Chapter 12: Old Habits, Die Hard

Khai's POV

I woke up feeling heavy, my body aching as if I had been hit by a truck. The air in Chicago was colder than I expected, and the sudden change in climate must have triggered my allergies. My nose was stuffy, my throat scratchy, and a dull headache pulsed behind my eyes.

With a groan, I forced myself to sit up, rubbing my temples. There was no way I could let this get in the way of today's presentation. The Azotea project was too important, and I needed to be at my best.

Grabbing my phone, I dialed Jane's number. She picked up after a few rings.

"Boss?" she answered, sounding alert.

"Can you grab me some meds on your way to the office? Allergy pills, cold medicine—anything that'll get me through the day."

"Noted. You sure you're good to go? You sound terrible."

I let out a dry chuckle. "Flattering, Jane. Just get the meds, I'll be fine."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

Hanging up, I dragged myself to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face in hopes of shaking off the sluggishness. It helped a little, but I still felt like crap.

I threw on a fitted blazer and trousers, tying my hair back in a low ponytail. My reflection in the mirror looked exhausted, but I didn't have time to care.

By the time I reached the office, Jane was already there with a brown paper bag.

"You're a lifesaver," I muttered, taking the meds and downing them with a sip of water.

"You owe me coffee for this," she smirked.

I gave her a weak thumbs-up before heading to the conference room, where the engineering and design teams were already setting up. Rain was standing at the head of the table, flipping through her notes. She looked fresh and focused, as if she had a full night's rest—unlike me.

She glanced up, her eyes briefly scanning my face before she spoke.

"You look like hell, Khai."

"Thanks. Good morning to you too."

She smirked but didn't push further. Instead, she gestured toward the screen where the initial blueprints were displayed.

"Ready?" she asked.

I took a deep breath, straightened my posture, and nodded. "Always."

Khai's POV

The meeting was in full swing, with Rain leading the presentation. I tried my best to focus, but the sneezing was relentless. My nose was running, my throat felt raw, and my head was pounding. I was doing everything I could to keep from disrupting the discussion, but the moment Rain flipped to the next slide, another loud sneeze escaped me.

"I'm sorry, please continue," I muttered, embarrassed.

To my surprise, Rain stopped mid-sentence and turned toward me. She studied me for a moment, then without a word, she stepped away from the screen.

"Wait a second," she told the group before walking out of the conference room.

Everyone exchanged confused glances, but I didn't dwell on it. I was too busy trying not to sneeze again.

A few minutes later, Rain returned, walking straight toward me. Without a word, she placed a small medicine bag and a bottle of water in front of me. I stared at it, caught off guard.

I glanced up at her, but she had already turned back to the screen, resuming her presentation as if nothing had happened.

I swallowed hard.

This wasn't just about the medicine—it was the small things, the quiet gestures that spoke louder than words.

Even after all this time, Rain still noticed.

The moment the presentation ended, the planning for The Azotea began. Discussions about budgeting, sourcing materials, and project timelines filled the room, but my body was slowly giving up on me. The cold was creeping into my bones, and my head felt heavier by the minute.

I tried to push through it, but Rain noticed.

"Hey, come with me," she said, her voice leaving no room for argument.

I simply nodded and followed her to her office. As soon as we stepped inside, she placed the back of her hand against my forehead, her brows furrowing.

"Still not used to cold weather, huh?" she murmured, already moving around the room.

I watched as she adjusted the couch, grabbing a small throw blanket from the corner. My throat was too sore to respond properly, so I just nodded weakly.

Rain sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I guess there are things that never change."

Then she turned toward me, her expression soft but firm.

"Take a nap here," she said, motioning to the couch. "I'll handle the planning with your grandfather for now. In the meantime, you rest—maybe you need it."

I hesitated for a second, but the exhaustion won.

As I lay down, pulling the blanket over me, I felt the warmth of her presence lingering in the room. She didn't have to do this. She could have ignored me, let me deal with it on my own.

But she didn't.

And that realization made my heart ache in a way I wasn't ready to face.

•••

Rain's POV

The moment Khai's head hit the throw pillow, she was out. Exhausted.

I watched her for a moment, taking in how her body curled slightly from the cold, how her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and how—despite everything—she still looked so familiar. So much like the girl I once knew.

"Looking at her like this makes my heart sink in ways I can't explain."

I muttered the words to myself, almost afraid to acknowledge them.

She still hadn't changed—still not used to cold weather, still looking so vulnerable when she slept, as if the weight she carried disappeared only in moments like this.

I turned to leave, already making my way back to the conference room when her voice, soft and hoarse, stopped me.

"Can you please stay for a while? Just until I fall asleep?"

I froze.

The way she asked—so quiet, so pleading—caught me off guard. For a second, I hesitated.

Then, with a small sigh, I adjusted the throw blanket over her again, making sure she was warm before settling back in my office chair.

"I guess old habits die hard, huh?" I murmured under my breath, more to myself than to her.

As the room fell silent except for the soft hum of the heater, I let my eyes linger on her one more time.

Had I really moved on?

The moment Khai's head hit the throw pillow, she was out. Exhausted.

I watched her for a moment, taking in how her body curled slightly from the cold, how her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, and how—despite everything—she still looked so familiar. So much like the girl I once knew.

"Looking at her like this makes my heart sink in ways I can't explain."

I muttered the words to myself, almost afraid to acknowledge them.

She still hadn't changed—still not used to cold weather, still looking so vulnerable when she slept, as if the weight she carried disappeared only in moments like this.

I turned to leave, already making my way back to the conference room when her voice, soft and hoarse, stopped me.

"Can you please stay for a while? Just until I fall asleep?"

I froze.

The way she asked—so quiet, so pleading—caught me off guard. For a second, I hesitated.

Then, with a small sigh, I adjusted the throw blanket over her again, making sure she was warm before settling back in my office chair.

"I guess old habits die hard, huh?" I murmured under my breath, more to myself than to her.

As the room fell silent except for the soft hum of the heater, I let my eyes linger on her one more time.

Had I really moved on?

A few minutes passed, and Khai was fast asleep. Her breathing had evened out, and the slight tension in her brows had eased.

I took one last glance at her before quietly slipping out of the room, heading back to the conference room where Lucious was already deep into the budget discussion.

As soon as I stepped in, his sharp gaze lifted from the documents.

"Is Khai okay?" he asked, his tone neutral but laced with concern.

I gave a small nod. "She's probably just exhausted."

Lucious studied me for a second before giving a single nod in return, then seamlessly continued from where he left off.

I took my seat, flipping through my notes, but my mind was still halfway back in my office.

Even after all these years, it was still so easy to fall into old patterns when it came to Khai.

Long hours of discussion had left me drained, but as soon as we finally took a break, my thoughts drifted back to Khai. Without thinking much about it, my feet led me back to my office.

As I opened the door, I found her awake, sitting up on the couch, holding a photo frame in her hands.

It was the one of me and Hope—the picture she had taken years ago at the park. In it, I was wearing her sweater.

She looked up when she noticed me. "Hey, I'm sorry—I didn't notice you were already here."

I stepped inside, eyeing her carefully. "How are you feeling?"

She cleared her throat before answering, her voice still hoarse. "I'm feeling better now. Thank you for letting me crash on your cozy couch."

I followed her gaze back to the photo frame still in her hands. There was something unreadable in her expression—nostalgic, maybe a little wistful.

Realizing she was still holding it, she let out a small chuckle. "Oh yeah, sorry about that." She carefully placed it back where it belonged.

Then she sighed. "I should probably continue my rest at the hotel."

She cleared her throat, then took a step toward me.

At that moment, I felt my heart skip a beat.

She was too close.

This shouldn't be happening.

I've moved on.

Or so I thought.

"Thank you, Rain," she said softly.

Then she leaned in, reaching past me for the doorknob.

I could feel her warmth, the soft rhythm of her breathing.

For a second—just a second—I forgot how to breathe.

As Khai turned her back to leave, a familiar feeling crept in—the same one I thought I had buried a long time ago.

No.

I shouldn't be feeling this way.

I'm committed.

Melissa and I have built something stable, something certain. I shouldn't let old emotions resurface.

And yet...

As I watched Khai walk out of my office, a part of me couldn't ignore the way my chest tightened, the way my mind replayed that brief moment—the warmth of her standing so close, the soft rasp of her voice, the ghost of something unspoken between us.

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding.

This is dangerous.

I need to remind myself—what's in the past should stay in the past.

I forced myself to stay calm, pushing down the emotions threatening to surface. I have a girlfriend. I shouldn't be feeling this way.

As I walked toward the boardroom, I saw Lucious wrapping up the meeting. He turned toward me with his usual composed expression.

"Rain—thank you so much for accepting this project," he said. "The Stanton Corporation is glad to be working with you again."

I gave him a polite smile. "It's my pleasure."

He nodded approvingly before adding, "Before we leave, can we have dinner with Mr. Boyd?"

I hesitated for a brief second before responding, "Sure. When are you guys leaving?"

"Tomorrow morning," he replied. "Our flight is back to Jackson."

A knot formed in my chest at the thought of Khai leaving. Tomorrow morning, she'll be gone.

But that's fine. It should be fine.

I shouldn't be bothered, right?

I pulled out my phone and called Sofi, booking a reservation for four. After confirming the details, I turned to Lucious and Mr. Boyd.

"Are you both ready for dinner?" I asked, forcing a polite smile.

They nodded, and within minutes, a black van pulled up in front of the building. As we settled inside, Lucious and Mr. Boyd dove into a conversation about business projections and project timelines. Their voices faded into the background as my mind wandered.

Khai.

She wasn't coming to dinner. She wasn't feeling well, and she needed rest. That was completely understandable.

But why did the thought of her leaving tomorrow keep creeping into my mind?

I should be relieved. I should be at peace.

Then why does it feel like something is slipping away?

The conversation at the dinner table carried on about the project, but my mind was elsewhere. Every time I tried to focus on the discussion, my thoughts would drift back to Khai. How was she feeling? Did she manage to rest?

I couldn't help it. It felt like something inside me was unraveling the more I thought about her.

Excusing myself from the table, I made my way to the counter where Sofi was taking orders.

"Hey, is that your boss and your client?" she asked, noticing the men at the table.

I nodded, forcing myself to focus. "Yeah."

Then, without much thought, I ordered a pumpkin soup and seafood risotto to go. I needed something to keep me busy, something to bring me back to the present.

When the order was ready, I returned to my seat.

"Gentlemen," I said, trying to keep my tone even, "I hate to leave you here, but I need to head home first. My aunt is waiting for me."

After exchanging a few pleasantries and saying my goodbyes, I grabbed my take-out order and made my way to the door.

As I stepped outside, I felt a strange weight on my chest—something I couldn't shake. It felt like I was missing something. Or someone.

I stood in front of the hotel for a moment, my mind racing, but there was something compelling me to move forward. I couldn't ignore it anymore. I didn't even stop to think about what I was doing; I just walked straight to the reception desk.

"Room number for Ms. Khai Stanton, please?" I asked, trying to sound calm, though inside, my heart was pounding.

The receptionist looked up, but there was no hesitation. She quickly typed something into the computer, then looked back at me.

"She's staying in Room 412," she said.

I nodded, thanking her before making my way to the elevator. Every step I took toward Khai's room felt heavier, as though the weight of my own feelings was pressing down on me. I couldn't explain it.

As the elevator doors closed and the floors started ticking upward, I couldn't stop my thoughts from racing. What was I doing? Why was I going to see her? Was this really the right thing to do?

The elevator came to a stop, and I found myself standing in front of Room 412. I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should knock. But before I could second-guess myself, my hand was already reaching for the door.

°°°

Khai's POV

I was barely processing what was happening. One moment, I was wrapped in a blanket, fighting off the chills, and the next, Rain was standing in front of me, holding a takeout bag.

"Rain? What are you doing here?" My voice was hoarse, but the shock in it was undeniable.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, her eyes flickered over my face, noticing the small red patches forming on my skin. Without hesitation, she stepped closer, concern etched into her features.

"Are you having allergies?" she asked.

I nodded weakly.

"I brought food for you," she said, her tone softer this time. Then, before I could react, her hand was on my forehead, checking my temperature. The warmth of her palm against my skin sent a jolt through me—familiar yet distant, like a memory I had tried to bury.

I stepped back, retreating to my bed, but she followed, placing the food on the bedside table. I could still feel the shivers running through my body. My body was betraying me, but worse, so was my heart.

"Come on, sit straight. I brought you pumpkin spice soup and risotto," she urged.

With some effort, I adjusted my pillow and forced myself to sit up. Before I could reach for the spoon, Rain had already scooped up some soup and held it out to me.

"Open your mouth," she instructed, her voice carrying a softness that made my chest tighten.

I hesitated but complied, letting her feed me. The warmth of the soup spread through me, comforting and familiar. It wasn't just the food—it was her. The way she was here, the way she was taking care of me, as if nothing had changed. As if we weren't years apart, as if she hadn't moved on.

I leaned my head back against the headboard, feeling lightheaded. My fever was still lingering, and exhaustion was tugging at me. But more than that, something deeper was creeping into my chest—something I wasn't ready to name.

As I let my eyes close for a brief moment, I whispered, "You didn't have to come here, Rain."

But she stayed.

She didn't respond right away. For a moment, I thought she was just going to ignore what I said, but then, after a few minutes, she finally spoke.

"I came here for you to sign the contract as well. You forgot to sign it earlier, so I figured I'd pay you a visit," she said, her voice measured, careful.

I let out a small chuckle, though it came out more as a weak exhale. "So that's the only reason?" I asked, tilting my head slightly to look at her.

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she busied herself by reaching into her bag and pulling out a folder. "Here," she said, placing it on the bedside table.

I stared at the folder but didn't reach for it. "You didn't have to bring food just to make me sign, Rain."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "I know," she admitted. "But you're sick. You barely ate at lunch, and I knew you wouldn't bother getting anything yourself."

Something about the way she said it made my stomach tighten. It was the way she still knew me, the way she still paid attention.

I swallowed, then reached for the pen she placed beside the folder. "Alright," I muttered before flipping through the pages and signing where I had missed earlier.

When I was done, I closed the folder and handed it back to her. "There. Now you can go," I said, forcing a teasing tone, but it came out weaker than I intended.

She didn't move right away. Instead, she looked at me, something unreadable in her expression. Then, in a voice so soft I barely heard it, she said, "I didn't just come here for the contract, Khai."

My breath caught.

But before I could say anything, she stood up, taking the folder with her. "Get some rest," she said, her voice back to normal. "You still have a flight to catch tomorrow."

And just like that, she walked to the door.

I should've let her go. I should've just ignored the way my heart clenched at her words.

But I didn't.

"Rain," I called out before she could turn the doorknob.

She froze.

And for the first time in years, I found myself asking the one question I had been too afraid to ask.

"Why did you really come here?"

•••

Rain's POV

I was stunned by her question, but I forced myself to shrug it off. "Get some rest, Khai," I said, keeping my voice steady.

Before I could change my mind—no, scratch that—before my heart could convince me to stay, I hurriedly opened the door and stepped out.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. My fingers tightened around the strap of my bag as I walked down the hallway, my steps brisk, determined—like I wasn't just running away from something.

Or someone.

Khai's question echoed in my mind. Why did you really come here?

I told myself it was just to bring her food. Just to get the contract signed. Just to make sure she was okay.

But was that really all?

I shouldn't be feeling this way. I shouldn't be affected. I shouldn't care this much anymore.

Because I have Melissa.

And Khai—Khai was just someone from my past.

Right?