Denied Love

02.Rin's Bed Is Khem's Bed

Today, Praenarin came home later than usual because her father had instructed her to pay respects to Uncle Anek's funeral before returning home. By the time she got home, it was already past 7 PM.

After finishing work and battling traffic to get to the Sala temple, she barely made it before closing. Then, she had to drive through the congested streets again to get home.

For dinner, she chose only a single beef burger-just enough to fill her

stomach-because she wanted to hurry upstairs, take a shower, and change clothes.

Creak...

"Ah! How did you get into my bedroom?"

Praenarin exclaimed in shock. The moment she opened the bedroom door, her eyes locked onto someone sitting casually on the sofa at the foot of her bed-in the dark, no less. She quickly flipped the light switch and strode forward, frowning in disapproval.

Khemjira had barely been in her house for a day, and she was already causing trouble.

"The door wasn't locked, and there was no sign saying 'Do Not Enter,'"

Khemjira replied nonchalantly, tilting her face up to look at Praenarin. She had only come in because she wanted to greet another member of the house. She had no intention of startling her.

"Stop being annoying. Get out. I want to rest."

Praenarin placed her bag down and removed her coat. She already knew that Khemjira would be staying here with her nanny, who happened to have the same nickname as her-Rin. But did that mean she had to welcome her with open arms like her father? No way.

She was only marrying Khemjira for her father's inheritance. Once the two years were up, Khemjira would be out of her life. She had no intention of giving up her cherished singlehood.

"Wow, you're really kicking me out? I'm not a dog."

Khemjira, who had been waiting here for quite some time, stood up but didn't leave. Instead, she gazed at the woman before her with deep admiration. Her long, wavy black hair, her captivating beauty, and her sophisticated style that matched her age-everything about her was mesmerizing.

They were twelve years apart, but that never mattered to Khemjira.

She had loved this woman since before she even started university. But back then, Praenarin had seemed to have someone in her life. It wasn't until she was abandoned in love once again that Khemjira finally stepped forward, offering her own love.

Even so, her love remained unwanted.

But did that change her feelings? Not in the slightest. Because Praenarin was her first love. And Khemjira had preserved her heart, saving all her love for just this one woman.

"That's right. This is my bedroom. You have no right to be here."

The beautiful-faced woman turned to meet her gaze, then spoke in an icy tone-so cold that not even the employees at the company dared to meet her eyes. But to Khemjira, those aloof eyes were captivating.

"It's fine. Right now, I don't have any rights. But soon, I will... after we get married. Rin's room will be my room. Rin's bed will be my bed."

"You're even more cunning than I thought," Praenarin scoffed.

"Don't think for a second that I'll be infatuated with you. Even if we do get married, you will never sleep in the same bed as me."

She cast a pointed glance at the floor in front of the dressing room. "That... that's where you'll be sleeping."

Khemjira followed her gaze to the foot mat, then smirked indifferently. "They say beautiful women are usually heartless,"

She said with a shrug.

"But it doesn't matter. I can sleep anywhere, as long as I have a gorgeous wife like you."

As she stepped closer, Praenarin frowned and gave her a light shove, making it clear that she was not pleased.

"Get out. I'm tired. I want to rest. Next time you enter someone's bedroom, at least have some manners. Just because the door isn't locked and there's no sign doesn't mean you're allowed in."

With that, the woman-who carried herself with the arrogance of a high-bred Ragdoll cat-turned and walked away into the dressing room.

Khemjira finally left without further protest. She returned to her own bedroom and sank onto her bed.

She tucked a strand of her shoulder-length hair behind her ear, a small smile playing on her lips. Her fiancée was quite the handful. But that was fine.

Once they were married, she would tame that defiant spirit with her own hands.

.

.

Today was the final day of her father's funeral. In just a few more minutes, it would be time for the cremation.

Dressed entirely in black, Khemjira lowered herself onto the wooden bench in the temple pavilion beside Uncle Wasin. He had been there from the first day until now, never leaving, because he and her father had been friends

since their school days. Even at their age, their bond remained strong.

She had friends of her own, of course, but after graduating, everyone went

their separate ways to build their own futures. She truly respected her father for having a friend who was there for him in every way-even taking in his child.

"Khem, are you holding up okay?"

"I'm fine, Uncle. Dad is at peace now. I shouldn't be selfish by grieving too much... or else he won't be able to move on."

Wasin smiled at his late friend's daughter, feeling a sense of admiration. He realized that the two of them shared a similar fate-their wives had passed away while their children were still in school. But his friend had raised his daughter so well, while he himself had struggled with parenting Praenarin.

Yet, despite everything, his daughter had still grown into an independent woman, all on her own.

"From now on, just relax and start a new chapter of your life. If your father is looking down on you, he'll be at peace, knowing that his child has grown up well."

"Yes, Uncle. At the beginning of next month, after I finish preparing for the wedding, I'll start working. I won't dwell on sadness. I'll live happily, just

like everyone hopes for me."

Khemjira smiled. The job she mentioned was at Uncle Wasin's company. He had offered her a position while she waited for the wedding. The chosen

date wasn't too far off, and honestly, she was surprised by how quickly everything was moving.

But thinking about it, perhaps Uncle just wanted the wedding to happen as soon as possible-so it would be over as soon as possible.

.

.

That morning, Khemjira felt much lighter, having come to terms with her father's passing. She dressed in her work attire, packed her essentials into a backpack, and slung it over her shoulder.

Grabbing her brand-new white sneakers, she left her room. Just as she was about to step out, the door to the adjacent room opened at the exact same time.

Call it fate or mere coincidence, but it was perfectly timed. "Good morning. Heading to work already?"

Khemjira greeted while glancing at her silver wristwatch. 7 AM... Praenarin was having breakfast earlier than usual-half an hour earlier, in fact.

"Are you really going to wear a skirt that short?"

Instead of answering, Praenarin shot back a question of her own. Khemjira looked down at her black tennis skirt, which ended just above her knees, paired with a neatly done face of makeup.

It wasn't against any company rules-other female employees dressed similarly. But just because it was acceptable didn't mean it wouldn't attract resentment, especially for a new hire on her first day.

Khemjira glanced at her outfit again-a white crop top layered under a black blazer. It was modest enough, just a typical office look. The only issue,

perhaps, was that it made her look too good. "Why? Are you jealous of your future wife?" She teased with a playful smile.

Praenarin immediately frowned, her face darkening with irritation. She even let out a sharp huff, making Khemjira quickly tone down her smirk.

"I don't want to talk to you. And don't you dare talk to me either!" Praenarin snapped before turning on her heel.

Not willing to let her go so easily, Khemjira took just two steps to block her path. Praenarin sighed loudly, clearly exasperated.

"What now?"

"Can I get a ride with you? We're going the same way-it'll save energy."

Praenarin crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, making no effort to hide her annoyance. Her life had been peaceful before Khemjira came along.

Ever since this pest moved into her house, Praenarin's life had become much more chaotic. It was as if they were on completely different wavelengths, constantly at odds with each other-thanks to her father, who was behind all of this.

"My house has two drivers. If you need to go somewhere, just ask one of them to take you. What does that have to do with me?"

"But I want to go with you, not with the driver," Khemjira said with a sweet smile.

"That's your problem! Stay out of my business!"

Khemjira flinched. Praenarin snapped at her so loudly that she sounded like an angry cat hissing. Then, she simply walked away without even a shred of

sympathy. Khemjira stood frozen, looking like a startled deer caught in the headlights of a tiger's roar.

How could someone so beautiful be this fierce?

"Does she ever look satisfied with anything?"

She grumbled under her breath, but just then, Praenarin glanced back at her with a piercing glare, as if she had heard the remark. Khemjira quickly averted her eyes, pretending to look at the walls, the floor-anywhere but at her.

Only when Praenarin finally walked away did she let out a relieved sigh and hurry after her.

She couldn't afford to waste time teasing her future wife today-after all, this was an important day.

.

.

"Na Khun, have you spoken with HR about Khem?"

Wasin, the company president, asked his personal secretary while taking a sip of his freshly served coffee. He had arrived at the office a bit earlier than usual today-he wanted to keep an eye on his soon-to-be daughter-in-law.

It was Khemjira's first day working at the company, in a department she had specifically requested.

"Yes, Mr. President. HR will be giving her a full tour of the company today, as per your instructions."

"Good. And remember, only we, HR, and Prae's secretary should know who she really is. Khem might not want people to know. If she decides to reveal it herself, that's up to her."

Wasin knew his daughter well. He had given this order in advance because he understood exactly how Praenarin would react.

"Understood, sir."

After his secretary left, Wasin leaned back in his chair, picking up his tablet to browse through suit options.

The wedding was set for the middle of the month, and he couldn't be

happier. He didn't want Khemjira to marry Praenarin just so she could move into the house-he wanted this marriage because he knew Khemjira truly loved his daughter.

And more than anything, he wanted Praenarin to finally experience real love.

.

.

Khemjira's official start time was 8:00 AM, but she arrived at the company at 7:50, ten minutes early. The entrance had an automatic revolving door, and before reaching the elevators, there was a security checkpoint requiring an employee badge for access. Since she didn't have one yet, she had to wait for the HR representative as scheduled.

A few minutes later, a woman in her mid-thirties walked in, greeted her, and led her inside to complete the necessary paperwork and receive her

employee badge.

Then, it was time for the office tour. Khemjira was guided through the key departments before they took the elevator to the floor where she would be working. Judging from the large sign in the elevator hall, it seemed like this entire floor belonged to her department.

"This is the R&D department where you'll be working," The HR representative explained.

"As I mentioned briefly before, this department focuses on research and development to create products that meet market and customer demands. Your role will be designing new furniture alongside your team."

Khemjira followed along, taking in her surroundings. The hallway was lined with rooms of equal size, each labeled with its respective function.

The walls facing the hallway were made of clear blue-tinted glass, while the opposite side featured floor-to-ceiling windows that provided a panoramic

view of the city. The atmosphere was sleek, professional, and undeniably impressive.

"124 KT Design"-

The company had a distinctly modern feel, from its name to its workspace, despite not being a newly established firm.

"It's quite large, isn't it?" She remarked.

"This is one of the largest departments," The HR representative confirmed.

"You'll be joining the development team, which is divided into twelve sub- teams. This floor doesn't house all of them, but right now, Development Team One has the fewest members, so you'll be assigned there. Don't

worry-I've arranged for two mentors to guide you, and they're both very kind. You won't have to worry about being bullied."

That last part made Khemjira pause.

So, you had to specifically find kind people to mentor me... Does that mean there are unkind ones too?

If that was the case, then as a newcomer, she might be at risk of being targeted.

She followed the HR representative into a room labeled Development Team One. At a glance, there were about ten employees working inside. If the

other teams were similar in size, that meant this department alone had around two to three hundred employees.

And that didn't even include staff from other departments or the production division.

Her future father-in-law's company was huge!

She couldn't help but regret not choosing to intern here-this was her first

time seeing the company in person, and it was far more impressive than she had imagined.

As soon as the office door opened, the HR representative called for everyone's attention. The entire room turned to look at Khemjira, making her feel like a new student transferring in on her first day of school.

"This is the new employee joining our team today," The HR representative announced.

Taking the cue, Khemjira greeted them confidently, despite the slight amusement she felt at the familiar introduction format.

"Hello, my name is Khem. Today is my first day. Please take care of me, and feel free to give me any advice,"

She said with a bright smile.

"That's Ms. Jee, the head of Development Team One..."

Khemjira followed the introduction, looking at each team member in turn. Her gaze landed on the team leader-who had a sharp, confident demeanor and a face that didn't exactly seem welcoming. The HR representative went on, listing names one by one, impressing Khemjira with her memory.

Judging by appearances, no one in this department seemed to be over forty. It was a relatively young team, yet she was still the youngest among them.

"And these two will be your mentors. This is Balloon, and this is Jay." "Nice to meet you,"

Khemjira greeted them with a polite smile.

Both looked to be under thirty-five. Balloon was a woman with an office- girl look, glasses perched on her nose, and an air of competence.

Jay, on the other hand, was a man with delicate features and a charming smile, his mannerisms carrying a certain elegance. If her instincts were right, he was likely a kind-hearted gay colleague-his demeanor practically radiated warmth and friendliness.

"Nice to meet you too, darling! Come on, your desk is over here," Balloon said cheerfully, waving her over.

Feeling more at ease, Khemjira followed them to her designated workspace, which was conveniently placed next to her two mentors.

The office was a rectangular room, furnished with light-colored wood and decorated with air-purifying plants. The air conditioning kept the space comfortably cool, creating an inviting atmosphere. It was a perfect environment for designers who needed inspiration and creativity.

"Balloon and Jay, please take care of our new employee," The HR representative said before turning to Khemjira.

"And Khem... there may be some tasks that you'll need to receive directly from Boss Win. She specifically requested it."

With that, the HR representative left, leaving behind a lingering sense of curiosity between the three of them.

"That's strange... Boss Win never gets involved with any department outside of executive management. And now she's personally assigning work to a

new development team member?"

Balloon mused.

"Maybe she just wants to take a special interest in new employees," Jay suggested.

Both Balloon and Jay were curious, but Khemjira simply smiled to herself. She wasn't worried or anxious about having to report directly to the boss. In fact, she welcomed it-this way, she'd get to see her fiancée more often during the day.

"I'm not sure,"

Jay whispered, lowering his voice so only the three of them could hear.

"But everyone already assumes you're a 'special hire' because HR is giving you extra attention. Normally, they'd just drop a new employee off at the department and leave. Training is usually self-directed-no mentors assigned in advance like this."

"Does everyone think that?" Khemjira asked.

"Yeah. But don't worry. If anyone tries to mess with you, Balloon and I will take care of it. We've been here for years,"

Jay reassured her.

Khemjira glanced between the two of them, her body warming with gratitude. But she already sensed she'd be getting hostile looks from some of her colleagues-especially her team leader, Jee. The way Jee looked at her made it obvious, even though she forced a polite smile.

While Khemjira was getting to know her teammates, on the other side of the room, Jee sat at her desk, whispering with a colleague.

"See, who do you think that girl is? Why did she replace your girlfriend? Your girlfriend got fired, and this newbie just happened to take her place.

It's obvious the company cleared a spot for her." "I don't know,"

Jee replied, crossing her arms.

"Maybe she's some department head's daughter or something. But whoever she is, she's already my enemy."

Jee's sharp eyes locked onto Khemjira, a deep resentment simmering inside her. She had disliked the new hire from the moment she first heard about

her, even before seeing her face.

No, it wasn't just that-it was because Khemjira's arrival had forced Jee's girlfriend out of the company.

.

.

When the clock struck five, signaling the end of the workday, employees began gathering their things, chatting as they packed up. Khemjira watched them, then deliberately took her time tidying up, even though she only had a sketchbook and her phone. She was stalling, waiting until she was the last

one left.

"Khem, let's head home," Balloon called.

"Oh, you guys go ahead. I just need to finish chatting with a friend," Khemjira replied, lifting her phone with a smile.

Once the office emptied, she quickly packed up and headed toward the glass elevator in the main hall. She had a fiancée to see. And thanks to HR, she already knew exactly which floor the CEO's office was on.

But Khemjira didn't go to the CEO's office. Since it was after work hours, the best place to find Phraenarin was the executive parking lot.

As soon as she pushed open the door, her eyes landed on the slender figure of someone she had been looking for. Without wasting a second, she ran forward, blocking the woman's path before she could reach her car.

"Khun Rin, wait!"

"What now? I'm leaving."

Phraenarin frowned, clearly annoyed. She had assumed Khemjira had already gone home, but here she was again-standing in her way. She had walked fast, yet still couldn't avoid being bothered.

"Can I ride home with you?"

Khemjira asked bluntly, still catching her breath.

She hoped the woman in front of her would agree. After all, it was the end of the workday, and there was no one around to see them. Plus, they were heading to the same place-living under the same roof. There was no reason to take separate rides home.

"How did you get to work this morning?" "I took a taxi."

"Then take a taxi home."

Phraenarin's response was cold and indifferent.

Khemjira pouted, then pleaded again, eyes full of hope.

"Come on, we're going the same way. Don't be so mean. If you don't want me to ride as a passenger, I can drive! I have a license, and I promise to

drive smoothly. You can even sit in the back seat if you want."

"I'm not going home. I have plans with a friend. If you don't want to take a taxi, just call the driver at home to pick you up. Why do you have to come with me?"

Phraenarin crossed her arms and looked away, unimpressed by Khemjira's childish tricks. She knew all too well that this girl was constantly scheming to get close to her. The way she spoke and looked at her made it obvious.

But Phraenarin wasn't interested. She didn't like clingy little puppies. She preferred her own space.

"It's a waste of resources! And it contributes to global warming! Do you know how much carbon Thailand emits per year? If not, I can-"

"I don't want to know! Just stop bothering me already!" Phraenarin snapped, pointing a finger at Khemjira.

"Go wherever you want, just don't follow me around anymore. You're annoying!"

Khemjira's mouth fell open, her shoulders dropping. She hadn't even finished her explanation before being cut off. Was this a red flag? What could she do to make Phraenarin open her heart to her?

Even puppies had feelings. If their owner kept yelling at them, they'd get upset too!

"Our wedding is in a few days, but right now, I am not your wife, and you are not my husband! Stop acting like we're a couple and just stay out of my way!"

Phraenarin's voice was sharp as she stormed past Khemjira and into her car. Khemjira sighed, watching the woman drive away.

"Wow... beautiful but so cruel."

Khemjira watched until the European car disappeared from sight, feeling like she might burst into tears.

She must be so annoyed with me for following her around like this...

But what else could she do? A little puppy couldn't help but love its owner.

.

.

Phraenarin didn't head home immediately. She had made plans with her friends at their favorite omakase restaurant, conveniently using the opportunity to hand out her wedding invitations.

Only close friends and trusted relatives were given one-she wanted to keep the wedding as low-profile as possible.

Especially when it came to the identity of her bride. No one could know unless she said so herself. In fact, the only reason she was telling her friends now was that she didn't consider it all that important. She had even chosen a weekday for the wedding to ensure that as few people as possible would attend.

"Wedding invitations. I'm getting married in fifteen days. But if you guys are busy, you don't have to come. I don't mind,"

Phraenarin said casually, handing out simple but elegant invitations to her four friends.

Each of them took one with puzzled expressions, opening the cards with obvious confusion.

"You're getting married? To who? Don't tell me you got back together with Praphai."

"No. Her name is Khem. She's my dad's friend's daughter."

"When did you move on and start dating someone new? The other day, you were still drunk and crying to us."

That question nearly made her choke. Even though she had broken up with Praphai a while ago, she still hadn't completely gotten over that love. Their relationship hadn't ended on good terms, but she didn't hold any grudges

against her ex. If anything, she wasn't sure if she could resist wavering if they ever met again.

"I'm not dating that girl. My dad is forcing me to marry her in exchange for my inheritance."

As soon as she said that, her four friends raised their eyebrows-not because of the arranged marriage aspect, but because of something else entirely.

"That girl? How old is she?"

"She's probably around twenty-three,"

Phraenarin guessed. She wasn't entirely sure, but Khemjira had recently graduated and received her degree, so that should be about right. She also vaguely remembered that Khemjira was twelve years younger than her

because her parents had struggled to have a child.

"Rin, are you getting yourself a baby girlfriend again? Twelve years apart?! Oh my god! I'm getting secondhand excitement just thinking about it! Rin, are you hearing this?"

Her friends giggled, fanning themselves dramatically.

There was no need to guess why they were acting this way. Every single one of them was a hardcore fujoshi-as if they had been born that way.

Proudfa, Grace, Ying, and Julie were all die-hard shippers.

Back when she was dating Praphai, they had constantly teased her, saying she had a thing for younger girls since Praphai was already seven years

younger than her.

"Would you guys stop getting all excited already? What's so exciting about this? I was forced into it! My dad is making me marry that kid for two years in exchange for everything he owns. It should already belong to me no

matter who I marry-or if I don't marry at all!"

"But that's exactly why it's exciting! You agreed to it, didn't you? What, did your dad hold a gun to your head? No, right? He just asked you to be

married for two years in exchange for ten billion baht, like some reality show. That's a deal of a lifetime!"

Proudfa poked her in the arm, smirking as she teased her. Phraenarin shot her a glare, but that did nothing to stop her friends from poking fun at her.

Some friends they are-none of them are on my side!

"Exactly! You're not just getting married for nothing. You get your

inheritance and a cute, young wife too! Look at us-do you know how much we'd love to have a younger husband? But we're not as lucky as you!"

"Do you have her IG? I wanna see. Let me take a look at my best friend's new wife!"

Phraenarin rolled her eyes. Even her closest friends weren't backing her up.

Since when was it normal for a father to give his daughter an inheritance

only if she married someone he chose?

It was outdated nonsense! If she didn't want to take over her father's company, she wouldn't have agreed to this at all. She'd rather just collect a CEO's salary until retirement.