Chapter 10 Against His Will

• Chapter 10 A wedding against His Will
• Ladapha peered into the luxurious wedding venue where her sister's ceremony was being held. Guests were streaming in, and the elegant decorations reflected the groom's affluent background. She stepped back, conflicted. Skipping the wedding would be unthinkable as the bride’s sister, but the crowd and formal atmosphere felt suffocating.
• After a moment’s hesitation, she took a deep breath and entered. She felt out of place among the opulent surroundings and decided she’d keep a low profile. She spotted the buffet table and lingered there, finding comfort in the sight of food.
• As she nibbled on hors d'oeuvres, a stir in the crowd drew her attention. The bride and groom arrived, radiating smiles as they greeted well-wishers. Ladapha chose to watch from afar rather than approach her sister, knowing the spotlight wasn’t her scene. I'll talk to her later, she thought.
• The ceremony began, and Ladapha distracted herself with more food, half-listening to the emcee recount the couple’s love story. Her eyes occasionally drifted to her sister on stage, whose expression seemed happy on the surface but hinted at something deeper. Ladapha sighed repeatedly, wondering,
• Is marriage really that joyous?
• Two hours passed, and as dessert was being served, she decided she had eaten enough. She left the reception quietly, but not before lamenting that she’d miss out on the cake.
• As she made her way out, a sudden discomfort struck her. Her stomach churned, and she realized the food wasn’t sitting well. Panicking, she scanned the area and hastily asked a hotel staff member for directions to the restroom.
• She rushed through the halls, paying no attention to her surroundings, focusing only on her urgent mission. Nearly twenty minutes later, Ladapha emerged from the restroom, feeling relieved but drained. She walked to the sink, set her bag down, and took a deep breath. Maybe it was something I ate," she mused.
• As she leaned against the sink and fiddled with her phone, she glanced up—and froze. Standing in front of her was a man, calm and composed, staring back at her. Her phone slipped from her grasp in shock, hitting the floor with a thud.
• The man bent down and handed it back to her, his expression unreadable. Ladapha’s face flushed as she realized her mistake—she had accidentally entered the men’s restroom.
• “Th-thank you…” she stammered, her voice barely audible. He smiled faintly, his demeanor calm but his eyes amused.
• “You seem to do this often,” he remarked, his tone neutral but laced with irony.
• Before she could muster a response, he walked out, leaving her rooted in place, both embarrassed and confused.
• What did he mean, ‘often’? Does he know me? Has this happened before?
• Her legs wobbled as she exited the restroom, her mind spinning. If he was a guest at the wedding, the thought of encountering him again made her stomach churn anew. Shaking her head, Ladapha decided to skip rejoining the reception altogether.
• If I see him again, I might just have to disappear into the ground!
• The wedding had drained much of Tharatchanan’s energy—she never imagined how exhausting a wedding could be. Once the guests and family had left, she sat on the bed, her gaze following Sarunphat, who silently removed his clothes and disappeared into the bathroom without exchanging a single word with her. Not that it was surprising; their conversations throughout the day could be counted on one hand.
• She was older than him. And he didn’t love her.
• These truths were evident long before they got married.
• Letting out a heavy sigh, Tharatchanan began removing her jewelry and hairpins. The bathroom door opened, and her eyes instinctively turned toward him—only to widen in shock. She glanced away, swallowing hard.
• Oh my! Goodness gracious, this abs... So tempting to touch!
• She mentally slapped herself and focused on tidying up her hair, pretending she hadn’t noticed. Sarunphat had already changed into his pajamas and was now laying a pillow and blanket on the floor at the foot of the bed. She hesitated, unsure how to address the situation, and instead retreated into the bathroom to change, giving herself time to think.
• This new house, grand, was chosen by his family. While Sarunphat had wanted to remain in his condo, his parents insisted otherwise. For Tharatchanan, the decision was made without her input. She merely nodded along with the elders’ wishes.
• Maybe agreeing to this marriage was a colossal mistake,
• She thought as she emerged from the bathroom, drying her hair and applying lotion. She approached the bed, noticing Sarunphat already lying down on the floor. Gathering her courage, she crouched next to him and gently tapped his arm.
• Sarunphat opened one eye, his expression wary, and immediately shifted away from her.
• “I was just going to suggest that you sleep on the bed,” she offered timidly, her tone soft and unsure. His stony gaze made her second-guess her approach.
• “You can take the bed,” he replied curtly, rolling over to face the other direction.
• “You’ll hurt your back sleeping on the floor,” she persisted. He remained silent, as though she hadn’t spoken. Frustrated, she grabbed a pillow and lay down beside him on the floor.
• “If you don’t move, then I’ll sleep here too,” she declared.
• Sarunphat turned, eyes wide with disbelief. “What are you doing?”
• “Sleeping. Go ahead, get comfortable,” she quipped with a cheeky grin.
• “You should sleep in the bed. I’m fine here,” he replied, sitting upright and glaring at her.
• Tharatchanan huffed, crossing her arms. “How can I sleep up there knowing you’re stuck down here? And don’t worry—I’m not going to try anything funny. I know you don’t even like women.”
• Sarunphat froze, his expression darkening.
• “Don’t look so shocked,” she added, her smile awkward. “Since we’re married now, why don’t we just... be friends?”
• Without responding, Sarunphat stood, grabbed his pillow, and climbed onto the bed. Tharatchanan chuckled quietly at his reaction. Grabbing her pillow, she joined him on the opposite side of the bed, only to notice how he shifted as far away as possible, hugging the edge.
• “Relax, Sarunphat. I’m not going to attack you in your sleep,” she teased, shaking her head.
• He remained silent, turning his back to her. She barely caught his muttered words: “If you knew, why did you marry me?”
• His question lingered in the air. Tharatchanan thought for a moment before replying softly, “Because it’s better than being stuck in a single lane forever.”
• With that, she rolled over, her back facing his. She sighed deeply, convincing herself that her decision wasn’t the worst thing she’d ever done...