Rain's POV
The next morning...
A loud knock at the door jolted me awake. I groaned, rubbing the sleep from my eyes as I glanced at the clock-too early. My body felt sluggish, weighed down by the events of last night, but the persistent knocking didn't stop.
I threw on the hotel robe, dragging my feet to the door. Who the hell-?
As I swung it open, I was met with a sight I hadn't expected.
"Surprise!"
Standing in front of me were Therese, Ikaris, and... Khai.
My eyes widened. "What-what are you guys doing here?"
Before I could process anything, Therese pulled me into a tight hug, her warmth wrapping around me like a shield. "I figured you'd need company after everything that happened, so we flew all the way from Jackson to be here with you."
I blinked, my heart clenching at the gesture. They really came all this way for me?
Ikaris, standing beside her with an amused expression, smirked. "And note that this is still within our honeymoon period. That's how much we love you."
I let out a small, breathy laugh, but my attention shifted when I finally registered her.
Khai.
She stood there, slightly apart from the two, looking exhausted-like she hadn't slept in days. Dark circles framed her tired eyes, and in her hands, she clutched a bag of food. She didn't say anything, just met my gaze with a look I couldn't quite decipher.
Therese clapped her hands together, breaking the heavy silence. "Sooo, you might want to invite us inside instead of making us stand out here in the hallway?"
I exhaled, stepping aside. "Yeah... yeah, come in."
As they walked in, my chest tightened with a mix of emotions-gratitude, relief, and something else I wasn't ready to name.
As they settled inside the room, Khai silently made her way to the balcony, her back to us as she stared out at the city skyline. Ikaris followed, leaning against the railing beside her, hands in his pockets, as if giving me and Therese space.
Therese, ever the direct one, plopped onto the couch and patted the spot beside her. "Alright, spill-what the hell happened?"
I let out a shaky breath, sitting down beside her. "I walked into Mel's apartment and caught her in bed with someone else-her colleague."
Therese's eyes widened. "Wait, what?! That bitch!"
I gave a bitter chuckle, shaking my head. "Yeah... I was supposed to surprise her, but turns out, I was the one in for a surprise."
Therese clenched her fists. "I swear, if I ever see her, I'm-"
I held up a hand, stopping her rant. "It's fine, Therese. Honestly... I wasn't even hurt. I was just-relieved."
She blinked. "Relieved?"
I leaned back against the couch, staring at the ceiling. "Yeah. Like... it finally made sense. All those little things I ignored, the distance, the doubts-I think, deep down, I knew it wasn't going to work. But seeing it with my own eyes? It just... freed me."
Therese studied me for a moment before nodding. "You're stronger than I thought, Rain. But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to be pissed."
I smiled weakly. "Oh, don't get me wrong, I am. But more than that, I just want to move on."
Therese sighed, leaning her head on my shoulder. "Well, that's what we're here for. You're not dealing with this alone."
I glanced toward the balcony, where Khai and Ikaris stood in quiet conversation. Khai still hadn't said a word to me since she arrived.
Therese groaned, throwing her head back dramatically. "Rain, seriously? I just got married! Like, literally not even a full month ago! And now you want me to keep secrets from my husband?"
I smirked, crossing my arms. "Oh, please, Therese. Don't act like you're suddenly the poster wife for honesty. I know for a fact you still haven't told Ikaris about that time you-"
She gasped and covered my mouth with her hand. "Shh! We do not speak of that incident!"
I raised an eyebrow, and she sighed in defeat. "Ugh, fine. I won't tell him. But I want it on the record that I hate this."
I grinned. "Duly noted."
She narrowed her eyes at me. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
I shrugged playfully. "Maybe a little."
She let out an exasperated groan, flopping onto the bed. "You're lucky I love you. Now, what is this big secret you're about to drag me into?"
The moment I leaned in and whispered, "I met Frederick Whitmore," Therese nearly fell off the bed.
"WHAT?!" she whisper-yelled, eyes wide with shock. She gripped my arm so tightly it almost hurt. "Rain, are you seriously telling me you met Frederick Whitmore-Khai's father?! When? Where? How?!"
I glanced toward the balcony where Khai and Ikaris were standing, lost in their own conversation. I lowered my voice. "Yes. I met him. And what he told me... Therese, it changes everything."
She threw her hands up. "Oh, no. No, no, no. I just got married. I wanted to be drama-free for at least a month."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah? Well, welcome back to reality."
She groaned. "Fine. Spill. What did he say?"
I took a deep breath. "I learned some grueling truths about the Stantons-their past, their business, and most importantly... the real reason Letty Harrington is still in play."
Therese frowned. "Wait, hold on-Letty? Isn't she supposed to be locked up?"
"She was," I said, my voice tight. "Frederick helped her escape."
Her jaw nearly hit the floor. "I'm sorry, what?! Rain, why the hell would he do that?!"
"Because if he didn't, she would have been dead before she even made it to the correctional facility." I exhaled sharply. "Lucious had men waiting to take her out the second she was transferred. Frederick thought she'd be an ally in bringing Lucious down, but she had her own agenda."
Therese shook her head. "This is insane. Your life is insane."
I let out a humorous chuckle. "Oh, you haven't even heard the worst part."
She gave me a deadpan look. "Worse than this? Go on, ruin my day."
I hesitated for a moment, my fingers balling into fists. Then I said, "The reason Letty is after that Black Book isn't just because it holds records of Lucious's crimes-it has information on her husband, Mario Harrington."
Therese's eyebrows furrowed. "Wait... I thought he was just some businessman? Didn't he die years ago?"
I shook my head. "Not just a businessman. He was a cartel leader. One of the biggest in Colombia. And he worked with John Whitmore and Lucious Stanton long before the Stanton Corporation became what it is today."
Therese's mouth fell open. "So Letty wasn't just some rich widow-she was married to a drug lord?"
I nodded grimly. "Exactly. And that Black Book contains everything-drug trades, shell accounts, proof of murders... It even has recordings, videos, and evidence Dad collected over the years."
She blinked. "Wait-why would your Dad be collecting evidence? "
My pulse quickened. This was the part I dreaded the most.
I swallowed hard and looked her in the eye. "Because, Therese... Dad wasn't just Lucious's right-hand man; he was the executioner."
She stared at me. "Okay...? "
Silence.
Heavy, suffocating silence.
Therese didn't even blink. She just sat there, processing, her mouth slightly open like she was buffering.
Then-
"WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL, RAIN?!"
I winced. "Shh! Lower your voice!"
"How the hell am I supposed to lower my voice when you just dropped that bomb on me?!"She looked at me like I had just told her I was a lizard person. "Your Dad-the same Theodore who's basically Lucious Stanton's right hand-is the executioner?! Rain, what the f-"
I clamped a hand over her mouth, eyes darting toward the balcony. "Yes, and you need to keep your voice down!"
She pried my hand away, still gaping. "How are you even breathing right now?! Do you know what this means?! Who else knows?!"
I sighed heavily. "No one. Not even Khai."
Therese looked at me like I had lost my mind. "Rain. Are you insane? Khai has a right to know! This changes everything!"
I shook my head. "Not yet. I need to process this first. And I need to get that Black Book to her before anyone else does."
Therese groaned, rubbing her temples. "Oh my God. This is so far above my pay grade."
I smirked. "You don't even get paid, Therese."
She glared at me. "Exactly."
Despite the weight of everything, I let out a small, tired chuckle. But I knew this was only the beginning.
Therese took a deep breath, then looked at me seriously. "Okay, so what's the plan? Because if we don't move fast, we both know this entire house of cards is going to come crashing down-hard."
I met her gaze, my voice steady and sure.
"We play it smart. We play it carefully. And most of all... we make sure Khai wins."
I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples. "I was supposed to tell Khai everything once I landed in Jackson, but you guys decided to ambush me before I could even set foot back home." I shot Therese a pointed look, but she just gave me a cheeky grin.
Before she could respond, Ikaris suddenly waltzed into the room, completely oblivious to the serious conversation we were having. "So who's excited about skiing?" he announced, way too enthusiastically.
Therese and I both turned to him with identical deadpan stares.
He blinked. "Tough crowd," he muttered.
Khai trailed in behind him, looking tired but composed. "Babe, should we get our room first?" Ikaris asked, draping an arm around Therese's shoulders before turning to Khai. "What about you, Khai?"
Khai shifted her gaze between all of us before answering. "I'll stay until tomorrow. You guys can stay as long as you want."
Ikaris groaned dramatically. "Oh, come on, Khai. Don't be a bummer. How about you extend for a week? We can all head back to Jackson together. It'll be fun!"
Khai hesitated, her eyes flickering to me. Then she asked, "It depends on Rain. If she wants me around."
I met her gaze, my stomach twisting. She had no idea how much I needed her around, how much I wanted to tell her everything, but I also knew that once I did, there was no going back.
I forced a small smile. "Of course, I want you around, Khai. Stay."
Her expression softened slightly, but there was something unreadable in her eyes. Something that told me she could sense that something was off.
Ikaris clapped his hands together. "Great! Now, who's up for getting drunk on hot chocolate and making bad decisions on the slopes?"
Therese rolled her eyes. "You're so lucky you're cute."
I managed a chuckle, but my mind was already racing. I had to tell Khai the truth.
â¢â¢â¢
The streets of Banff were alive with the soft hum of chatter and laughter, the crisp mountain air carrying the scent of freshly baked pastries and melting snow. The picturesque town felt like a winter postcard, with twinkling lights decorating the quaint shops and the peaks of the Rockies standing proudly in the distance.
We made sure to stop by Sky Bistro, a highly recommended restaurant known for serving the best hot chocolate with a breathtaking view of the mountains. Ikaris, still high on the idea of skiing, was attempting to convince Therese to hit the slopes with him.
"Come on, babe, it'll be fun!" Ikaris whined, nudging her playfully.
Therese gave him an unimpressed look. "Your idea of fun usually ends up with me in an emergency room."
I snickered, watching them bicker while sipping my drink. Khai sat beside me, quietly stirring her hot chocolate, lost in thought. A moment later, she stood up.
"I'm going to check the place out," she murmured, adjusting her coat.
I glanced at her, then back at Ikaris and Therese, who were still locked in their playful argument. "I'll come with you," I said, setting my mug down and standing up.
But fate had other plans.
Just as I turned, my body went rigid. My breath caught in my throat.
There-across the restaurant-was her.
Mel.
And the woman she had been tangled up with in bed just yesterday.
Our eyes met, and for a brief second, I saw a flicker of panic in hers before she quickly masked it with feigned concern. She pushed away from her table and approached me in a hurry.
"Rain?" she called out, grabbing my arm before I could turn away. "Rain-can we talk, please?"
I met her gaze, my expression cold, unyielding. "What for?" I scoffed. "Clearly, you're enjoying her company. No remorse, huh?"
Mel's eyes softened. "It's not what you think-"
I cut her off with a sharp laugh. "Really? Because from where I was standing yesterday, you two looked very comfortable with each other. So don't give me that bullshit."
I yanked my arm free, turning to leave, but she grabbed me again, her grip tightening.
"Rain-please," she begged, desperation creeping into her voice.
I barely had time to react before another voice cut through the entire restaurant, loud and firm.
"Leave her alone!"
The whole room stilled.
Khai.
Mel's head snapped in Khai's direction, and as soon as she recognized her, something in her expression twisted.
A slow, mocking laugh escaped Mel's lips. "Ohh," she sneered. "This is why you don't care anymore."
I exhaled sharply, already seeing where this was going.
Mel crossed her arms, tilting her head. "So? You're back with your ex now, huh?" She scoffed. "Tell me, Rain-was she with you yesterday? Was she with you in Jackson? Is that why you forgot about me when you were there?"
I clenched my jaw, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of a response.
Mel let out another sharp, humorless laugh. "And now you have the audacity to call me a cheater?" Her voice rose with each word, her frustration bubbling over. "If I'm a cheater, then what does that make you? A fucking bitch who runs back to her ex every time we have a problem?!"
Then-
BANG.
A collective gasp rippled through the restaurant.
Mel was on the floor.
Khai had punched her.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
Mel groaned, touching her jaw where Khai's fist had made impact. Her eyes widened in shock before morphing into rage.
Khai wasn't finished.
She grabbed Mel by the collar, lifting her halfway off the ground, her voice low and lethal. "You fucking cheated, manipulative piece of shit. Never ever come near Rain again, or I swear to God, I won't hesitate next time."
Then, in true Khai Stanton fashion-she winked.
Mel's mouth parted in disbelief, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts.
"Khai!" I called out, stepping forward. "Enough. She's not worth it."
Khai didn't move.
Her grip on Mel's collar remained firm, her knuckles white. The tension in the air was suffocating.
"Khai," I repeated, this time softer.
Finally, she turned to me. Slowly, she let Mel go, letting her body slump back onto the floor.
Khai took a deep breath before reaching for my hand. Her touch was unexpectedly gentle, her thumb brushing against my skin as she murmured, "Don't let anyone insult you the way she did." Her eyes darkened. "Or I swear, I'll rip their tongue out myself."
Behind us, Ikaris and Therese stood frozen, their eyes wide as they took in the scene before them.
Khai exhaled, tugging me toward the exit. "Let's go," she said coolly. "Before I throw someone off the slopes."
Ikaris, snapping back to reality, quickly fumbled for his wallet, throwing some bills onto the table to cover any damages.
Without another glance at Mel, we walked out of the restaurant, leaving her behind-where she belonged.
Ikaris and Therese didn't say a word. They were a step ahead of us, moving quickly as if trying to process what had just happened. The tension in the air was thick, but Khai's grip on my hand remained firm.
"I'm sorry," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
I didn't respond.
She exhaled, her thumb gently brushing against my skin. "I just couldn't let anyone treat you the way she did."
Still, I said nothing.
Khai sighed, her tone softer now. "I know I overreacted. I shouldn't have snapped like that. I just-" she hesitated, tightening her grip for a second before loosening it. "I'm sorry."
I cleared my throat, finally breaking my silence. "No, it wasn't your fault."
Khai slowed her steps. "What?"
I looked straight ahead. "She deserved it."
She halted entirely, pulling me back slightly. "Wait, what did you just say?" she asked, her voice laced with disbelief.
I turned to her, holding back a smirk. "I said, she deserved it."
For a second, Khai just blinked at me, her expression frozen in shock. Then, slowly, the corners of her lips twitched upward.
"You-you're serious?" she asked, her voice tinged with amusement.
That was it. I couldn't hold it in any longer. I burst into laughter. "Did you see her face?!" I asked between chuckles.
Khai's lips parted in surprise before she laughed too, shaking her head. "Oh my God, Rain."
We both stood there in the middle of the snow-covered street, laughing like idiots while Ikaris and Therese walked ahead, pretending not to know us.
For the first time in a long time, I felt light.
Rain's POV
We made our way to the hotel bar, the warmth of the dimly lit space offering a strange contrast to the cold weight settling in my chest. Ikaris, ever the instigator, leaned back against the bar with a smirk, raising his glass.
"Since skiing's officially off the table," he mused, swirling the amber liquid in his glass, "we might as well make the most of the night."
Therese rolled her eyes at him, but I barely registered their playful exchange. My focus kept drifting-to Khai.
She sat across from me, her expression unreadable as she absently traced patterns on the rim of her glass. The memory of what happened earlier still lingered in my mind. The way she didn't hesitate. The way she stepped in, unwavering, like she always did.
Khai stood abruptly. "Bathroom," she muttered, pushing away from the table.
The moment she was out of sight, Therese nudged me. "You good?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
I forced a nod, but before I could say anything, Ikaris let out a low chuckle, shaking his head.
"Rain, what the hell have you done to Khai?" He leaned forward, his grin half-amused, half-scrutinizing. "I mean, did you see your ex-fiancée's face earlier? She looked like she was about to cry."
I didn't respond.
His smirk faded, replaced by something quieter-something knowing. "You know, when we were kids, Khai was always the one protecting everyone. Always the one taking the fall." His fingers drummed against the bar. "She spent more nights in the cellar room than Khalise and I combined, just because she wouldn't let us suffer the consequences alone."
I exhaled slowly, staring down at my drink.
"It's just who she is," Ikaris continued. "She protects the people she loves, even if it costs her." He took a sip before adding, "Did you know she went after you in Chicago three years ago?"
A sharp inhale stuck in my throat. I didn't need him to tell me. I had always known.
"But she let you go." He said it so simply, like it was the easiest thing in the world. "She just wanted you to be happy, even if it wasn't with her."
Silence settled between us, heavy and unspoken.
Then he exhaled, his voice dropping lower. "I could never do that, you know. If our grandfather told me not to marry Therese, I'd fight like hell for her." He scoffed lightly. "But some battles... some sacrifices... they're bigger than what we see on the surface."
I swallowed hard, gripping my glass a little tighter.
I wanted to say something. That I understood. That I knew. That I had always known.
But instead, I just sat there, staring into my drink-drowning in the weight of everything I didn't say.
A few minutes later, Khai returned, and in her hand was something unexpected-a blush pink Lego rose. She handed it to me without a word.
I frowned, taking it cautiously. "What's this?"
"A congratulatory present," she said simply.
I raised a brow. "For what?"
She smirked. "For being free." Then, without missing a beat, she added, "And because I want to date you again."
Before I could even process that, Therese and Ikaris chimed in unison, their voices loud and teasing. "WOOAHHH! Now that is my cousin!"
I could feel the heat creeping up my face. My heart raced, but before I could respond, Khai raised a hand, silencing me before I could even form a proper thought.
"Fine," she said, eyes twinkling with mischief. "If you don't want to date me-then marry me instead."
I blinked, my mind reeling. "Khai-"
And then, to my absolute disbelief, she pulled out a Lego ring.
"Oh my God. You are joking, aren't you?"
She didn't say a word. Instead, she knelt down in the middle of the bar.
I gasped, covering my mouth. "OH MY GOD!"
The moment was completely surreal-until a tiny voice cut through the scene.
"Um... can I have my Lego back now?"
We all turned in unison. A kid stood nearby, staring at the Lego ring in Khai's hand with big, expectant eyes.
Khai glanced at him, then sighed dramatically. "Hey, kid, how about I give you some money, and you go buy a new Lego set?"
I slapped my face in embarrassment. "Seriously, Khalia? You STOLE a Lego from a kid?"
That was it-Therese and Ikaris lost it. Therese was crying from laughter, and Ikaris nearly fell off his chair.
Meanwhile, Khai turned back to me, completely unfazed. "Look, I'll give you time to think about whether you actually want to marry me," she said with a smirk. "Offer still stands."
I groaned, shaking my head. "Oh my God. You are ridiculous."
As the night wore on, so did my feelings for Khai.
It was subtle at first-the way my gaze lingered on her a little too long, the way my heartbeat seemed to stutter every time she so much as looked in my direction. The easy laughter we shared, the warmth in her eyes when she spoke to me, the way she protected me without hesitation-it all settled into something deeper, something undeniable.
Khai was ridiculous, reckless, and sometimes a little too intense. But she was also unwavering, loyal, and, despite everything, she was still my Khai.
And maybe... just maybe... I wasn't as free as I thought I was.