FORBIDDEN ECSTASY: Step-Siblings

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Whispers over lunch

Cassie didn’t sleep.

She tried.

She lay in bed, eyes closed, turning from one side to the other, pulling the sheets closer, then pushing them away again.

It didn’t matter, Every time she shut her eyes—She saw him and felt it again.

The way he had stood so close, like distance meant nothing. The way his voice had dropped when he told her to stop him. The way her body had reacted before her mind could catch up.

Cassie groaned softly, turning onto her back as she stared at the ceiling.

“This is bad…” she whispered.

Worse than bad.Because she hadn’t stopped him,Not really.

Morning came too soon.

Cassie moved through her routine slower than usual, her mind still caught between what happened and what it meant. By the time she stepped out of her room, she had already decided one thing.

She was going to act normal, like nothing happened, because if she didn’t—she didn’t know what would.

Downstairs, the house was already awake.

Staff moved quietly, breakfast set as usual, everything in place like the night before had never existed.

Cassie walked in, composed, her expression calm.

Then she saw him.

Ronald was seated, reading, and his behavior Like always.

Her steps slowed just for a second Then she kept moving.

“Morning,” she said, her tone steady.

Ronald didn’t look up immediately.

“Morning.”

Cassie took her seat, reaching for a glass of juice as if her hands weren’t slightly tense.

The silence between them wasn’t empty.

“You’re quiet,” Ronald said after a moment.

Cassie looked up, her brows lifting slightly. “I could say the same.”

A brief pause.

Then he set the paper down, finally looking at her.

“You should focus today,” he said. “We have a lot to cover.”

Of course.

Cassie nodded once. “I always do.”

Their eyes met briefly.

And just like that, everything from last night flickered again.

*******

Work didn’t make it easier.

Because now, every time Cassie stood too close to him, every time he leaned slightly over her shoulder to review something, every time their hands almost brushed—

She felt itThat same tension which is very difficult to ignore.

And Ronald?, He acted as if nothing had changed.

But Cassie noticed.

The way his gaze lingered just a second too long sometimes.

The way his tone shifted slightly when it was just the two of them.

The way he kept his distance Like he didn’t trust himself not to close it.

By midday, Cassie needed air.

Not the controlled environment of the office.

She stepped outside briefly, exhaling as the breeze hit her face, her thoughts spinning again despite everything.

“This is not happening,” she muttered.

“You talk to yourself often?”

Cassie turned and froze.

Yurin behind her, seemed like she had been standing there, as if she had been waiting.

A faint smile rested on her lips.

Cassie straightened slightly, her expression neutral. “Only when necessary.”

Yurin let out a soft hum, stepping closer. “Interesting.”

A brief silence followed as they looked at each other—measuring, observing.

“You work closely with him,” Yurin said casually.

Cassie didn’t respond immediately. “It’s my job.”

“Of course it is,” Yurin replied, her tone light, though her eyes said otherwise.

Cassie held her gaze. “Was there something you needed?”

Yurin smiled slightly.

“Just curious.”

“About?”

“You.”

Cassie didn’t react outwardly, but something in her posture shifted.

Yurin noticed.

Of course she did.

“He’s not easy to read,” Yurin continued, her voice softer now. “But once you understand him… things get complicated.”

Cassie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Is that a warning?”

Yurin tilted her head.

“Call it experience.”

“Be careful,” she added.

Cassie held her gaze for a moment longer before speaking.

“I don’t need advice.”

Yurin smiled again.

“We’ll see.”

And just like that, she turned and walked away, leaving something behind, one Cassie couldn’t quite shake.

Back inside, Cassie stood still for a moment longer than necessary.

Her thoughts weren’t calm anymore.

They weren’t just confused They were unsettled.

Because everything was starting to overlap.

Like since she got into this world new curiosity keeps coming every single day and it’s damaging Cassie’s mental health, it’s getting too much for her

Cassie stepped back into the office, her thoughts still unsettled, Yurin’s words lingering longer than she wanted them to.

Be careful.

She exhaled softly, shaking her head as if that alone could clear it.

It didn’t.

She barely made it to her desk before dropping her tablet down, her fingers pressing lightly against her temple.

“This is too much…” she muttered under her breath.

“Too much what?”

Cassie looked up.

Maddie stood at the doorway, one brow slightly raised, a knowing look already forming on her face as she stepped inside.

Cassie straightened quickly. “Nothing.”

Maddie didn’t buy it.

“Yeah,” she said dryly, closing the door behind her, “you look like ‘nothing’ is going great.”

Cassie huffed a quiet breath, leaning back slightly in her chair. “It’s just been a long day.”

“And it’s not even over yet,” Maddie pointed out, walking further in. Her eyes lingered on Cassie for a second longer, softer now. “You okay though?”

Cassie hesitated.

Just briefly.

Then nodded. “I will be.”

Maddie crossed her arms lightly, studying her like she was trying to read between the lines.

“Alright,” she said finally. “Then you’re coming to lunch with me.”

Cassie blinked. “Lunch?”

“Yes, lunch,” Maddie repeated, like it was obvious. “Away from here. Away from… whatever this is.” She gestured vaguely around the office.

Cassie almost smiled.

“Is that an order?” she asked.

Maddie smirked slightly. “Call it a rescue mission.”

Cassie let out a soft breath, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.

“I have work—”

“You’ll survive,” Maddie cut in. “And trust me, if you stay here, you’ll just keep overthinking.”

That hit closer than Cassie expected.

She glanced down at her desk for a moment before looking back up.

“…Fine,” she said.

Maddie’s smile widened just a little. “Good. We’ll leave in an hour.”

Cassie nodded, a small sense of relief settling in despite everything.

Maybe she did need this…..A moment to breathe.

Maddie turned to leave, but paused at the door, glancing back at her.

“And Cassie?”

Cassie looked up. “Yeah?”

Maddie tilted her head slightly, her tone lighter—but her eyes observant.

“Try not to get caught in anything you can’t get out of.”

A small pause followed.

Cassie held her gaze.

Then gave a faint smile. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

Maddie nodded once before stepping out.

The door closed softly behind her.

After a few minutes they stepped out, They didn’t go far.

Maddie picked a quiet restaurant just a few streets away—nothing too extravagant, but still refined enough to feel like a proper escape from the office. Soft music played in the background, the kind that didn’t demand attention, just filled the silence comfortably.

Cassie sank into her seat, exhaling softly as she leaned back.

“This already feels better,” she admitted.

Maddie smirked slightly, picking up the menu. “Told you. Sometimes you just need to step away before your head explodes.”

Cassie let out a small laugh, though it didn’t last long.

Because her thoughts were still there.

Once their orders were placed, Maddie didn’t waste time.

“So,” she said, leaning forward slightly, her tone casual but her eyes sharp, “how bad is it?”

Cassie frowned faintly. “How bad is what?”

“Working that closely with him,” Maddie clarified. “Ronald.”

Cassie hesitated.

Just for a second.

Then she let out a breath, her fingers tracing lightly along the edge of the table.

“It’s… intense,” she said finally. “He doesn’t make anything easy.”

Maddie nodded like she expected that. “Yeah. That sounds like him.”

Cassie shook her head slightly. “It’s not just work. It’s everything. He’s always watching, always correcting, always pushing like you’re supposed to just keep up without missing anything.”

“And you don’t like that?”

Cassie paused.

Then shrugged lightly. “I didn’t say that.”

Maddie’s lips curved slightly.

“Of course you didn’t.”

A brief silence settled between them before Maddie leaned back, her expression shifting just slightly.

“You know,” she said, “he wasn’t always like that.”

Cassie looked up.

“What do you mean?”

Maddie tilted her head. “Ronald, before… everything. Before he fully took over. Before Yurin left.”

That name again.

Cassie’s expression didn’t change much, but her attention sharpened.

“What about her?”

Maddie studied her for a second, like she was deciding how much to say.

Then she sighed softly. “Yurin wasn’t just some random ex, Cassie. She was… important. Not just personally. Business-wise too.”

Cassie frowned slightly. “Business?”

Maddie nodded. “Her family has connections. Big ones. International reach, influence, all of that. When they were together, it wasn’t just about them—it strengthened his position too.”

Cassie’s fingers stilled against the table.

“So what happened?”

Maddie let out a small breath. “She left. Just like that. No warning, no proper explanation. One minute she was there, the next… gone.”

Cassie blinked. “And he just let her go?”

“That’s the thing,” Maddie said quietly. “He didn’t have a choice.”

A pause followed.

Then Maddie added, “At least, that’s what people say.”

Cassie leaned back slightly, processing that.

“So now she’s back…”

“Yeah,” Maddie finished. “And that’s not a coincidence.”

Their food arrived, but neither of them touched it immediately.

Cassie’s mind was already too full.

“She came to the office,” she said suddenly.

Maddie’s brows lifted slightly. “Of course she did.”

Cassie let out a small, frustrated breath. “The way she walked in, the way she spoke… like she still had a place there.”

“She thinks she does,” Maddie replied.

Cassie shook her head. “It’s annoying.”

Maddie paused, watching her more carefully now.

“Just annoying?” she asked.

Cassie met her gaze.

Then looked away.

“It’s… complicated,” she admitted.

Maddie leaned forward slightly. “How complicated?”

Cassie hesitated again.

Longer this time.

Her fingers tightened slightly around her fork before she set it down.

“There was an altercation,” she said finally.

Maddie didn’t interrupt.

Didn’t rush her.

“Between him and me,” Cassie added.

Maddie’s expression shifted—more serious now.

“What kind of altercation?”

Cassie exhaled slowly, her voice dropping just a little.

“The kind where he doesn’t know when to stop,” she said.

Maddie’s eyes narrowed slightly. “And you?”

Cassie gave a small, almost bitter laugh.

“I’m trying to remember that I should.”

That landed.

Maddie leaned back, studying her in silence for a moment.

“Cassie,” she said carefully, “you’re playing with something that doesn’t end clean.”

Cassie didn’t respond immediately.

Because she knew that she had known it from the start.

And yet here she was, still in it.

Still caught in it and still not pulling away.

“It’s not like that,” Cassie said, though her voice wasn’t as convincing as she wanted it to be.

Maddie held her gaze.

“Then what is it like?”

Cassie opened her mouth….Then closed it again.

Because she didn’t have an answer, not one she was ready to say out loud.

They ate after that.

But the conversation had already shifted something.

Something deeper than curiosity.

Deeper than annoyance.

Because now it wasn’t just about Ronald.

It was about choices and consequences.

As they stood to leave, Maddie placed a light hand on Cassie’s arm.

“Just be careful,” she said again, softer this time.

Cassie nodded faintly.

“I know.”

But as she stepped out into the afternoon light, her thoughts still tangled, one thing was clear

Knowing… Wasn’t the same as stopping.