LOVE! WHY NOW!

Cassandra's Warning

The London rain had eased into a soft mist by late afternoon. Soft gray light filtered through the clouds, making the city look dreamy and mysterious.

From the high hotel balcony, the River Thames flowed steadily below, its dark surface dotted with small ripples. Boats moved with purpose, leaving gentle wakes behind them.

The London Eye turned slowly in the distance like a patient observer. Big Ben stood tall and proud, its clock face glowing softly. The air carried the fresh, clean smell of rain mixed with wet stone, distant coffee from street carts, and the faint salty hint of the river.

Bethany Buch stood on the balcony in a comfortable sweater and jeans. Her chestnut hair moved lightly in the cool breeze.

Her body still carried the memory of Kai’s touch from the lab, the way his tongue had moved so perfectly on her cl*t, the deep, controlled thrusts that made her moan his name, the tender way he had held her afterward.

The company was on the edge of collapse. And she was finding comfort in the arms of another shareholder. Was she losing herself, or was this the only way she could feel alive right now?

Cassandra stepped out onto the balcony beside her. Her older sister looked artistic and free even in simple clothes, loose blouse, colorful scarf, and comfortable pants.

Her blonde hair was slightly messy in a beautiful way. She put an arm around Bethany. “The view is incredible, Beth. But I can see the weight on your shoulders. You barely slept again, didn’t you?”

Bethany leaned against the railing. “It’s more than heavy, Cass. The hidden ledger shows Dad made deals with dangerous people. Uncle Victor wants control. And I… I’ve made mistakes with some of the shareholders. Damien in New York. Kai here. It started as escape, but now it feels like something more. I don’t know what I’m doing anymore.”

Cassandra turned to her with serious eyes. “That’s why I’m here. You don’t have to do this alone. I ran away from the business because I hated the pressure, but I see now how much it’s hurting you. I will stay for a week or two. We can face Uncle Victor together. And these men… be careful. Power and s*x can blind you when you’re vulnerable.”

Bethany felt tears sting her eyes. “I miss the old days, Cass. When we were kids in the Hamptons, building sandcastles with Dad. Now everything feels broken.”

They hugged tightly. The mist cooled their faces. For a few minutes, they stood in silence, watching the city move below them. Red buses splashed through puddles. People hurried with umbrellas. London felt both beautiful and overwhelming.

Later that evening, they went to the BuchForge London office for another meeting. The building glowed with lights against the darkening sky. Inside, the air smelled of fresh tea and tension. Uncle Victor waited in the large conference room with several other London shareholders. He smiled when the sisters walked in, but his eyes narrowed at Cassandra.

“Both daughters now? Good.” Victor said smoothly. “The ledger shows serious problems. I have a proposal to save the London branch.”

The meeting became heated in a new way. Victor didn’t just push for control, he revealed something shocking. He slid a folder across the table. “Your father didn’t just hide debts. He used IllusionForge to create fake records. Some loans were never real. They were covers for something bigger. I think he was protecting someone, or something, very dangerous.”

Bethany’s heart raced. “What are you saying?”

Victor leaned forward. “I think your father faked his own illness to hide from someone. The heart attack might not have been natural. And the person he was hiding from… is still out there.”

The room went silent. Cassandra’s face went pale. Jake’s hand moved closer to his side, ready. Sofia’s voice came through the video call, shocked. “Boss, this matches some encrypted files Mr. Graves found. This is huge.”

Bethany felt the ground shift under her feet. Her father’s death, was it murder? The revelation hit her like a punch. Grief, anger, and fear mixed inside her. “If this is true, we need proof. Now.”

The meeting ended in chaos. Victor left with a warning. “Be careful who you trust, niece. The danger is closer than you think.”

That night, back at the hotel, the London skyline glowed through the windows. Cassandra sat with Bethany on the sofa. “If Dad was killed, we need to find out why. This is bigger than debts. This is about our family’s survival.”

Bethany felt emotionally drained but determined. “I won’t let them win. We fight back.”

Later, alone on the balcony, Bethany’s phone buzzed. It was Kai. “I found something in the logs. How about you meet me at the lab tonight. It’s important.”

The pull was strong. Bethany went. In the cool blue lab, Kai showed her a recording. Her father in an IllusionForge session, looking terrified. “They’re coming for the family. Protect Bethany.”

The revelation shook her. Kai pulled her into a gentle embrace. It lingered something in their soul, like they owed each other the feeling of trust. The kiss started soft but became hardy and igniting. His hands explored her body with care. He kissed her neck, biting her ear gently, leaving a small hickey. This made Bethany red, warm and sensitive. His fingers teased her ni**les, then moved lower. He entered hardy and soothing to Bethany's wet Va**na while caressing her slowly on the lab table, full of emotion and tenderness. Bethany came hard, tears in her eyes, feeling both pleasure and pain.

Afterward, Kai held her. “I’m here for you. Whatever comes next.”

Bethany felt alive but terrified. The plot was twisting in ways she never expected. Her father’s death might not have been natural. The danger was real. And her heart was being pulled in too many directions.

The London trip had become far more dangerous than she imagined. Family bonds were strengthening, but the secrets and threats were closing in.