younger brother started to leave.

“Work.” Boramat waved a hand to his sister without looking back. “See you at home tonight.”

“Why don’t you shave before then? It’s growing in a bit thick; if Mom sees it, you know she’ll complain.”

“Nope, I think I’ll keep it rugged like a thug. Gives Mom something to nag about—spices things up.”

That was the way he was—stern enough to make his subordinates cower. What woman would dare approach him without a middleman, like the way Apsorn had won their mother over? The more Paramee thought about it, the more worried she became. She couldn’t help but worry, wondering what kind of woman could even manage Boramat.

“Nurse Sor.”

“Yes?”

Patsasika responded to her patient, who was staring at her as she worked on setting up a new IV bottle, hoping this would be the last.

“When’s the doctor going to let me out of this hospital? I’m beyond bored.”

“Probably when you’ve gotten enough rest and haven’t been reading until you give yourself a headache.”

Truthfully, part of the blame fell on her. If only she’d been a little stricter, she might have managed to stop the patient from pushing herself too hard. However, having gone through the grind of exam preparation herself, she understood all too well how precious those moments of review could feel—like gold.

“But I have exams in two days.”

“Then you need to get plenty of rest. Once you feel better, you'll be ready to take the exam with your friends.”

The young nurse said, gathering the study materials from the bed and setting them on the bedside table, a subtle way of signaling her stubborn patient that it was time for sleep.

"Bored!"

“What are you bored of?”

“Just one more term until graduation, but I’m bored of home. I don’t want to go back. I’d rather stay here longer.”

Patsasika smiled at her patient, who had cast her gaze downward, staring at her own hand. Just before Mongkutmook looked down, though, Patsasika had noticed the sorrow and unshed tears brimming in her eyes. Though she didn’t know much of the backstory, she knew only that her patient came from a wealthy family, with one older brother and one older sister, and that her parents had divorced. But she wasn’t about to ask why Mongkutmook didn’t want to return home—some questions might be too sensitive.

“If you have exams in two days, I’ll take you there myself. Once you’re done, you can come back here to rest.”

“Really?”

The girl’s face lit up, relieved that she wouldn’t have to file for a deferred exam.

“Yes, really.”

“To be honest, I usually don’t get along well with nurses. There’s a pretty horrible memory that still sticks with me.”

That made sense. So far, Mongkutmook had shown open resistance toward all the nursing staff, though not toward any of the doctors or other staff.

“With you, Nurse Sor, I’m being way more cooperative than usual. It’d probably be even better if you were just some ordinary woman and not a nurse, not like the one I’d love to curse and banish to the far ends of the world. But, oh well, you’re a nurse anyway.”

“Yes, that’s true.”

Both women laughed together. Mongkutmook seemed far more at ease than she had on her first day in the private ward, and Patsasika could honestly say that this side of her was much more pleasant than her usual difficult demeanor.

Then, the phone on the bedside table began to ring. Mongkutmook’s smile dropped immediately. She was sure it was her brother calling, but when she picked it up, her face turned pale. She hadn’t saved the number, but she knew this one by heart.

“Dad…”

Mongkutmook bit her lip, her eyes meeting the private nurse’s as if seeking advice. Patsasika offered only a gentle smile. The experience made it clear that phone conversations between Mongkutmook and her family rarely ended well. The patient visibly hesitated, the new, cutting-edge phone in her hand still ringing amidst the room's deafening silence. There were only two choices—answer it or ignore it.

How long had it been since she’d last heard her father’s voice…? Maybe he had heard that she was sick and was calling to check on her.

Her smooth face turned slightly flushed, and a faint smile reached her eyes. It was only natural for human to long for the care of a loved one in times of illness; just hearing his voice would make her feel better. But just as she reached to answer, the call ended.

“Um, I’ll excuse myself to use the restroom.” Knowing that her presence might discourage Mongkutmook from returning her father’s call, the young woman stepped out of the room.

More than ten minutes passed as Mongkutmook held the phone in her hands, wondering how to start the conversation with her father if she called back. Should she ask him how he was doing? Tell him that she missed him? Maybe start by talking about her condition? Taking a deep breath, she dialed the number, her heart pounding like it was about to leap out of her chest.

“Hello?”

Mongkutmook almost stopped breathing. The voice wasn’t her father’s; it was a woman’s voice. And even though she’d only heard it a few times, she remembered it all too well... it was her father’s new wife, the woman who had stolen him away from her mother without any regard.

“Mook, hold on a second. Your father just stepped downstairs. I’ll go get him for you.”

The girl felt her whole body go numb as tears began streaming down her face like a dam had burst. She bit her delicate lip so hard it began to bleed.

“Mook? Mook… are you there?”

In her anguish, she ended the call and switched off the phone. Her father had called only to show off how happy he was in his new life, hadn’t he? He had never loved her, never missed her the way she had constantly missed him.

Swallowing down her bitterness felt almost impossible. Her tears kept falling as quiet sobs escaped, her mind reeling in despair, unbothered that she was the only one in the room to hear. Her gaze drifted to the IV in her hand. In that fragile state of mind, her other hand reached for it, slowly pulling the needle from her vein. Bright red blood spread across her clothes and stained the hospital sheets, marked with the hospital’s name. The young woman, feeling that she had nothing left, looked down at the spreading crimson with a blank stare.

... Perhaps if she disappeared from this world today, no one would shed a tear.

The tall figure stood motionless beside the hospital bed. The worst news, even worse than finding out that Mongkutmook’s motorcycle had lost control, came when Ganthorn, whom he had tasked with keeping a distant watch over his younger sister, called close to midnight to say she had caused trouble again. What’s more, his heart as an older brother felt as though it had been doused with acid when he learned this wasn’t just ordinary trouble—Mongkutmook had attempted to take her own life intentionally.

Boramat had wanted to rush to the hospital immediately, but fortunately, Pongpai had held him back and quickly booked the earliest morning flight. Now he was here, despite his original plan to arrive in another four days.

His dark, steady gaze lingered on his younger sister lying pale on the hospital bed, a mix of disappointment and sorrow in his eyes. Mongkutmook had hurt herself without considering how those left behind would continue on. He moved his thick hand near her face, intending to brush her hair back, but paused when he saw her eyes moving beneath her closed eyelids.

The soft yellow light above the ceiling caused Mongkutmook to blink repeatedly, trying to dispel the stinging in her eyes. She raised her hand to hold her head, which felt heavy and throbbed as if a drum set was being pounded in her skull. She turned to her left, and there stood her brother, watching her with a blank expression. A wave of guilt washed over her as his face revealed the sorrow and disappointment he felt.

“P’Matt…”

Just finding the courage to meet his gaze was difficult enough, but forcing an apology past her lips was even harder.

“Disappointed you’re still lying here, are you? Just pulling out an IV doesn’t make you bleed to death.” Boramat said flatly.

“I…”

“Sorry it didn’t go the way you wanted, aren’t you?”

Mongkutmook let out a choked sob, tears blurring her vision of her brother’s face. She didn’t even know why she was crying—

…Was it sorrow?

…Regret?

…Disappointment that she hadn’t received any comfort?

Patsasika, who had entered to check her patient’s blood pressure and temperature, froze just inside the doorway. The chill of this cold war surpassed even the usual verbal battles between the siblings. Boramat glanced at her briefly, his eyes full of silent questions, before turning back to the one on the bed.

“Be ready this evening.”

“This evening?” The girl repeated, her elegant eyebrows knitting together in confusion.

“I’ve already arranged a hospital transfer to Bangkok. This evening, a medical helicopter will come to take you back with me.”

Everything had been prepared for Mongkutmook: the helicopter, a medical team, and a VIP room at the country’s best private hospital.

“No, I’m not going.”

Mongkutmook protested in a hoarse voice that sounded more like pleading than defiance. But it was Patsasika who felt herself go numb. His actions implied that her care and that of the university hospital here were insufficient in his eyes.

“I’m not done with school, P’Matt.”

“You can finish up over there. You don’t get a say in this anymore.”

“But…”

“I need a word with you…Nurse Sor,” the young man shifted his attention to another target.

“Nurse Sor, please, help me. I don’t want to go with him.”

Mongkutmook’s tear-stained face as she pleaded, nearly brought Patsasika to tears as well. But before she could say anything, the dictator of a brother had already ushered her out of the room.

The rooftop garden was empty at this early morning hour. The recent rain had left the air fresh, and dewdrops clung to the flowers and leaves. Yet, the tranquil scene did nothing to cool the tension between the patient’s brother and her private nurse.

“No matter what, I must insist that you cannot move the patient,” Patsasika was already weary after a half-hour of defending her position, each reason countered by Boramat without hesitation.

“Wouldn’t you be relieved? Mook is difficult to handle. I’m taking her home, so you’ll finally be free.”

“Yes, but I’d be happier if you moved her once her condition is more stable. Right now, she’s deeply hurt—both physically and emotionally.”

“I’m her brother. That means I have every right to move her to whatever hospital I want.”

“Yes, I know you’re wealthy…extremely so, and that you’re used to getting your way. But your sister is my patient, and I can tell that she’s unwilling to leave with you.”

"And does pulling her IV line out for the third time since you became her private nurse, or trashing her room shows that she wants to stay here?”

Boramat’s smirk was sharp, fully aware that Patsasika had already seen Mongkutmook’s explosive temper at its worst. She should be thanking him for planning to move his sister from this place.

“Regardless, I still have to give the patient the best care I can,” the young nurse admitted, owning the blame, though he was exaggerating things.

The truth was, Mongkutmook had removed her IV line the first time before she was even her private nurse, and it had happened after an argument with Boramat.

The second incident was an accident when she’d thrown a pillow at Palin.

The third time, she’d done it right after a phone call with her father, though Patsasika hadn’t known what they discussed.

In short, none of it had involved her at all, though Boramat’s accusations now tried to rope her in unfairly.

“What kind of best care, hmm…”

The young man eyed her strikingly sharp features, noticing how her large, dark eyes met his with open defiance. An idea formed as he held her gaze. If being civil didn’t work, maybe a bit of provocation would.

“Or you could just keep up the care at my house. I’ve got plenty of empty rooms, even some extra space in mine… Nurse Sor.”

Boramat’s ‘Nurse Sor’ boiled with instant indignation, her face flushed red with a controlled fury that seemed on the brink of boiling over.

...This man was too much! And she wouldn’t stand for it anymore!!!

“You…!”

“It’s Boramat. My name is Boramat. Make sure to remember my name well.”