Rule No. 1: Don’t be too emotional : Chapter 38

Everything is ephemeral therefore forever does not matter

….

“P’Jane… ” As the name escaped my lips, I stood there in a daze, feeling as though I were trapped in a dream that wasn’t real. Was I blurring out because of the rain? But no matter how I looked at him, this was P’Jane-there was no mistake. From the icy aura radiating off him to the scent of his cologne and those sharp, Western-mixed features, there wasn’t a single detail I could have misremembered. The bad boy is back in town. Jane Patrick Terry Palakorn was really standing right here. Those large, beautiful eyes-framed by long, thick lashes-looked down at my face.
The gaze that used to be drenched in love every time he looked at me had now shifted into shock, mixed with something else I couldn’t quite decipher. Normally, P’Jane didn’t show much emotion on his face, and as time passed, he had clearly gotten better at maintaining his composure.
Aside from those eyes, his expression remained so neutral that I couldn’t guess how he truly felt about seeing me. I could sense that his face looked a bit different than before.
Even though his eyes, the bridge of his nose, his lips, his ears, and even the scar under his chin remained exactly the same, his jawline was now so sharp it looked sculpted. Time had clearly weathered his sharp features, giving him a more world-weary look that came with age, and his hair was slightly longer too. Strange… that more rugged face only seemed to make him more powerfully handsome.
When he furrowed his brows in that stern way, it made it hard for the onlooker to breathe. In my memory, he was already incredibly handsome; it was shocking that he could actually become more so. Handsome to the point of making one feel weak… suddenly, the icy raindrops felt as hot as boiling water. Damn it. Thirty-two-year-old “P’Jane” was about to set all of Bangkok on fire. Daddy is here.
But why did I have to encounter him again in this pathetic, disheveled state? While he looked so radiant he practically reduced me to the size of an ant. And why did it have to be this atmosphere-heavy rain in front of a temple, with the distant sound of festival music playing in the background? This is the worst.

“Hey JP! What are you doing over there, son? Your old man wants to go back to the hotel so bad!” A shout rang out through the rain from behind P’Jane, causing him to snap his head around. I looked past him and saw a large, elderly man in a black suit standing by a Rolls-Royce, with a bodyguard holding an umbrella for him. Beside the older man stood a young boy, likely of primary school age. The boy had blond hair and features that resembled P’Jane’s father… and he had traces of P’Jane’s face too. However, the boy didn’t look entirely American; it seemed there was Asian blood flowing in his veins as well.

The elderly man shouted again.

“Hey! It’s raining cats and dogs. I don’t want Jamie to catch a cold. Let’s go JP!” The tall figure didn’t hesitate any longer. He turned back to me, reaching down to pull me up quickly. His hands were so hot I felt a flush spread through my whole body. Before I knew it, he pressed the umbrella into my hand-the one not holding my phone-and took off his suit jacket, throwing it over my shoulders to cover me. Then he turned and walked through the rain toward the car, showing no concern for his luxury brand clothes and shoes that cost nearly a hundred thousand baht, letting them get soaked.
I could only stand there shivering, holding the umbrella as l watched him step into the Rolls-Royce. The bodyguard respectfully closed the door for him, and I remained standing still in the same spot until the car disappeared from the front of the temple. And that was it. The day I met P’Jane again, he left me his suit jacket-filled with the scent of his body-without uttering a single word. ‘Please… just disappear already, Jane Patrick.’ ‘Disappear for good. Give me my life back.'” Give the old Jane his life back.’
Inside the car, the tall man shook his head to drive away the thoughts swirling in his brain. He raised his right hand to wipe his face and hair, which were drenched from the rain, before looking out the window. The sky was dark, and the storm continued to rage violently. Floods covered every alley and road. Jane Patrick sighed; he had forgotten what Bangkok roads were like. To make them like the roads in Bridgeport would take a long time to develop. Chuck Terry looked at his son sitting next to him and couldn’t help but speak up.

“You’re wet like a dog.” Jane Patrick exhaled and gave a sarcastic reply to his father.

“Thanks, Dad. I think I already know that.”

“Where is your suit? Who did you give it to?”

“Someone I know.”

“Any details?” Jane Patrick turned to look at his parent, speaking with a bit of irritation at being pried into.

“Why do you want to know?” Chuck Terry’s eyes nearly bulged out of his head. He spoke loudly and clearly.

“Because I’m your dad! And I know Jane Patrick won’t give anything that belongs to him to someone that easily.” The young man didn’t answer his father, causing Chuck Terry to cry out.

“Oh God! Is it so hard to answer?” The young man remained silent, acting as if he hadn’t heard his father at all. He took out his mobile phone, dialed a speed-dial number, and pressed it to his ear.

“Now who are you calling?” Chuck Terry asked.

“Ram,” the tall man replied shortly.

“Your cousin?” Jane Patrick nodded. Moments later, the other end picked up.

[” Hello, Jane? What’s up? Did you forget something at the temple?”]

“No. I want to ask you for a favor. Jane is in front of the temple… I mean, that Jane.”

[” Whoa!”]

“He probably wants to pay respects to my mom’s body since the cremation is soon. I’d like to ask you to look after him for me. Take him inside, and then can you give him a ride home?”

[” Of course! That’s easy.”]

“Thank you, P’Ram.” The tall man hung up and turned to find his father staring at him suspiciously. Jane Patrick raised his right eyebrow.

“What now?”

“Who is Jane?”

“It’s me. I am Jane,” he answered bluntly.

“Do I look like an idiot? You may not forget I am half-Thai. Your grandfather is 100 percent Thai!”

“But your Thai sucks.”

“But I understand every word you spoke to Ram!”

“That Jane is… my junior from college,” the tall man decided to explain simply, hoping his father would stop interrogating him. But it didn’t end there. Chuck Terry raised his eyebrow “And when did you start doing charity for your juniors?”

“Dad, please. I don’t want to talk right now.” Chuck Terry made a huffing sound, grumbling as if to say, “Always this ‘don’t want to talk’ nonsense.” Before the older man could say anything more, Jane Patrick’s phone rang.

“What’s up? Yes, it’s JP.” His son glanced over and then cut the call short, saying they’d talk later, in a manner that let Chuck Terry know Jane Patrick didn’t want him involved in these matters.

“You know that you can only be a billionaire and normal businessman, right?” Jane Patrick remained silent. Chuck Terry couldn’t help but continue uneasily.

“You’re born rich. You’re born smart. You’re born with everything. I don’t understand why you want to be something like a Godfather or Thomas Shelby.” The son remained as still as ever. The older man could only sigh. Was he a bad father who raised his son poorly? His son had such a startling ambition despite being born with everything. It wasn’t that Chuck Terry didn’t know what his son was doing, even if Jane never told him. When his son caused trouble at Harvard, it was Chuck who found the best lawyers to help. No matter what, a son is always a son. And now Jane Patrick was grown-thirty-two was not an age where he could interfere or force anything.
Most of what he knew was from the past; these days, he had no idea where Jane Patrick went or what he did. More importantly, his son never asked for help or a single dollar. Chuck Terry, therefore, had to turn a blind eye to his son’s dealings, even though he didn’t like or feel comfortable with it.

“I really want to know… ”

“Shouldn’t you ask me if I’m alright after losing my mom? Shouldn’t you comfort me? Why do you keep asking me those questions?” The tall man interrupted his father with a loud voice until the other man went silent. Jane Patrick stared into his father’s eyes, reminding him of something he might have forgotten.

“I just lost my mom.” “… Well, are you okay?” the older man asked awkwardly.

“Fine. Thanks.” The deep voice replied curtly and sarcastically. After that, the two didn’t speak again until they were near the hotel. Chuck Terry then asked the young boy sitting in the front passenger seat-who had been quiet the whole time-in a very gentle tone.

“Jamie, are you cold?”

“You’re asking him after we’ve been riding for more than 30minutes? C’mon!” Jane Patrick snapped, acting as if his father were being incredibly negligent. He thought of what his late Thai ex-wife used to tell him over the phone: “JP has grown up to be not quiet at all. He talks a lot and has a sharp tongue. I can’t believe we were once afraid he’d be a mute.” She was right about everything.

“Quiet, JP,” Chuck grumbled.

“It’s because you spent all your time asking me a bunch of silly questions. If we were in World War Z or something, Jamie would have frozen to death by now,” JP retorted.

“Shut up! You @# $% ^&*” Jane Patrick quickly covered his younger brother Jamie’s ears as their father, successfully provoked, unleashed a string of curses. JP leaned in to whisper to the boy, “Your old man is crazy.” The boy let out a clear laugh, shrinking his neck as his brother’s breath tickled him.

“My old man is your old man, too.”

“Yeah, I know. Quite a sad story, isn’t it?” Jamie burst into laughter. Chuck Terry stopped talking and watched his two sons. He couldn’t help a faint smile as he saw them getting along so well despite their twenty-three-year age gap. One of the things that makes a parent’s heart bloom is seeing their children love and bond with one another. James Carter Palakorn, or Jamie, was the son Chuck had unintentionally with a blonde American woman years ago. By the time Jamie was born, Jane Patrick was already twenty-three. Chuck hadn’t known a thing about it because the mother never said a word. Their relationship had ended ages ago; she had moved on and lived happily with a new partner for years. Eventually, however, the new partner began to suspect the boy’s Asian features. Suspicion is a meal that never ends once you start eating it. Finally, a DNA test proved Jamie wasn’t his son-he was Chuck’s. At four years old, Jamie was likely very confused as to why the father who raised him suddenly stopped loving him. Not long after, the woman brought Jamie to Chuck. Naturally, as one of the wealthiest men in the world, Chuck suspected he was being set up or scammed. He initially refused, stating he had already given her plenty during their past relationship and she shouldn’t expect more. But after a chaotic legal battle handled by top lawyers, the DNA results told the truth: James Carter was indeed his flesh and blood. Chuck took the four-year-old into his care just as Jane Patrick was returning home after finishing his second bachelor’s degree in Thailand. At first, Chuck feared a massive fight with his eldest son. But once the DNA proved his father hadn’t been scammed, Jane Patrick had no issue accepting his half-brother. After being an only child for years, he transitioned into the role of a big brother with ease.

Of course-he was twenty-seven at the time, far too old to play the “troubled child.” He was mature enough to understand the situation. Besides, it wasn’t something worth making a fuss over, and Jamie wasn’t at fault. In fact, the boy was quite pitiable; as soon as the mother handed over custody to Chuck, she flew back to her boyfriend and barely looked back.

JP used to tease his dad about not using protection, even joking about whether the condom broke in the heat of the moment. Naturally, his only answer was a string of curses. Chuck Terry’s wealth was so vast that there was no need for his two sons to fight over it. JP had plenty of his own money and didn’t need to ask anyone for a dime.

Their family’s cash was so immense it couldn’t be counted by hand; it had to be loaded into trucks, bundled up, and weighed by the kilogram to get an estimate. The three “global-class” men entered one of Bangkok’s most grand five-star hotels. Top-tier staff welcomed them as they arrived at a massive suite with four bedrooms and four bathrooms.

Jane Patrick immediately headed for the shower, emerging in a hotel bathrobe while drying his hair with a small towel.

“Pour me some booze,” Chuck shouted .

“You seem to be lacking some basic life skills… like walking.” Despite the teasing, JP walked over to pour brandy for his father.

“Pouring a glass of brandy for your old man might earn you some merit, Jane Patrick.” JP couldn’t help but laugh softly as he handed the glass to his father.

“Maybe. After all, I only have you left now. Oh, and Jamie.” Chuck patted his son’s shoulder comfortingly.

“Your mom is at peace now.” JP nodded. He agreed; it was the living who had it hard. But his mother was his mother, and they were quite close even if they didn’t live together every day. He knew she loved him with all her heart, so it was only natural to feel a pang of sadness in his chest. However, he was mature enough to understand that life and death are natural. He didn’t wail or break down; his mother had lived a full life.

“I’ll miss her for sure,” he said softly.

“It would be weird if you didn’t.” Chuck patted him again.

“You aren’t drinking?”

“No.”

“C’mon, join me. Pour yourself a glass. Your mom passed away-you should have a drink to soothe your soul.”

“I haven’t touched a drop in forever.” Chuck sighed , then shouted as his son stood up, “Where are you going?” JP looked confused by the outburst.

He pointed to the balcony.

“To smoke. Why?”

“Sit, please. I’m asking you,” Chuck said .

His tone shifted to something flat but serious.

“I have something to speak to you about.” JP sat back down, rubbing his eye.

“What’s wrong, Dad?”

“Are you going back home with me next week?” JP shook his head.

“I can’t go back to the US for now. Mom’s will.”” How long will it take?”

“Maybe three months, maybe a year. I’m not sure. Don’t worry, I can manage.”

“Any chance you’ll stay longer? I remember you have a company here. C’mon, you fly back and forth between the US and Thailand like a fly.” JP shrugged.

“I don’t know. But yes, it’s possible.”

“Any chance you’ll stay here forever?”

“Could be. Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to miss me-that’s creepy as hell.”

“Rose,” Chuck called out to Jamie’s nanny.

“Do you mind taking Jamie to his room?” The American nanny complied.

“Yes, sir. Jamie, come with me. Let’s go play in your room, dear.” She ushered Jamie, who was busy with a game on his iPad, into the bedroom and softly closed the door. Jane Patrick knew instantly that his father had something very serious to discuss.

“What is it, Dad? Just say it.”

“I want you to take care of Jamie.” JP stared at his father, stunned and confused.

“I don’t think I understand.” Chuck took another sip of brandy.

“I want Jamie to stay here with you… in Thailand.”

“What!?”

“I mean it, JP. Look at me, I’m sixty-two. I should be retired, relaxing on a beach with some sexy girl.” JP was speechless.

“I love Jamie, you know that. But I’m too old to raise or teach him anything. I’m like a computer that never got an upgrade. JP, you’re young. You’ve seen the world. You’re smart. I know you can do it. Don’t worry about money-I’ll provide whatever you need for his tuition, for everything.”

“Money is not the problem,” JP snapped.

“Then you have no problem raising Jamie.”

“I didn’t say that,” the young man stammered.

“The point is, I don’t want Jamie growing up in an environment l can’t trust. You know that ‘rich kid’ society you grew up in. it turns boys into good-for-nothings. I’m too old for Jamie; I’m more like a grandfather to him than a father.” That was true enough. Chuck looked at his son. Beyond being too old to keep up with Jamie, Chuck had a hidden motive: he hoped Jamie’s innocence would soften JP’s heart. Taking care of a child might restore the conscience that JP had discarded long ago. They were too rich, and Chuck was wise enough to know that no matter how smart you are, no one truly owns the world. He wanted JP to take over his vast corporate empire, but JP had chosen to be a “Godfather” instead of a multi-billionaire businessman-a path that risked his life every single day. JP’s mother had passed away, and now there was no one left to help Chuck pull their son back to a “normal” life. JP hadn’t become the judge he once dreamed of being, but Chuck knew JP only had himself to blame for that. Maybe Jamie could help.

“I heard a rumor that you are a man anyone can ask for a favor,” Chuck said .

JP was startled. For just a second, a flicker of something crossed his eyes.

“So now, I’m asking you for a favor. Raise Jamie to be a better man than you.” The request cut deep into Jane Patrick’s heat. His father was right-he was a man of favors. But his father didn’t know that usually, JP required a blood oath for his favors. He decided to skip the blood oath this time. After all, what could he possibly ask for in return? This request was sharp-it proved exactly where JP got his ruthless streak from.

“Every summer, send him back to the US,” Chuck added .

“Because I’ll miss my little boy.” He leaned back, knowing he had JP trapped.

“Just make sure he doesn’t go to the ‘dark side’ like you.”

“Well… I can’t promise that.”

“Jane Patrick!” JP stood up from the sofa and walked to the balcony. The rain had finally stopped, leaving a clear night sky. He swept his damp hair back, bit down on a cigarette, and lit it. He inhaled the nicotine, letting the smoke swirl around him as he thought. He didn’t know how long he’d be in Thailand for the inheritance, but now he was also a “single father” to Jamie. His thoughts drifted. A face he had never forgotten for a single day floated into his mind. Jenalee at twenty-five looked almost exactly as he did at twenty, save for the look in his eyes. How is he doing now? Did P’Ram get him home safe? Will he get sick after being out in that rain? He could call P’Ram to ask. Or… he could go see for himself.