The Memory Keeper: The Sin In Our Name

Khai's POV

The sunlight poured through the penthouse windows, piercing through the fog of my pounding headache. My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, my throat dry and raw. I groaned, blinking against the brightness, and turned my head to see Rain bustling quietly in the kitchen. She glanced over her shoulder at me, her face unreadable.

"Morning, Babe," I rasped, trying to inject some cheerfulness into my voice.

She didn't respond immediately, her movements deliberate as she poured coffee into a mug and set it on the counter. "Morning," she said coolly, her tone making my stomach churn. Something was wrong.

I sat up, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. My blazer was draped over the couch, and I vaguely remembered Rain taking off my shoes last night. Fragments of the previous evening flickered in my mind-drinks with Ella, laughter, then... nothing. My chest tightened as a sharp pang of guilt hit me.

Rain placed the mug in front of me and leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "How are you feeling?" she asked, her tone neutral but her eyes studying me closely.

"Like I got hit by a truck," I admitted with a weak smile, hoping to diffuse the tension.

"Rough night, huh?" she asked, her voice casual, but the edge in her tone was unmistakable.

I hesitated. "Yeah, dinner with Dad's investor friends. It dragged on longer than I expected."

She nodded slowly, her gaze dropping to the floor for a moment before snapping back to me. "And Ella? How's she doing?"

My stomach dropped. She knew something. Did I say something last night? Did Ella-? My mind raced, trying to piece together the blurry memories. "She's fine. We went over some project details after dinner. Nothing major."

Rain raised an eyebrow, her lips pressing into a thin line. "Nothing major, huh?"

"Rain..." I started, but she cut me off.

"Look, Khai," she said, her voice steady but firm. "I don't want to assume anything, but last night-something felt... off. You were drunk, which isn't like you, and you were acting-different."

I reached for her hand, but she pulled away, and it felt like a punch to the gut. "Rain, I swear nothing happened. I would never-"

She held up a hand, stopping me. "I want to believe you, Khai, but I also need you to be honest with me. Because if there's something you're not telling me, it's going to come out eventually And I'd rather hear it from you."

Her words hit me like a brick wall. She was right-I couldn't keep carrying this weight. The line between professional and personal with Ella had already blurred in ways I didn't want to admit.

I took a deep breath, my hands trembling. "Rain, I-"

But before I could say another word, her phone buzzed on the counter. She glanced at the screen, her expression hardening.

"It's Lucan," she said, picking up the phone. "He wants me in his office. We'll talk later."

She grabbed her bag and headed for the door without looking back. The sound of the door clicking shut echoed through the penthouse, leaving me alone with the crushing weight of my guilt.

I buried my face in my hands. This was a mess, and I had no idea how to fix it.

Jessica's words hit me like a freight train. My mind scrambled to process her statement while my heart plummeted. Rain heard me? My throat went dry as I tried to maintain composure.

"Wait-what exactly did I say?" I asked, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at me.

Jessica leaned against the counter, arms crossed, her expression a mix of curiosity and concern. "You were mumbling something about 'Ella' and 'mistake,' and you kept apologizing in your sleep. Honestly, it sounded intense."