Chapter 21: Ember Still Glows

Rain's POV

The moment our lips parted, reality came crashing back in.

The sound of distant laughter from the reception. The faint hum of the city. The cool night air brushing against my flushed skin.

But none of it was louder than the sound of my own heartbeat.

Her hand was still on my waist, fingers resting there like she belonged. Like she had every right to hold me like this after everything.

I looked into her eyes—hazel brown, deep and unreadable, searching for something I wasn't sure I was ready to find.

And there she was.

The woman I once fell in love with.

The woman I thought I had moved on from.

The reason why I kept second-guessing every decision in my life.

I swallowed, my throat dry, my mind screaming at me to walk away. To leave before I made another mistake.

But instead—

"Come with me."

The words slipped out before I could stop them.

Khai blinked, startled, as if she wasn't sure she heard me right.

"Rain—" she started, but I shook my head.

"I don't know what this means, Khai." My voice wavered, but I didn't care. "I don't know what I'm doing. But right now, I just need—" I hesitated, my pulse hammering.

I just need you.

But I couldn't say that.

Not yet.

I took a step back, giving her the choice.

She could walk away. She could pretend this never happened.

Or—

Khai exhaled slowly, her gaze flickering with something unreadable. Then, without a word, she took my hand.

And just like that—

She chose me.

As we drove toward the outskirts of Jackson, the city lights faded into the distance, replaced by the quiet hum of the open road. I didn't want to think.

Not about tomorrow.

Not about the past.

Not about the consequences of what we were doing.

All I wanted was this. Her. Here. With me.

Khai's grip on my hand was firm, her fingers laced through mine as she drove, as if she was afraid that if she let go, I would disappear. I stared at our hands—at the way they fit together so naturally, so effortlessly, like nothing had changed. Like time and distance hadn't tried to tear us apart.

She glanced at me briefly, her hazel eyes soft in the dim light of the dashboard. "You okay?"

I nodded, but my chest ached.

Because I wasn't okay.

Because this was dangerous.

Because I knew I was running straight into something that would break me all over again.

But still, I held on.

Even if it was just for tonight.

We arrived at a small cabin nestled in the hills on the outskirts of Jackson. The drive had been quiet, heavy with unspoken words, but as soon as I stepped out of the car, the tension in my chest loosened. The view was breathtaking—city lights stretching endlessly, flickering like a sea of fireflies against the dark sky.

"You like it?" Khai's voice was soft beside me.

I simply nodded, unable to tear my eyes away from the view. Then, curiosity got the best of me. "Whose cabin is this?"

She hesitated for a brief second before answering, "It was my father's."

I frowned, confused. "Lucan?"

Khai exhaled, a small sigh escaping her lips. "No. Frederick."

I froze, her words settling in like a slow-burning realization. Frederick? My mind raced with a dozen questions, but I held them back. I wasn't sure I was ready for the answers.

Before I could speak, a voice called out from the cabin.

"Khalise."

We both turned as the front door opened, revealing a familiar figure.

"Come on in—I wasn't expecting you tonight," she said before her gaze landed on me. Her expression shifted to one of recognition, then warmth.

"Rain, right?" She smiled before pulling me into an unexpected hug. "It's nice seeing you again. The last time I saw you was years ago... back when Khai was in the hospital."

I barely registered her words. My mind was still struggling to catch up—to process the fact that Khalise Stanton was standing in front of me. The last time I remembered her, she was part of Tanaka's revenge plan.

Yet here she was, greeting me like an old friend.

We settled into the cozy living room of the cabin, the warmth from the fireplace casting a soft glow over the room. The atmosphere was calm, almost peaceful—something I hadn't felt in a long time. Khalise made her way to the kitchen, offering to prepare some tea, while I leaned back, allowing the quiet to settle around me.

Moments later, Khai returned from the kitchen, her presence a steady comfort. Without a word, she knelt down in front of me, her hands gently removing my shoes. I winced slightly as she touched my bruised feet, but she worked with care, applying medicine to the sore spots with a tenderness that made my chest tighten. I watched her every move, the familiar warmth of her touch sending an unspoken message straight to my heart.

Khalise, having returned to the living room, observed us quietly before speaking up. "Does Granpa know that she's here?" Her voice was laced with an almost cautious curiosity, like she was trying to gauge something in Khai's response.

Khai didn't answer at first, her attention still on my feet as she finished applying the medicine. Khalise repeated the question, this time a little more insistent. "Khai, does she know—"

Before she could finish, Khai cut her off, her voice sharp but not unkind. "Khal, you better go to bed."

Khalise didn't argue, but I could see the weight of the unspoken words in her eyes. She turned, walking away without another word, but not before adding, "You should tell her, Khai."

The silence hung between us as her footsteps faded away. Khai didn't immediately speak, her focus now solely on me. When she finally met my gaze, her expression was unreadable, but something soft was in her eyes. "Hey," she said, her voice quieter now, "how about you go freshen up?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond, but her words felt like a gentle invitation to take a step back, even if just for a moment. I nodded, my feet still throbbing from the long night, but I found myself wanting to give her space, wanting to give myself space to process everything that had happened tonight. "I'll be right back," I whispered, standing up to make my way toward the bathroom, my mind a whirlwind of thoughts.

After my bath, I opened the bedroom door to find her fixing the bed. She was focused, her hands smoothing over the sheets, her presence filling the quiet space.

"You can sleep on the bed—I'll take the couch," she said, her tone casual, as if this wasn't the most intimate we'd been in a long time.

I simply nodded, but when she turned to leave, something in me reacted before my mind could catch up. I reached out and grabbed her hand, the warmth of her skin grounding me.

"Can you please stay with me?" My voice was softer than I intended, almost pleading.

She hesitated only for a second before nodding. Without a word, she guided me toward the bed, her grip firm yet gentle. I scooted closer, my body naturally seeking hers. The warmth radiating from her was comforting, familiar, like stepping back into something I had lost but never truly let go of.

As if on instinct, she started rubbing my head, the way she always used to when we were together. That simple motion—her fingers threading through my hair, tracing soft circles against my scalp—calmed me in ways I couldn't explain.

"You still have that power to make me fall asleep just by doing that," I murmured, chuckling softly.

"I guess it's the touch," she answered, her voice barely above a whisper.

I turned to face her then, studying her in the dim light. Every detail of her—the way her lashes cast shadows on her cheeks, the way her lips parted ever so slightly as she breathed—was a sight I had memorized once before, and yet it still felt brand new.

Her voice broke the silence. "When are you going home?"

I smirked, shaking my head. "Wrong question."

She pulled back slightly, confusion flickering in her eyes. "What do you mean?"

I held her gaze, my lips curving into something playful yet sincere. "You should be asking—who are you going home with?"

A slow smile formed on her lips, the kind that made my heart stutter. Our faces were so close now that I could hear her breathing, feel the warmth of it against my skin.

"Day after tomorrow," she finally answered, and as she spoke, I lifted a hand, brushing my fingers against her cheek, cupping her face as if she were something fragile—something I wasn't ready to let go of.

"Rain—"

I didn't let her finish.

I lifted my hand, gently pressing a finger against her lips, silencing whatever words she was about to say. Her breath hitched, and for a fleeting moment, hesitation flickered in her eyes. But I didn't want hesitation. Not tonight.

Without another thought, I closed the space between us and kissed her.

This time, it wasn't a rushed, heat-of-the-moment kiss fueled by jealousy or impulse. This time, it was slow—deep—lingering. My lips molded against hers, tasting the faint remnants of wine and something distinctly her. My hand slid from her cheek to the nape of her neck, pulling her closer, as if I could make up for all the time we had lost in a single moment.

She responded instantly. A soft sigh escaped her as her hands found their way to my waist, gripping me as if she needed to hold onto something real. The warmth of her body pressed against mine, her touch sending a shiver down my spine.

There was no more past or future—just us, tangled in this moment, with nothing else existing beyond the way our lips moved together, the way our breaths intertwined.

I didn't know what would happen after tonight, whether this kiss was a beginning or an ending.

But right now, none of that mattered.

Right now, all that mattered was her.

This moment deepened, and we lost ourselves in it, surrendering to the pull that had always existed between us. There were no questions, no hesitations—just us. Just her lips against mine, soft yet insistent, as if she, too, was desperate to make up for the time we had lost.

Her hands roamed, tracing the contours of my back, pulling me impossibly closer until there was no space left between us. My fingers tangled in her hair, my heart hammering against my ribs as I kissed her deeper, drinking her in like I had been starving for this—for her. And maybe I had.

I could feel her breath hitch, feel the way her body melted into mine, fitting so perfectly as if she had never left. As if she had always belonged here, in my arms. The heat between us grew, our bodies moving instinctively, like a rhythm we had never forgotten. Every touch, every sigh, every gentle press of her fingers against my skin sent a shiver down my spine, igniting something I had tried so hard to bury.

We weren't thinking. We weren't considering the consequences, the inevitable morning that would come, the questions that would follow. Right now, none of it mattered.

Right now, there was only her. Only this moment.

And I wanted to drown in it.

This moment deepened, and I pulled away slightly, just enough to whisper against her lips, "God, I miss you so much." My voice was breathless, trembling with emotions I could no longer hold back.

She looked at me, her hazel brown eyes darkened with the same longing that burned inside me. Then, without hesitation, she kissed me again, a soft murmur slipping between our lips, "I missed you too."

I cupped her face, tracing the curve of her jaw with my thumb, memorizing every inch of her as if I could etch her into my very soul. "Can we stay like this... forever?" My voice was barely above a whisper, laced with a quiet plea.

She didn't answer—not with words. Instead, she kissed me again, deeper this time, with a desperation that sent fire coursing through my veins. Her hands roamed freely across my body, igniting every nerve, every memory we had buried beneath time and regret.

I melted into her, surrendering to the way she made me feel—whole, alive, completely and utterly hers. In this moment, there was no past, no future. Just us. Just the way our bodies moved as if they had never been apart.

And for tonight, that was enough.

~~~

I leaned against the counter, swirling the water in my glass as I listened to Khalise's words. Her casual tone didn't quite match the weight of what she was saying, and something about it made my chest tighten.

"She still has nightmares?" I asked, my voice quieter than I intended.

Khalise nodded, scooping another spoonful of ice cream. "Yeah, every now and then. She never says much about it, but I know. She avoids sleeping on beds, says it makes the nightmares worse." She glanced at me with a small smirk. "But I guess you're an exception."

I swallowed hard, my fingers brushing absentmindedly over my engagement ring. Khalise's eyes flickered to the movement, and she tilted her head.

"Huh. Engaged?" she asked, her voice light but observant.

I nodded slowly. "Yeah."

A small chuckle escaped her lips. "She should be lucky then." There was a pause before she added, "I'm happy for you, Rain."

I wasn't sure why, but her words sent an uneasy feeling through me. "And what about her?" I found myself asking.

Khalise let out a dry laugh. "Oh, Khai? Nah... She's too caught up in work. She forgets she has a life outside of the business." She tapped her spoon against the rim of the container. "I guess you could say she's already married—to the job."

I tried to laugh, but it barely made it past my lips. I looked down at my ring, my thoughts spinning in directions I wasn't ready to confront.

Because as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew—Khai was never just married to the job. She was still tied to something else. Someone else.

And that someone was me.

I felt my stomach tighten as I remembered Khalise's earlier words, the ones she had left hanging in the air. "You mentioned earlier that Khai should tell me something?"

She froze for a moment, clearly debating whether or not she should continue, before exhaling a quiet sigh. "Yeah, uhm... you should ask Khai about it. I'm not really in a place to, you know—"

"Please," I interrupted her gently, a mixture of curiosity and concern creeping into my voice.

Khalise hesitated, her gaze shifting away, seemingly lost in her thoughts for a second. "A lot has happened since the day you left... Obviously, me, Dad, Mom... Grandpa," she began slowly, her voice quiet as she processed her own words. "Khai was the reason I'm here again. She settled everything, withdrew the charges on me, but..." She paused, chewing on her bottom lip before continuing. "Khai lost everything—just... just to keep every person she loved safe."

My heart hammered in my chest. I didn't know what to say, so I simply pressed, "What do you mean?"

Khalise's eyes darkened, and her face grew somber as she looked back at me. "Khai lost Mom two years ago... Mom was about to be the key witness in bringing someone down. Someone so important, so close to us... Grandpa had orchestrated everything."

I felt my breath catch. "Oh my God," I whispered, the realization dawning on me with a wave of horror.

Khalise nodded gravely. "Yeah. Yeah, that was my reaction when I found out." Her voice faltered a bit. "But, when Mom decided to help Khai... she was shot dead. Just like that. When Khai uncovered the truth with Frederick's help—"

I could barely process the weight of what I was hearing. "So where's Frederick now?" I asked, the question hanging in the air like an unsettling whisper.

She shrugged, her expression hardening. "Only Khai knows where he is now. A long time ago, when Khai confronted Grandpa about everything, about all the things she knew... Khai was put in a position where she had to choose—between keeping someone so dear to her safe or... or killing Frederick."

My breath hitched in my throat as I absorbed her words. "She chose to keep you safe, Rain."

I felt a shockwave of disbelief hit me, my mind reeling from the gravity of what she had just told me. "She suffered physically and mentally... Didn't you know that she went after you in Chicago three years ago?"

I blinked, a feeling of disbelief washing over me. "What?" I managed to say, unsure if I had heard her right.

"She went after you, Rain," Khalise repeated, her voice almost gentle now, as though trying to soften the blow. "But Grandpa was always one step ahead of her. She was brought back here to Jackson, and..." She trailed off, her lips trembling. "She suffered the consequences like hell."

I stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of everything Khalise had just shared with me. Khai—my Khai—had gone through all of that for me. She had fought so hard, given up so much. And I... I had no idea.

I swallowed hard, fighting the wave of guilt and sadness that rushed over me. "She never told me..." I whispered more to myself than to Khalise. "She never told me any of this."

Khalise looked at me with a mix of sympathy and pain. "She never could, Rain. She kept it all inside, believing that protecting everyone was her responsibility. But that kind of weight... it breaks you."

I felt a pang of realization deep in my chest. I had no idea what she had been through. And now, seeing it all laid out, I understood just how far Khai had gone to protect me—and everyone she loved.

After my conversation with Khalise, I felt like I was carrying the weight of a thousand unspoken truths. I made my way back to the room, trying to process everything that had been said. As I entered, I noticed Khai was barely awake, her eyes fluttering as she tried to focus on me.

"Where have you been?" she asked in a soft, sleepy voice, her eyes still heavy with the remnants of sleep.

I smiled faintly, trying to hide the emotional storm swirling inside me. "Just went outside to get some water," I answered, sliding next to her on the bed.

Without saying anything more, she opened her arms, pulling me closer. "Get back to sleep," she murmured softly, her warmth enveloping me as I settled against her.

I brushed a strand of disheveled hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin as I watched her slowly drift back to sleep. As her breathing evened out, I whispered quietly to myself, not realizing that she was still awake, "What have you done to me, Khai? How do you make me fall even more in love with you, even when it's not right... even if it's wrong?"

The words left my mouth before I could stop them, the weight of them settling in my chest.

Then, unexpectedly, I heard her voice, low and soft, breaking through the silence. "I am still madly in love with you, Rain— even if I shouldn't have, even if you're with someone else."

Those words hit me like a freight train, sending a shockwave of guilt and longing crashing through me. The pain in her voice was unmistakable, and it felt like my heart was being torn in two.

I froze, unsure how to respond. The truth in her words, the rawness of what she was feeling, was more than I could bear.

I could feel her next to me, her body pressed against mine, but I didn't know how to bridge the distance that had grown between us—emotionally, mentally, and now painfully, physically.

And yet, despite everything, all I could think about was the love we shared—however wrong, however complicated—and the way she still managed to make me feel like the most important person in her world.

The next morning, I woke up to the buzzing of my phone, the sound jarring in the quiet morning air. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it was Mel calling. Panic surged through me, and my sudden movements startled Khai, who stirred beside me.

"Hey," I whispered quickly, trying not to wake her completely, then slipped out of bed and walked onto the balcony to answer the call.

"Hello?" Mel's voice crackled through the phone.

"Hey, good morning," I said, trying to sound casual, but I could already feel the tension building.

Mel wasted no time. "Having a great time in Jackson that you forgot you have a fiancée waiting for you?"

I winced at her words. "I'm sorry, I had a ton of drinks last night—"

She cut me off sharply. "Oh yeah? And you forgot to update me? I had to call you so many times just for you to pick up? Really, Rain?"

I let out a deep sigh, guilt washing over me. "Hey, look, I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."

There was a pause on the other end of the line. Then Mel spoke again, her voice a little softer but still tinged with frustration. "Mmm... Your flight is at 7 PM. Don't forget."

I felt a wave of panic hit me, and I quickly glanced at the clock. "Oh shoot... Thanks for the reminder."

"Yeah, well, I gotta go," she replied, her tone lighter now. "Just checking in on you. Love you!"

"Thank you," I said quietly, not sure if I deserved her kindness.

The call ended, and I stood there for a moment, staring out at the cityscape of Jackson. A rush of conflicting emotions swirled inside me. I didn't even know what to do with myself. I was about to leave this place, leave Khai, but there was no escaping the weight of the decision I was making.

Khai was still asleep inside, unaware of the storm that was brewing in my heart.

As I stepped back inside, the soft morning light filtering through the curtains, I found Khai already awake, sitting at the edge of the bed. Her dark eyes flickered toward me, filled with something unreadable—something intense. I walked toward her slowly, my heart hammering against my chest, then without hesitation, I straddled her lap, wrapping my arms around her neck.

"Hey, good morning, sleepyhead," I whispered, my voice laced with a teasing softness.

She didn't respond. Instead, she reached for my chin, tilting my face toward hers, and kissed me—deeply, hungrily, as if she had been holding herself back for too long. I melted into her, my hands gripping the soft fabric of her oversized white polo. It was mine. The realization sent a familiar heat through me, a deep ache of longing and nostalgia.

Her hands moved instinctively, sliding down my back, tracing slow, deliberate patterns that left a trail of fire in their wake. The air between us thickened, charged with an undeniable pull neither of us wanted to resist. I felt her fingertips skim beneath the hem of my shirt, her touch feather-light yet electrifying.

I let out a shaky breath, pressing closer, my lips parting slightly as she deepened the kiss. "Do you miss me that much?" she murmured against my lips, her voice low, teasing.

I could barely find my voice. I simply nodded, pressing my forehead against hers, my breaths uneven. "I do," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "I miss you so damn much—your touch, you inside me--I just need this, You"

A knowing smirk played on her lips as she slowly started to unbutton my shirt, her eyes never leaving mine. The anticipation, the way her fingers lingered against my skin, sent shivers racing down my spine. She took her time, savoring every inch, every reaction.

Her hands roamed freely, tracing the curve of my waist, the dip of my spine, and lower, as if she were relearning me, rediscovering every part of me she had once memorized. My breath hitched when her lips trailed down my neck, sucking lightly on the sensitive skin, igniting a fire that had never really faded.

"Khai," I breathed, gripping her shoulders as my body responded to every touch, every whisper of her lips against my skin.

She leaned back, her eyes dark with unspoken emotions, desire mixing with something deeper. "Then show me," she murmured, her hands sliding lower. "Show me how much you missed me."

And just like that, we were lost in each other again—no words, no hesitations.

Just us, just this, One last time.