La Ong Dao

Karakot Benjarong (Kong Saharat Sangkapreecha) rushes back from America after receiving news of the death of his father, Dr. Krai Benjarong. On his first day back in Thailand, the family lawyer, Khun Attawat, informs him of the conditions stated in his father’s will.
The news strikes Karakot like a thunderbolt—the will states that he will inherit everything only if he marries La-ongdao (Aom Piyada Akaraseni), a young woman who is legally his foster sister. She is an orphan whom Dr. Krai adopted as a baby. However, Karakot has never met her in nearly twenty years, as he was sent to study in America from a young age, while La-ongdao was raised in boarding schools and later studied home economics in France.
The only memory Karakot has of her is of an unattractive, chubby child. He cannot accept the condition, especially since he already has a girlfriend, Padachamai (Paei Panward Hemmanee), a glamorous socialite. He assumes La-ongdao is after his father’s fortune and manipulated him into writing such a will.
However, the will also states that if, within three years, La-ongdao refuses to marry him or marries someone else, the condition becomes void and Karakot will inherit everything. So he hires his cunning best friend, Thatchai, to court her in hopes she will reject him, allowing him to marry Padachamai instead.
When Karakot finally meets La-ongdao, he is stunned—she has grown into a beautiful, elegant, and dignified woman. Still, blinded by prejudice, he accuses her of greed and declares he will never marry her. La-ongdao is confused, as she knows nothing about the will, and firmly states that if he refuses, she will step aside herself.
Padachamai becomes upset upon learning about the will. Karakot tries to appease her by spending money on her, but when he runs out, he cannot withdraw more due to the will’s restrictions. He then realizes that La-ongdao truly had no knowledge of the will and has even refused the monthly allowance left for her.
When Karakot needs money, La-ongdao willingly gives up her share and takes him to retrieve money from a safe left by Dr. Krai. During a blackout, she stumbles, and Karakot catches her, carrying her down the building. This moment of closeness stirs feelings between them, though La-ongdao distances herself afterward.
As Thatchai begins courting La-ongdao, Karakot finds himself growing jealous. The more distant she becomes, the more sarcastic and hurtful he acts, masking his true feelings.
Determined to be independent, La-ongdao takes a job as a housemaid at Nopadol Palace, home of Princess Prawnapang Nopadol, an elderly former Lao royal who now lives quietly in Thailand. The princess takes a liking to La-ongdao immediately and hires her, assigning Chao Khamin, a distant relative, to drive her.
Karakot forbids La-ongdao from working, but she ignores him. At a party he hosts, Padachamai insults La-ongdao, accusing her of being after wealth. Hurt, La-ongdao leaves and returns to work at the palace.
At the palace, she sees a portrait of a young man and feels strangely connected to him. She later learns he is Chakrachai Nopadol, the princess’s only son, who gave up his royal engagement to marry a commoner and was exiled, eventually dying in hardship.
Another royal relative, Than Chai Sadayu, returns from France and becomes interested in La-ongdao. Meanwhile, multiple men begin to pursue her, including Thatchai and Chao Khamin, making Karakot increasingly jealous and irritable.
Princess Prawnapang senses the deep connection between Karakot and La-ongdao. At Sadayu’s birthday party, attended by high society figures, La-ongdao arrives and captivates everyone with her beauty. Sadayu invites her to open the dance floor, enraging Padachamai, who attempts to humiliate her by throwing punch at her—but Karakot intervenes just in time.
Karakot, heartbroken, turns to alcohol. Padachamai realizes La-ongdao is a serious rival and confronts her, demanding she stay away and produce a written refusal of marriage. When Karakot later finds that La-ongdao has indeed written a letter rejecting him and renouncing all inheritance, he is devastated and falls ill.
Refusing treatment, he is eventually cared for by La-ongdao until he recovers, bringing them closer—until Padachamai returns to win him back. Seeing her true nature, Karakot refuses reconciliation, causing her to resent La-ongdao deeply.
In revenge, Padachamai hires someone to shoot La-ongdao. Karakot intervenes and saves her, though she is severely injured. The attacker is caught and confesses, leading to Padachamai’s arrest.
Karakot nurses La-ongdao back to health. Thatchai admits he truly loves her and no longer wants payment. Karakot, heartbroken, steps aside. Thatchai proposes, but La-ongdao neither accepts nor rejects, asking for more time.
When the three-year deadline of the will arrives, La-ongdao moves out. The lawyer asks her to receive a 25th birthday gift prepared by Dr. Krai. Karakot retrieves it and discovers it contains a letter and her birth certificate—revealing her true identity.
La-ongdao is actually the only daughter of Chakrachai Nopadol—meaning she is Princess La-ongdao Nopadol, the granddaughter of Princess Prawnapang.
Karakot delivers the news to the palace. The princess is overwhelmed with joy, and grandmother and granddaughter are finally reunited. La-ongdao moves to live with her.
After she leaves, Karakot falls into deep sorrow. He realizes too late that his father had entrusted him with a woman of great worth, whom he failed to appreciate. Regretful, he returns to America and donates all his wealth to charity.
Will their love find its way back?
Follow the story in “La-ongdao.”