로그인The evening had settled quietly over Mae Rim by the time Nora finally left the cottage.She hadn't eaten all day.She hadn't even noticed.There is a saying that "a person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts."That was what she was going through now. Her mind had been so consumed with her mother, JJ's warning, and everything else that there had been no room left for something as insignificant as hunger.The evening air in the neighborhood park was nice. She sat on an empty bench. She had been home for nearly an hour, but it felt suffocating."Nora?"She looked up.Arlo stood several feet away, looking casual as usual. He wore a simple, large hoodie and shorts. One hand held the leash of one of his dogs.He's only walking one tonight?"When did you get back?" Nora said, scanning him."A little while ago." He smiled faintly. "I actually came by to say hello, but you weren't around."She nodded."Welcome back," she said softly.Something about her tone made
The next two days passed in a slow, gray blur of complete isolation. Nora spent the entire forty-eight hours indoors, completely lacking the mental energy to step outside her cottage doors even once.Her friends were scattered across the continent; Regina had unexpectedly flown out to Cambodia for an urgent regional tourism summit, while Maya's textile production meetings in Bangkok ran longer than originally planned.Even Arlo was gone, having driven down to another part of southern Thailand for an emergency overview. He had briefly stopped by her place to say goodbye before leaving, but she had retreated back into the shadows of her living room the exact second his car pulled away.She was still bed-rotting in her oversized shirt on Sunday morning when her phone suddenly vibrated violently against the sheets. It was a direct text from JJ.> Are you busy today? I located the hospital building.Nora sat up instantly, the heavy fog in her brain clearing in a split second. She rapidly t
Nora woke up with the heavy weight of yesterday’s grief still pressing against her chest. She rubbed her eyes, her gaze drifting instantly to her phone on the nightstand. Without waiting another second, she grabbed the device and dialed JJ "Nora." "JJ," she blurted out, her voice rough. "How did you find the hospital? I remember searching online and I couldn't find a single building with the name?" "Nora, slow down," JJ said quietly over the line. "I haven't actually found the hospital yet." Nora’s brow furrowed. "What do you mean you haven't found it? Last night you said—" "Suda gave me a solid lead where to go" JJ interrupted gently. "I'm close, but I need to physically see if the old signatures match" Nora let out a slow, irritated breath. "How long is this going to take?" "A day or two, maybe sooner," JJ replied confidently. "I'll contact you the second I have the paperwork in my hands." Nora reluctantly agreed to wait, hanging up with a heavy sigh. She tossed th
The interior of the luxury car was completely dark, parked in a quiet, shadowed turnout just off the main road. Nora sat in the passenger seat, staring blankly out the windscreen at the swaying branches of the trees. Her face was blotchy, the tears finally slowing to a halt, leaving her chest feeling heavy. The driver's side door clicked open, and Arlo climbed back inside, cutting off the cool night air. He didn't say a single word. He simply reached over, handing her a tall, cold plastic cup filled with juice, he had picked up from the store nearby. "Here." Nora looked down at it. "What is it?" "Something sweet." She hesitated before taking it. "Thank you." He nodded and started the car. Nora took a small sip. It was sweet. Cold. Exactly what she needed. Arlo didn't ask her a single question. He didn't demand an explanation for her violent street breakdown. He simply shifted the vehicle into drive and rode towards her house. But when he reached the ne
She stood near the cottage window, staring blankly out at the garden as she listened to him on the other end of the line.“Who is this person?”“It’s complicated,” JJ said. “I can't really explain everything over the phone.”Nora's fingers tightened around her phone.“Why not?”“Because it’s better said in person. Can you come by tomorrow?”“Tomorrow?”“Yes.”“No.” Her answer came immediately. “I want to know today.”There was a brief pause.“Nora—”“I’m free today. Just tell me where you are.”JJ sighed.“Alright. I’m at my office.”“Okay.”She ended the call before he could say anything else.Nora turned away from the door, heading towards her bicycle. She barely made it onto her bicycle before a familiar voice called after her.“Nora!”She ignored him.“Where are you going?”She kept riding.Arlo stared after her for a second before getting into his car.A moment later, he pulled up beside her.“Get in.”Nora glanced at him.“What?”“Get in, you're clearly going somewhere in a hurr
The next morning, Nora heard a car pull up outside the cottage. She glanced through the window and immediately recognized the black SUV idling near her gate. Of course. Arlo stepped out, dressed casually in a white linen shirt with the sleeves rolled loosely to his elbows and a pair of dark trousers. He looked completely at ease. Nora grabbed her bag, gave Lilly a kiss, and headed downstairs. When she opened the door, Arlo looked up "Good morning." "Morning," Nora replied, her tone guarded but even. His eyes briefly travelled over her short sundress before returning to her face, "Ready?" "Where exactly are we going?" She said "You'll see." "That's suspicious," she noted. She stepped outside and locked the front door securely behind her. "I agreed to spend one day with you, Arlo, not to be kidnapped." "I wouldn't kidnap you," he murmured, walking beside her toward the vehicle. "That's exactly what a kidnapper would say." A lazy, smile tugged at the corner of his







