"Khun Mayura," Kaew called out as she walked towards Mayura to welcome Rak to her home.
The two exchanged greetings.
Mayura then inquired, "Is everything to your liking, Khun Kaew?"
Kaew smiled. "Absolutely. The setup is beautiful, and the outfits are perfect. Honestly, you didn't have to go to this much trouble."
Mayura smiled in return. "You're my first customer, after all. I must prioritize your happiness above everything else, so please don't feel burdened."
The photo shoot commenced with a traditional style, followed by two modern sets, one taken outdoors and another indoors. By afternoon's end, Mayura had finished capturing images of Kaew and her father.
Before departing, Mayura addressed Kaew, "I'll try to finish editing the pictures soon. If you'd like, you can come to my studio to pick up the portraits, or I can have them delivered to your place, Khun Kaew."
Kaew smiled. "It's fine. I'll drop by to pick them up, and there's no rush. Take your time."
Mayura nodded and smiled.
Just as Mayura was about to leave, Kaew called out, "Wait!"
"Khun Rak," Kaew cleared her throat, "are you free by any chance?"
Mayura looked confused then smiled.
"Is it okay if I interview you about the opening of your new studio?" Kaew asked.
Mayura responded to Kaew's proposal, "Now?"
Kaew shook her head. "No, not today. I mean whenever you're finished with the editing."
Taking a moment to consider, Mayura thoughtfully weighed her options.
Kaew's expression turned slightly sad as she said, "It's okay if you're not okay with it. I don't want to burden you- I know that suddenly asking for an interview is sketchy,but I promise today's photoshoot has nothing to do with this"
Mayura smiled reassuringly. "I'll have to see if I'm available on that day. I'll contact you if I'm free."
As Mayura left, Kaew couldn't contain her excitement. "Yes!" she cheered.
Ken, watching the interaction, remarked, "Khun Rak is too nice... sad she had to meet someone like you."
Kaew playfully hit his shoulder. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm your friend, you know."
Before heading home, Mayura stopped by her studio, where the staff greeted her warmly.
Upon entering, someone called out to her.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, police cars lined the streets, their sirens blaring.
Netiwit Singhaphat examined the lifeless body on the ground, noting the marks on the neck indicating a fierce struggle.
"It appears the crime took place yesterday or at least close to midnight, Lieutenant," one of his subordinates reported.
Netiwit rose to his feet. "Secure the area. Ensure no one enters."
As he surveyed the scene, Netiwit spotted a business card on the ground.
"Mayura Lekcharuthas?" He read aloud.
Back at the station, Netiwit handed the business card to a fellow officer. "Contact this person. We need her for questioning."
"Yes, Lieutenant," the officer acknowledged.
Entering his office, Netiwit glanced at the board covered in pictures. Anupong's image stood out among them.
"Mayura? How does she fit into this?" Netiwit wondered aloud.
Suddenly, he was interrupted by a commotion downstairs.
"That voice... Sarah!" Netiwit exclaimed.
Rushing downstairs, he found Sarah holding onto the arm of a man, pushing him to the ground.
Netiwit approached them. "Sarah, what are you doing here?"
Sarah explained the situation. "This pervert was caught taking pictures up women's skirts! Luckily, I caught him!"
Just then, another person could be seen running and entering the station.
"Sarah!" Mayura called out.
Sarah turned to her friend. "Rak, what are you doing here?"
"Da called me, saying you got into some trouble," Mayura explained, grabbing Sarah's hands to check for any injuries. "Are you hurt anywhere?"
Netiwit interjected, "Sarah's not hurt anywhere. The one that's hurt is over there."
Mayura followed Netiwit's gaze and saw an injured man with bruises on his face.
"What happened, Sarah?" Mayura inquired.
As the officers recorded the incident, Sarah explained, "I was taking orders normally when suddenly one of my staff notified me about someone taking pictures and looking at her weirdly while she was picking up a spoon that he deliberately dropped!"
The man retorted, "You have no evidence, so stop accusing me of such nonsense. And besides, she seduced me. I didn't do anything!"
Sarah clenched her fist. "Evidence? You think I'm stupid? My cameras captured everything. Not only that, but everyone at the cafe could be a witness!"
"Stop!" Netiwit intervened.
As the conflict was resolved, Sarah thanked Netiwit.
"Thank you, P'Wit, but please don't tell my parents about this. If my dad knows about this, he'll surely fly here in minutes," Sarah requested.
Netiwit nodded reassuringly before turning to Mayura, who was still by his side.
Sarah then introduced her friend. "This is my friend. Her name is Mayura."
"Mayura? Mayura Lekcharuthas, right?" Netiwit asked.
Mayura, confused, inquired, "Do we know each other?"
"No, I just happened to need your help with something," Netiwit clarified.
After Sarah left for her cafe, Mayura and Netiwit entered Netiwit's office, where Mayura noticed pictures on the board.
"Anupong? Why is his picture there?" Mayura wondered quietly.
Quickly flipping the board to hide the pictures and information, Netiwit composed himself before sitting down with Mayura.
Handing her a business card, Netiwit asked, "This is yours, am I correct?"
Mayura nodded. "Yes, is there a problem?"
"Your business card was found at one of our crime scenes," Netiwit revealed, showing her a picture of the victim. "Do you know him?"
Mayura examined the picture closely. It was the man she had met not long ago.
"Yes, I met him yesterday. He came for a job interview, but because my studio wasn't really ready yet, I told him to come back in a few weeks. Why?" Mayura answered.
Netiwit then showed Mayura a picture of the dead victim. "He was found dead this morning at a construction site. I was wondering if you were the last person he was in contact with."
Examining the pictures, Mayura noticed a mark on the man's neck. Anupong and now this dead person... what exactly was going on?
As Mayura exited the building, Netiwit watched her go, his mind still processing the encounter. Meanwhile, his coworker, Sergeant Chat Chaipoowapat, approached him.
"Lieutenant, did you get anything from Khun Mayura?" Chat inquired.
Netiwit shook his head. "No."
"That's probably because she's not involved. I mean, she only returned not long ago, and she's busy opening her studio," Chat reasoned.
Netiwit regarded Chat curiously. "How do you know all this?"
Chat scratched his head sheepishly. "Well, her studio is close to the station, and my girlfriend happens to work there."
"Ah, I see," Netiwit replied thoughtfully. "There's just something about her that seems off."
"You're overthinking it, maybe you should take some rest, Lieutenant. The case has taken a toll on you," Chat suggested before heading back to his desk.
Meanwhile, inside her car, Mayura couldn't shake off the images she had seen earlier. It was clear to her that all of this couldn't be a coincidence—the dead body and now Anupong's involvement. However, she couldn't fathom why Anupong would be involved in something so risky, considering his careful nature.
"Perhaps... is it?" Mayura muttered to herself, shaking her head in confusion.
At another location, a glass hit the floor as Unakan punched his subordinate, Phanumas Panyarachun, causing him to fall to the ground. Unakan's expression was filled with anger as he turned to his sister, Wansa Wannapa Phatipatanawong.
"How should I punish him?" Unakan asked, his voice seething with fury.
Wansa quickly dropped to her knees, pleading, "P'Unakan, I'm sorry. It was on impulse. I had no choice."
Unakan looked at his sister with a mix of frustration and disappointment. He reached down to stroke her hair before pulling it harshly. "Do you think the police are that dumb? Sooner or later, they'll connect it back to you. If not for the fact that you're my sister, you would've been dead already."
Wansa promised, "I swear there won't be a next time."
Unakan stood up and commanded, "Get out of sight. I don't want to see you for the next few weeks. Lay low, you hear me?"
Wansa nodded abruptly before leaving the room.
"You're probably stressed out now, aren't you, ai'Anupong?"
He leaned back in his seat, well aware of the impact Wansa's actions were having on Anupong, and he seemed to derive some satisfaction from it.
**At Anupong's Estate**
"P'Anupong, have you seen the news?" Nee burst into his study, her breath quick with urgency.
Without lifting his gaze from the documents in his hand, Anupong gave a small nod.
"It's got to be Wansa," Nee spat, pacing the room. "That reckless wench! The police have been sniffing around more than usual, and it's only a matter of time before they connect it back to you. That construction site belongs to us!"
Anupong closed the binder slowly, setting it on the table with deliberate care. "Nee, why don't you relax and head back? I'll take care of this."
"But P'Anupong, it's obvious they're doing this on purpose! And ai'Unakan—he should have stayed abroad. Why did he come back? Is he thinking of returning to the palace? Mother told me about the Amatsynodic Orb. Could that be why he's here?"
Anupong's expression hardened, his voice calm but firm. "Nee, I said go back."
Frustrated, Nee stormed out, leaving the room heavy with tension.
Anupong's frown deepened at the mention of the Amatsynodic Orb. The orb was no ordinary artifact; it was a relic of immense power, tied to the heart of the ancient forest. Whoever controlled it would wield unstoppable force, beyond any mortal authority. But its presence had vanished long ago, after the guardian who protected it perished. The orb, bound to its guardian, would not resurface until its owner appeared or until it chose another—a new protector.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair. Nee's suspicions weren't without merit. Unakan's sudden return wasn't a coincidence, especially not with rumors swirling about the orb. But there was something else gnawing at him—why had Wansa been so careless? She was always so precise, so quiet in her dealings. This time, she was leaving a trail, as if trying to direct suspicion toward him.