Somewhere I've never been

2

Lingling sat in the back of the car, trying to hold herself together as Jek drove through the busy streets. Her mind was racing, replaying the scene at the restaurant over and over again. Seeing Orm with someone else had struck her deep. She'd known something was changing between them lately, but to actually witness it—Orm with another woman—it was too much. She let out a shaky breath and leaned her head back against the seat, her heart aching.

"Khun Ling, are you alright?" Jek glanced at her in the rearview mirror, concerned by her silence.

Lingling didn't answer immediately, struggling to keep her voice steady. "I'm fine, Jek. Just take me home, please."

Jek hesitated for a moment but nodded and continued driving. The rest of the ride was filled with silence, broken only by the hum of the car's engine. Lingling stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur. Her chest felt heavy, and her thoughts were a tangled mess. She'd always been able to focus on work, to maintain control, but Orm had somehow slipped through her defenses. Now she was paying the price for letting herself fall.

When they finally reached her house, Lingling stepped out of the car, her legs feeling heavier with every step toward the front door. Jek didn't say anything, but she felt his concerned gaze as she disappeared inside.

Once inside, the loneliness hit her full force. The silence of the empty house echoed her emotions, and she realized how much Orm had filled the space in her life. Lingling walked into the living room, setting her bag down on the table and staring at the takeout she had picked up. 

The food didn't even matter now. Her appetite had vanished.

She collapsed onto the couch, burying her face in her hands. Tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She was Lingling Sirilak Kwong, CEO of one of the most powerful conglomerates in the country. She had worked her entire life to be where she was, to be strong, capable, and unshakable. But tonight, none of that mattered. She felt fragile, broken.

Her phone buzzed beside her, and for a moment, she thought about ignoring it. But a second buzz followed, then a third. Curiosity got the better of her, and she reached for it. The messages were from Orm.

Orm: Please, let me explain.

Orm: It's not what you think.

Orm: Ling, please.

Lingling clenched her jaw, her fingers hovering over the keyboard, paralyzed with indecision. What could Orm possibly say to make things better? She stared at the glowing screen, the memory of that woman's arm wrapped around Orm's waist searing itself into her mind again.