The Memory Keeper: Twisted Roots

Chapter 4: End of the Rope

I clenched my fists. "I have responsibilities, Rain! You don't understand what it takes to keep this empire standing."

Her face fell, hurt flashing in her eyes. "No, Khai. I do understand. I've been standing by you, supporting you, but it's like I don't matter anymore."

I opened my mouth to respond, but nothing came out. She shook her head and walked away, leaving me standing there, feeling helpless.

Another night...

"I waited for you, Khai. Again." Rain's voice cracked. "You promised me dinner, remember? But of course, you were at the office. As usual."

I loosened my tie and sighed. "Rain, I didn't have a choice-"

"There's always a choice," she interrupted sharply. "You just keep choosing work, choosing revenge. And I'm... I'm just an afterthought."

I reached out to her, but she stepped back. The distance between us wasn't just physical anymore; it was emotional, and it hurt like hell.

"I love you, Khai," she whispered. "But love isn't enough if you're never here."

The words stung, but I couldn't find it in me to argue.

Late nights, missed calls, and brief encounters only ended in more frustration. The weight of everything consumed me. Rain tried to hold us together, but I kept pushing her away.

And I could feel it-piece by piece, I was losing her.

But how could I hold onto Rain when I wasn't even sure if I could hold onto myself?

At the office...

Rain's POV

A week after the heated argument I had with Khai, I decided to grab some lunch and bring it to her office so we could eat together. I knew she'd be busy-she always was-but I hoped, just for today, she'd make a little time for us. Maybe things could feel normal again, even if just for an hour. I clutched the brown paper bag tightly, willing myself to stay positive as I made my way to her office.

When I walked in, she was buried in paperwork, her laptop screen flashing with financial reports and emails. The exhaustion on her face was clear, but I ignored the warning signs, pushing forward with a hopeful smile. "Hey," I said, stepping closer. "Thought we could grab lunch together. I got your favorite-"

Without even looking up, Khai cut me off, her voice tight and clipped. "Rain, I can't. I have to meet with my grandfather. There's a lot going on right now."

I froze, my grip tightening around the bag. For a moment, I stood there, feeling the weight of her words settle in my chest like a rock. The same disappointment, the same rejection-it was always the same. And before I could stop myself, the frustration that had been simmering inside me boiled over.

I snapped, cutting her off mid-sentence. My voice was sharper than I intended, but I didn't care anymore. "Yeah, you're busy. I get it. Go ahead-eat those reports." I tossed the lunch onto her desk, the paper bag landing with a dull thud amidst the sea of documents.

Khai finally looked up, startled by my tone. "Rain, I didn't mean-"

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. "No, Khai. You always have somewhere to be, someone else to see, something more important to do. And I'm just... here. Always waiting. Always understanding. And I'm tired, Khai." My voice cracked, but I refused to break in front of her. "Enjoy your meeting. I hope Lucious serves a great side of guilt with your revenge."

I turned on my heel and walked out before she could say another word. The sound of the door clicking shut behind me felt final, and as I made my way down the hall, I realized just how exhausted I was-of trying, of hoping, of being invisible to the person I loved the most.