The Memory Keeper: Twisted Roots

Khai's POV

I sat at my desk, staring at the files in front of me, but none of them seemed to matter. The company, Poppa, Letty, Frederick, the tangled mess of lies, betrayals, and unfinished business-everything felt like it was closing in on me. And in the midst of it all, there was Rain.

She kept haunting my thoughts, her face constantly flickering in my mind. I knew I should've reached out by now, should've fixed things, but I couldn't. I couldn't bring her back into this mess, not after everything we'd been through. I couldn't drag her deeper into this world of vengeance and bloodshed.

This wasn't just about me anymore-it was about keeping her safe, keeping her away from the storm that was brewing. The storm that I had no control over.

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes, trying to push the guilt out of my chest. I had told myself, over and over, that this was for the greater good. That if I kept my distance, if I kept her away from me, she'd be safe. No more lies, no more secrets-she deserved better than that.

Rain deserved better than me.

I had seen her suffering, seen the pain in her eyes when I shut her out, when I pushed her away. I had seen the weight of her love for me, and I couldn't-I wouldn't-be the one to make her sacrifice herself again, not for me. Not for my family's mess, my vengeance, and the broken pieces of my past.

She didn't deserve to be part of any of this.

The deeper I got into this web of revenge, the more dangerous it became, not just for me, but for anyone close to me. The more I pushed forward, the more I realized that I was dragging Rain through the mud, even if she didn't know it. If she stayed with me, she'd only be another casualty of my war, another person hurt by the choices I made.

I clenched my jaw, a wave of frustration washing over me. Maybe it was cowardice. Maybe I was running from the one thing I needed most-her love. But I couldn't let her be a pawn in this game. I couldn't let her be dragged into the chaos of my family's legacy, my revenge against Letty, or the twisted plans that were unfolding around me.

I had to let go. For her sake.

The thought tore at me, but I pushed it aside. There was no other choice. If I truly loved her, I had to set her free. And in my heart, I knew that this was the only way to protect her. Even if it meant walking away.

I was lost in my thoughts when Jane knocked lightly and handed me a thick envelope. "You have a mail that came in today."

I opened it, and as I pulled out the contents, my heart sank. It was a photo—my grandfather, John Whitmore, and Theodore, Poppa's right-hand man. The image sent a chill down my spine.

Without wasting a second, I grabbed the phone and dialed Poppa.

"I need to talk to you."

The words came out before I could even think, the image of that photo burning in my mind.

°°°
Lucious POV

Lucious sat in his study, the silence of the room broken only by the faint sound of his wristwatch ticking steadily. He glanced at the clock on the wall-Khai was due to arrive soon. He could feel the anticipation building in his chest, but it wasn't just the meeting that had his mind racing. It was her. Khai.

He had spent years building her-shaping her, molding her into the woman she had become. She was no longer the naive girl who once trusted blindly in family ties. She had become a force, a powerful asset in his quest for dominance. She had the same cold, calculating presence he had always admired, the same sharp intellect that made her a worthy successor to his empire.