So she stepped a little closer, bending slightly as she placed the clear glass — filled with wine as dark as a rose in full bloom — on the table. The hem of her short skirt brushed against her thighs, every movement falling directly beneath Thada's cold, unblinking gaze. He took a cigarette from the pocket of his navy suit and lit it.
After blowing out a long stream of smoke, he spoke in a flat voice that carried an undeniable command. "Take off your clothes."
"What?" she gasped in shock.
"I said take off that ridiculous dress. Are your ears blocked?" His voice turned even colder. "Ten years without seeing you, and now I discover your taste has become this bad."
"I don't like those sparrow clothes. Take them off."
The insults stung, making her tremble with anger. Blood rushed to her head. "Thada!"
He gave a dismissive snort and looked at her with disdain. "First you look like Kari, and now you've got her memory too. Call me Mr. Thada. I'm not your playmate," he repeated to her trembling figure.
A sharp smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he went on, almost laughing. "Heh… why aren't you taking it off? I know exactly what kind of woman you are — someone who will do anything for money." His piercing eyes swept over her body with rude contempt.
His half-mocking manner made her cheeks burn. Forcing down her emotions, she lifted her chin and answered:
"There's no need for your pointless reminders. Three months — that's all. I will stay with you under the agreement, in exchange for the investment in Theeradej's biotech company. I believe the wealthy and honorable President Thada will keep his promise." Her voice was firm and heavy, refusing to yield.
After battling her anger, she slowly removed the tight dress, revealing pale skin clad only in small undergarments. She crossed her arms over her chest, her thighs pressed tightly together. Instead of cooling her, the air-conditioning seemed to make her body burn. Her face flushed crimson — a mixture of fury and humiliation — heat spreading across her skin.
Her haughty attitude enraged him even more, though it was clear how deeply embarrassed she was.
'No — this is only the beginning,' Thada thought bitterly. He would make her taste the same bitterness he once endured.
He chuckled darkly through his nose, his eyes narrowing dangerously as he blew smoke toward her exposed body. Then, in the tone of someone who had already won, he ordered: "Sit down — and crawl to me."
Rani's lips tightened. Her wide, tear-bright eyes showed disbelief as she struggled to swallow her shame and anger. Inwardly, she repeated her son's name — the only thing that kept her from resisting this man.
When the cursed contract ended, she would divorce Theeradej without hesitation.
"Didn't you hear me? Sit. Crawl here. People like you only have value as dogs — toys for their husbands. Otherwise, why would Theeradej throw away his dignity and hand his wife over to me?"
His sarcasm deepened. "You wanted the perfect family, to marry the rich man your parents chose. Do you know how pathetic your husband is? A pimp — and his wife nothing more than a cheap ornament in my five-hundred-million house. Lucky, aren't you?"
She bit back a cry, unable to endure another insult. "Thada, that's enough!" she snapped, standing there in nothing but black underwear.
Thada laughed softly, satisfied — his cold eyes still full of contempt.
"Why? You can't handle the truth? You've stepped into my house. Don't expect to leave until the three months are over — just as your good husband agreed. Tomorrow I'll transfer the first investment to Theeradej. Your only job is to obey. Once I've paid, you had better be worth the price."
"Sit down — and crawl," he said. "Tonight I'm giving you a role, and you will play it." His voice came out low and harsh, the command rude and cutting. His handsome face burned with anger and malice, eyes gleaming dangerously as he stared at Rani, who looked as if she might burst into tears.
She forced back the tears welling at the corners of her eyes. She reminded herself to be strong — she could not cry in front of Thada. What was happening tonight… she had a part in creating it. Ten years ago, if she had not abandoned him — if she had chosen to stay to the bitter end — then in this penthouse, his kingdom now, she would be the one sitting and giving orders.
Rani swallowed hard, blinked back her tears, and slowly lowered herself into a crawling position on the black fleece carpet beneath the luxurious sofa set.
"Good. Crawl to me," he ordered, his tone slightly softer when he saw her submission.
She obeyed. Almost completely naked, she crawled forward on all fours like a trained animal, her pale body and full curves moving slowly toward him. Thada sat smoking on the sofa, then shifted his posture, planting his thighs firmly on the cushions and spreading his legs.
When the tip of Rani's small nose almost reached the center of his body, he said, "Stop."
"Take off my pants," Thada commanded coldly.
Rani had no choice but to comply. She struggled to hold back the tears that kept threatening to fall as she slowly unfastened the luxury leather belt around his narrow waist.
Thada narrowed his eyes, watching the half-naked woman kneeling before him as she slid the trousers from his firm hips. A faint, satisfied smile curved his thin lips. He stubbed out his cigarette, then pulled down his designer underwear to match the expensive suit — revealing the hardened length beneath.
"Open your mouth," he ordered in an icy tone.