Chapter 5 The Start of a Hearless (Nominal) Marriage

On my second morning in Phupha's mansion, I woke to the chirping of sparrows outside the window. Morning sunlight filtered through the sheer curtains, making the room feel warmer than last night, but my internal feelings remained cold.

After getting ready, I walked down to the dining room again. Phupha was already there, newspaper in hand as usual. His sharp gaze flickered to me for a moment before returning to the words before him.

"I have to go to work today," he said without looking up. "The housekeeper will assist you. If there's an emergency, call my secretary."

I nodded, accepting his words. Although I felt like an outsider in this house, I tried not to show it.

"You can visit your father if you're free," he added, which surprised me slightly that he still cared about this. "But you must be back before 6 PM."

I looked at him with suspicion. Why did he need to set a time, even though we weren't truly husband and wife? But I didn't ask, knowing I wouldn't get a satisfactory answer.

"Okay," I replied simply.

Throughout the day, while Phupha was at work, I spent most of my time exploring this mansion, which I now called "home." Though spacious and grand, it seemed too lonely for one person.

I tried walking to the library on the ground floor. Inside, it was filled with countless books of various genres, reflecting Phupha's knowledge and interests. I wandered around until my eyes caught a family photo placed on an old bookshelf. The picture showed a young Phupha standing next to a kind and gentle-looking woman, whom I guessed was his mother, and another person, a man in a military uniform. His face looked stern, with a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.

I tried to discern Phupha's relationship with his family in the past, but it seemed he didn't show much attachment to those photos.

Most of my time today was spent visiting my father at the hospital. He was gradually recovering after the surgery and close care. I was relieved to see his face look brighter, even though he was still very weak.

"Linin... you don't have to come watch over me every day," my father said when he saw me sitting nearby. "You must take care of yourself too."

"It's okay, Father. Linin wants to be with you," I gently held his hand, thinking of Nong Time with Kaew. My heart yearned to bring my son to see my father, but I couldn't.

In the afternoon, I called Kaew again to check on Nong Time.

"Nong Time is eating really well, Linin. Don't worry," Kaew's cheerful voice replied. "He just played so much that his shirt got all dirty."

I smiled at my son's mischievousness. The longing for him washed over me again. I desperately wanted to rush and hug his small body.

When I returned to the mansion before 6 PM as Phupha stipulated, I saw his car turning in just then. He got out of the car with his usual impassive expression.

"You're back?" he greeted calmly.

"Yes," I replied briefly before walking past him.

During dinner, the atmosphere remained as quiet as ever. Phupha didn't say much, and I didn't know what to say either. Living with him truly followed a heartless contract.

Tonight, I still thought about Nong Time constantly. I opened his photos on my phone, smiling at my son's bright face.

'Mommy will be strong, Nong Time, for you,' I told myself.

I tried to adjust to life in this large mansion—a life that seemed luxurious and comfortable, yet was filled with a sense of emptiness and loneliness. I knew this was just the beginning of living under the contract I had to keep for a full year... a year of being a nominal, heartless wife, and of safeguarding the greatest secret of my life.