"Impressive, Rose. That answer left Mr. Wasupol a bit disconcerted. I bet he was stunned, which is why he quickly left the farm."

"Not quite, Lom. Compared to P'Din, I really haven't done much."

Tippapha said this modestly, thinking that her earlier impulsive reaction was not something that deserved so much praise or appreciation. Compared to what P'Din had done for her, her actions seemed insignificant. All she wanted was to protect someone who had been so good to her.

It was like when she confronted Mr. Wasupon without caring how rude her attitude might appear in the eyes of the elders. After all, the person who had been disturbing and threatening her since she returned to the country was Wasu, Mr. Wasupon's son. It had even reached the point where P'Din had to step in to protect her.

So who was it that had not been raised properly by their parents? She was certain it was not P'Din.

"But if you, Rose, hadn't spoken up, I was afraid that P'Din wouldn't be able to deal with the Mahatthanakorn family's people. Just hearing it made me angry. I was worried that Din wouldn't be able to respond in time."

"P'Din, you're okay, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am well."

Kasama snapped out of her confusion as if she had lost track of time. She only regained her senses when Rose called out to her. Only then did she realize that she had pulled away from the sudden contact that had exposed their situation in front of Mr. Wasupon.

"But thinking about it, P'Din is really skilled. Not only did she deal with Mr. Wasupon for so long, she even refused to greet and bid farewell to the guests."

Although she wanted to deny Wayo's praise and explain that everything had happened unexpectedly, that she had never intended to start a conflict or challenge Mr. Wasupon, her apparent immobility had probably been caused by Tippapha's overwhelming attitude. Her closeness and sweet affection had left Kasama speechless, especially when Tippapha said she loved her and wanted to marry her.

Although she understood that Rose had said those words to protect her, she still could not help feeling confused and shaken.

"But I don't think they will give in or give up so easily. Mr. Wasupon is far more unpredictable than Wasu.

P'Din, you must promise Rose that you will be more careful from now on."

"Yes, I promise."

"Even if I'm weak and can't protect myself, causing Din to worry, I will protect you too. I won't let anyone hurt you. I promise."

Wayo turned and nudged Atjima, who was standing nearby, silent as if she were not part of the situation, then gestured for her to look at Din. Although Wayo had been the main mastermind and planner of the fake wedding, the excessive concern and promise of protection were beyond the plan.

Just like now, when she noticed Kasama's strange expression, uncertain how to react after Tippapha held her hands affectionately and made such a sincere promise.

"Fai accepts."

"Fai says she accepts P'Din's marriage to Rose."

"Thank you very much for understanding the reasons."

"And I will also accept Rose without reservation."

"..."

What made Atjima change her attitude and accept her presence so suddenly, even offering the first genuine smile from the youngest member of the Watinwanich family? Tippapha was not sure whether it was truly sincere, but she felt a chill run down her spine when Atjima smiled at her.

---------------------------------------

"Little Rose."

"Huh? Are you referring to me, Fai?"

She looked around from side to side and saw no one else nearby. Still, to be certain, she wondered if she had really heard Fai's unexpectedly friendly voice greeting her. This was after yesterday's photoshoot had been suspended because of Mr. Wasupon.

Today they had come to take photos in the flower field in their forest, Chomchan.

"Yeah. It's just me and little Rose here."

"Why did you call me little Rose? P'Din said I'm older than you."

"It doesn't matter how old you are. Someone as cool as me can call you little one."

"..."

Just as P'Din had said, when Atjima opened up to someone, she could be quite friendly. Tippapha had never expected that this friendship would come so suddenly and unexpectedly. More importantly, Fai was smiling at her again.

It was a smile that, even while smiling, still seemed defiant.

"Did you come here early this morning just to tease Rose?"

"No, Lom. I just came to say good morning to our little Rose."

"Don't worry about it, Rose. Fai may look tough, but she's actually the most childish."

"And P'Din, where is she?"

Tippapha asked Wayo, who was chatting amicably with Atjima. Earlier, Atjima had tried to avoid acting like the older cousin when Wayo teased her, and the two had nearly started arguing before Tippapha interrupted to ask about the most important person that day.

"She said she would change her clothes and come. Look, there she is now."

"Sorry to keep you waiting, little Rose."

"P'Din, did you change your clothes?"

"Yes. Yesterday I realized that the suit didn't match Rose's wedding dress very well, so I went to the store to get a new one."

"You didn't have to go to all that trouble. Why change and cause yourself so much trouble, Din?"

"She's a perfectionist in everything, that's why, Rose. You'll get used to it."

Even without hearing what Wayo said, Tippapha had already gotten used to Din's attention to detail. She always tried to match and harmonize everything in the best possible way, even for a fake wedding. Yet it made Tippapha feel warm and happy, almost as if it were a real wedding.

Rose did not regret or feel sad about choosing to marry P'Din.

"Let's stop talking. Otherwise the sun will get too strong and the photos won't come out well, Din, little Rose."

"Little Rose?"

"Fai has been calling me that since earlier, Din."

Kasama gave her a curious look when she saw Rose approaching to talk with her as they walked toward the corner of the Chomchan Forest flower field. It was the best spot for photos, with a beautiful pavilion that was usually used by tourists visiting the farm.

It was a central area surrounded by flower fields, a romantic location that Atjima had suggested for the shoot after surveying the entire place. She said this spot was perfect for pre wedding photos.

"Come a little closer, please. The way you two are standing, the photos don't look like a couple."

"Like this, is it okay, Fai?"

"Closer, Rose. Din. Just a little closer."

"Din, hug Rose. Don't leave your hands at your sides. Don't be stiff."

"Enough. You're being too demanding, Lom, Fai. You need to respect Rose."

"It's alright, P'Din. As long as the photos look realistic, I agree."

Rose felt a little sorry for Din, who was being pressured by them and had become so stiff that she looked as if she were about to salute the national flag, just as Wayo had described.

P'Din had always been responsible. She never took advantage of anyone, nor did she dare to touch Rose without permission. So she simply clasped her hands politely in front of her.

"But..."

"It's okay, Din."

Even though she had been given permission, Din still hesitated. She raised her arm but did not actually embrace Rose. So Rose helped by stepping into her arms, smiling toward Atjima's camera once she found the right position, just like a real couple according to the briefing. But it seemed that a new problem had appeared.

"P'Din, smile a little. With that serious face, someone might think you don't want to get married."

"Lom, don't push her so hard."

"But Rose wants to see you smile too. Since I came back, I haven't seen you smile, Din."

"Someone as cheerful as Rose asking me to smile feels strange. I've never seen that before."

"Even if it doesn't seem like it, Rose still wants to see it. Please, Din, smile for me. Say 'cheese' if you need to."

"Cheese..."

P'Din's hesitant smile might have looked funny to some, making Wayo laugh and almost causing Atjima to fall backward. But for Rose, seeing Din smile...

It made her world instantly brighter and full of light.

And finally, the long awaited day arrived. The wedding became the link that united the Amornjinda and Watinwanich families as one.

Many guests came to congratulate the two brides at today's event, while Kasama and Tippapha tirelessly welcomed them. This included workers from both farms who came to express their happiness for their employers.

"Rose dear, are you tired?"

"I'm fine, P'Din."

"It was Aunt's idea to hold a grand ceremony that would attract everyone's attention. She suggested inviting many influential guests from society to witness the event so the wedding could proceed smoothly without any problems."

"Your aunt, Kasama, and Fai planned everything very carefully. After the event, Rose will have to thank everyone."

Tippapha said this to Din as they walked together through the reception, a satisfied smile on her face. All of Din's family and friends had helped in every way they could. From her aunt, who organized the wedding perfectly in just one week, to Wayo, who came up with the plan to bring in plainclothes police officers to ensure security, and Atjima, who took care of the photographs displayed at the event. Everything looked so real that it was hard to believe it was only a fake wedding.

"Don't worry. Everyone did it willingly."

"Even if you say that, I still feel a little embarrassed."

"I already told you that we are all part of the same family now."

"As?"

"From today onwards, the Amornjinda family will no longer stand alone. The Watinwanich family will be by your side."

"Thank you, Din. Even though our marriage is only a pretense, I feel truly safe."

Truly safe, especially when Din's hand was holding hers. Kasama's hands were not as soft as hers. They were not the hands of someone who had always been carefully cared for and had never done heavy work. Yet they still conveyed a gentle sense of comfort and security, along with the certainty that choosing to share her life with Din had been the right decision.

Am I becoming too caught up in the role of Din's bride?

"It's a grand event. A flashy wedding that has drawn attention throughout the district. I came to see for myself how big it really is."

"No one can enter without an invitation."

"What do you mean? Are you going to stop someone who came to offer congratulations?"

"Let them in."

Kasama intervened with the security guards who had been blocking Wasu and his companions from entering, as instructed. However, Wasu's loud voice had already attracted the attention of the guests.

Kasama decided to allow them inside so the event could continue smoothly.

"Rose is a very beautiful bride."

"I know."

"What are you afraid of? I just came to congratulate you. Or are you afraid you might become a widow right after getting married because I might shoot you for stealing my bride?"

"Don't do anything to Din!"

"I'm just joking. Rose, don't you have a sense of humor?"

But Tippapha did not find Wasu's threats amusing at all. She had never expected him to come directly to provoke them on the wedding day. There was no sign of Mr. Wasupon. Only Wasu appeared, confident and fearless.

"Are you going to take pictures or not? The photographer is waiting."

"Come this way."

Kasama gently guided Tippapha away when she noticed Wasu approaching, protecting the bride so she would not feel uncomfortable.

"Do you think that inviting the governor would make me afraid to fight?"

"If you want to cause trouble, try it. I guarantee it will not end well for you."

"I will take Rose back, even if I have to step over your body."

"If you try anything, you will be the one who becomes a corpse before I do."

"You are a wretch for stealing my wife."

"Rose was never yours and never will be. From today onward, she is my wife. Remember that, Wasu."

"I swear you won't have a happy ending, Din!"

Kasama maintained steady eye contact with Wasu. Although the tension was clear, starting a conflict here would not have been favorable.

Wasu growled and sneered before retreating with his cronies, allowing the event to return to normal.

"P'Din, is everything okay? Did Wasu say something?"

"Nothing to worry about. Don't worry, Rose. Everything is settled."

From today onward, I, Kasama, will not let anyone bother or hurt you again.

"They will now exchange rings."

Today's wedding ceremony was organized in a simple manner, with Ms. Keo acting as the master of ceremonies and guiding the event according to the plan.

The time had come for them to exchange the rings they had chosen together a few days earlier.

However, the ring box that Din had just received from her aunt seemed different. It was not the red velvet box they had chosen together, but one in a dark blue color. This surprised Tippapha a little, since Din had never mentioned changing it.

"Give me your hand, little Rose."

"P'Din, this isn't the same ring, is it?"

"It wasn't only the clothes that I changed to match you better. I also asked my aunt to find a ring that would suit you even more."

"But wasn't that too expensive, P'Din?"

"Since you, Rose, are the best thing in my life, I want to give you the very best."

Tippapha had to admit that Din's gentle and affectionate voice moved her deeply, leaving her unsure how to respond.

She had never thought Din would take this marriage as seriously as she did. Din had turned something that was supposed to be fake into a genuine expression of affection, making Tippapha feel like the luckiest woman in the world.

"I'm so jealous, Rose! That diamond ring is huge! You can see it shining all the way from here to Chomchan Forest."

A voice from the crowd made everyone laugh, which only made Tippapha even more embarrassed, to the point that she almost put the ring on Din's finger incorrectly. She was nervous and inexperienced, but fortunately Din remained calm and guided her through every step.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

After the rings had been exchanged successfully, the guests began cheering for a kiss, urging them on excitedly as if it had all been planned.

At that moment, Tippapha did not know what to do and looked to Din for help. Din then made a small signal to Ms. Keo, the master of ceremonies.

"Din and Rose, how about showing us some affection? With so many fans here, you cannot disappoint them!"

"..."

Instead of helping them, Ms. Keo only encouraged the crowd even more, putting the two of them directly in the spotlight with no way out.

"What should we do now, Din? Everyone is looking at us."

"Don't worry, Rose. You don't have to listen to them."

"But they won't stop cheering. And Wasu is staring at us."

"That's right. Wasu still hasn't left."

"How about a small kiss on the cheek to make everyone happy? After all, you lived abroad. It's just a normal greeting."

"..."

For Tippapha, it might have been just a simple greeting. But for Din, it meant much more.

They both knew this was only a fake wedding meant to fool the Mahatthanakorn family. After the event, Din would definitely have to warn Ms. Keo about her poorly timed teasing, which had made the situation awkward.

"Quickly, P'Din, before the others start to suspect something."

"Rose, I don't have the courage..."

A sharp cry of surprise echoed through Chomchan Forest. There was no need to hide it, because the beautiful bride had already taken the initiative. The chief worker leaned forward and lightly kissed Kasama on the cheek, leaving behind a faint mark of lipstick.

Tippapha stepped back, trying to calm her racing heart. She had not meant to show any claim of possession.

But why did Kasama look ten times more affected?

-------------------------------------------

"It feels like a dream."

However, the large diamond ring on her left ring finger reminded Tippapha that everything that had happened today was real, not just a beautiful dream beyond her imagination.

She had never thought that her first marriage, even if it was only a sham, would be so perfect and impressive that she almost lost herself in the moment.

Even though she had faced problems and difficult situations, there were still positive things that gave her hope and strength to face the challenges ahead. She truly did not know what might have happened if it had not been for the woman from the neighboring farm, P'Din, who was always willing to help and protect her. Otherwise, she might have ended up in a hellish situation at the hands of the Mahatthanakorn family.

"Rose, may I come in?"

"Of course. You don't need to ask."

"I just wanted to make sure you were comfortable."

"But if anyone saw this, they might wonder why Din would need permission to enter her own room."

Tippapha stood up to open the door and greet Din, who had just finished her duties on the busy wedding day. Din had suggested that she rest first after the ceremony, since Din still needed to say goodbye to some important guests and speak with her family members before heading to the room that would now serve as the bridal chamber.

"Rose, haven't you taken a shower yet?"

"Not yet, Din. Getting married is more tiring than I expected, so I'm taking a short break."

"I was planning to organize my things and quietly go sleep in Fai's room. That way you could have the room to yourself."

"Don't worry, Din. You can sleep in your room. I can go back to mine. It would be easier that way, and you wouldn't have to bother Fai."

"We can't do that. If anyone finds out, they might wonder why we're sleeping in separate rooms after the wedding."

"That's right. I forgot to think about that."

"Stay here, Rose. I'll find a way to settle somewhere else."

Tippapha felt truly guilty about all the consideration Din was showing her. Din was even willing to leave her own room so Rose would not feel uncomfortable, even though in reality they were newlyweds. Not knowing how to solve the situation, Tippapha simply watched in silence as Din packed her things, feeling increasingly guilty.

"Then I'll be going, Rose. Get some good rest. It's been a long day since early morning."

"You too, P'Din. Get plenty of rest."

"Of course. Don't worry. I'll take a shower and go straight to bed."

Kasama said this to Tippapha before picking up a small bag containing her essentials. She planned to temporarily stay in the guest room that Fai used until she returned to her hometown the next day. However, she did not expect to run into Aunt Chan in the hallway. The older woman spotted her immediately and hurried over.

"It's your wedding night. Where are you going, Din?"

"Ah... I'm a little thirsty, Aunt Chan. I wanted to get some water."

"Then I'll bring it to you. Go back inside and stay in the room. In the old days, on the wedding night, the couple wasn't supposed to walk around outside. You must stay together until dawn."

"Then I'll leave it to you. Thank you, Aunt Chan."

"Do you need anything besides water? Just tell me."

"No, just water. Thank you."

After gently closing the door, Kasama turned toward Tippapha, who was smiling at her warmly, as if she understood the awkward situation Din had gotten herself into while trying to sneak out of the room on their wedding night.

Tippapha then made a generous suggestion that deeply moved her.

"So why don't you just sleep here tonight, Din? You don't have to go anywhere else."

Kasama felt even more touched, especially after the kiss they had shared during the ceremony...

------------------------------------------

"What are you going to do, Din?"

"I'll sleep on the floor. That way you can sleep comfortably in the bed."

"No! You should sleep in the bed. Don't make me feel even more guilty about taking your room, Din."

Din had barely started placing the pillow on the floor when the girl intervened, refusing to let her give up the bed. Since they had to stay together in the same room after their wedding night to prevent others in the house from suspecting the fake marriage, Kasama eventually had no choice but to share the room with her "bride."

"I don't think it's appropriate for the two of us to sleep in the same bed."

"But it wouldn't be right to let you sleep on the floor and wake up with a sore back, Din. You were just as tired as I was at the ceremony today."

"But..."

"If it's so uncomfortable, why don't we stay up all night talking and strengthening our relationship?"

Din looked surprised and shocked by her suggestion. Wouldn't it make sense to spend the night talking and getting to know each other better? If she felt too uncomfortable to sleep together because she wasn't used to it, then they could simply talk endlessly until they ran out of things to say.

"Don't you want to talk until dawn, P'Din? That way we can get to know each other better."

"You mean talk?"

"Yes. Why? What did you think I meant?"

"Nothing. I think staying up and talking is a good idea."

Kasama sighed in relief, like someone who could finally breathe again. After Tippapha made room on the bed for her, they lay down together while she talked tirelessly about the wedding day. Even though Kasama felt exhausted and her eyes grew heavy, she forced herself to stay awake because she wanted to hear everything the other woman had to say and answer Tippapha's curious questions.

"And you, Rose? Besides roses, do you like any other flowers?"

But who could have imagined that the drowsiness she had been fighting for a while would suddenly vanish the moment she felt the young woman's head rest gently on her shoulder?

Kasama froze, unsure of what to do, until she finally gathered the courage to adjust her position and make herself more comfortable so the young woman could sleep peacefully.

Although the one who said she wasn't sleepy was the first to fall into a deep sleep after suggesting they stay up talking the entire night, it seemed that the only person who would be unable to sleep due to the agitation was Kasama.

"Sleep well, Rose."

And who else could it be but Kasama...