Forbidden Desires

Chapter 1

Airport

I'm here in a new city

Fresh breeze,beautiful buildings, New people

I can't believe I'm about to see my new stepdad

I'm a bit nervous tho, weirdly, for someone who doesn't really care about how people view her;

I wonder where mum is

Isn't she supposed to pick me up, or did she forget

Salish sighs

I hope not, because I don't even know where to go next from here

Miss Salish? A middle aged man called me with a British accent

Um yeah? I answered

Do we know each other, I asked

Oh Gracious, No he said laughing

I'm actually the Butler, James.Your mother asked me to pick you up because she's busy with the party preparations James said

Oh.... I said

Don't be sad my dear, it's just..... the lifestyle I guess He said

it's fine Mr James, I'm used to her not showing up when I need her Salish said

Oh dear James said

It's fine James, let's go I'm tired already

Of course, Shall we James said

We shall I replied, trying to imitate his British accent

We both laughed it off and went to bring my luggages

We go outside the airport and James puts my bags in this black shiny..... BMW

wait..... a BMW??

Who the hell..... you know what, nevermind

Salish sighs in her mind, the life of the rich

Get in Miss James said

Yeah sorry, got lost staring at the beautiful buildings here

James laughed and said don't worry miss,we have all the time to take you out for sightseeing

Oh that would be lovely James, thanks Salish said

Okay, so seatbelt please James Said as he fastened his seatbelt while the driver turns on the ignition

I fastened my seatbelt too

I can't believe I have a butler and a driver Salish giggled in her head

She sighs happily I think I'm going to adapt to this life faster than I planned

She watched as they drove past many places then stopped in front of this giant gate

She watched as they entered an estate from there

Then stopped at a Very beautiful villa

Holy Shittttt, this house is so fuckin BEAUTIFUL

Okay Miss Salish James Said

Here we are

Mom I said as I saw my mom standing outside the house with a smile on her face

oh my baby Mrs Louisa Miller said as she hugged her daughter

You've grown up so much she said

I didn't change much mum, if you didn't leave me all alone back then you would notice Salish said

Louisa sighed softly I know Lish but I want to make up for all those years now, I'm sorry

What ever mom, I'm not ready to talk about that yet

I'm tired Salish said

I forgot you traveled a long way Louisa said

James, please get the bags and put them in her room

I'm going to give you a little tour of the house while James set up your room for you

Louisa then showed her The cinema, the Kitchen, the living rooms and the rest of the rooms

I'll show you the pool later or you might as well find it yourself when you're in that adventurous mood of yours

Mom who's room is that Salish pointed to a room that has a DND sign hanged on it

Oh that's your stepbrother's room

Wait... Step brother Salish exclaimed

No one told me nothing about a step brother

It's not enough that I have a step dad

I now have a step brother too she shouted

Will you calm down Salish Louisa said

Okay I'm calm Salish said as she tried to control her heavy breaths

You'll like him Salish

he's your age

does he like you mum Salish asked

Louisa sighed

Not really

Mum... I can't believe, I'm tired mum

take me to my room please

alright love Louisa said

We kept on walking and then stopped in front of a door

Here we are baby Louisa said

It's so beautiful Salish said still awed

Yeah I designed it

design??Salish asked

Yeah I'm an interior designer now

I don't know anything about you mom Salish said

Like I said before Lish we are going to have a mother and daughter talk very soon

Why not tonight Salish asked

A deep and pleasant voice said

There's a party tonight

we both turned around and I saw this handsome man

Louisa smiled Hey love

Hey baby Mr Richard said and kissed her lips

so this is Salish

Mama Mia You are as beautiful as your mother said you are Mr Richard said

Thank you sir Salish said while blushing

Nice to meet you Sir

Just call me Richard dear

Oh... nice to meet you Richard

Nice to meet you too Salish

By the way Salish, have you met my son, Rafael

His name is Rafael huh

nice name

I wonder how he is going to react when he sees me

No sir I haven't

Oh well

you'll meet him at the party

Rest up now darling Richard said and took mom away

I plopped down on my soft queen sized bed sighed happily

so soft

And soon Salish slept off

"Salish dear" Louisa said

Salish She said again

"Yes mum Salish groaned and said

It's time to dress up now Louisa said

' Wait...... I'm going to the party ' Salish asked

' Of course you are' Louis said while laughing

' I don't have a dress mum , I don't even know what kind of party it Is' Salish said almost cried

' That's why your mum is here,love' Louisa said as she goes to Salish's walk in closet

' I have clothes in there too' Salish Marveled at the gorgeous dresses, shoes, bags and so on

Just then, A few ladies walked into the room

Just as Salish was wondering who they are

Louisa said ' These are your make-up artists'

' Really mom.... I don't need this, I mean .... I'm very much beautiful'

' I could rate myself as a solid 9 if not a ten on ten ' Salish said

' I know darling, but in the world of the rich

Everything is necessary, so chop chop now

we don have much time' Louisa said and walked out of the room

A few minutes later,Louisa Enters again

' Um baby, You'll have to go to the party on your own

I'll be going with Richard and we'll need to be there a bit early

James is going to drop you off and you might end up finding your step brother there too '

Salish frowns and said clearly not hearing the stepbrother part ' fine,it's not like it's the first time you're re leaving me '

Baby, c'mon

' Mum!!, I said it's fine' Salish raised her voice

Louisa sighed and said ' Alright baby, keep looking beautiful, I'll find you during the party'.

Salish puffs out air and said to the make-up artists

' Come on, let's get this over with'The music was loud enough to shake the glass chandeliers, but Salish barely heard it.

She stood at the top of the grand staircase, fingers resting lightly on the railing, her black gown flowing like liquid shadow around her feet. The mask—sleek, silver, and mysterious—hid most of her face, but not her eyes.

Those eyes were dangerous.

Not because of their color—no one could see that tonight. The blue contact lenses did their job well.

But because of what they carried.

Pain. Secrets. Fire.

She inhaled slowly.

You’re not her tonight.

Tonight, she was just another rich girl at a masquerade in a mansion filled with people who didn’t know her past… and people who must never find out.

“Stop overthinking,” she whispered to herself, her voice steady despite the storm inside her chest.

Then she walked down.

Across the room, Rafael DeLuca noticed her instantly.

He didn’t know why.

He had seen hundreds of women tonight—beautiful, elegant, desperate for attention—but none of them made the air shift like this one did.

She didn’t look around nervously like the others.

She didn’t try to be seen.

She just… was.

And somehow, that made everyone else invisible.

Rafael tilted his glass slightly, watching her through the crowd. His jaw tightened.

“Who is she?” he asked quietly.

His friend followed his gaze, then shrugged. “No idea. New face.”

Rafael smirked faintly. “Not for long.”

Salish felt it before she saw him.

That feeling… like someone was watching too closely.

Her steps slowed.

Stay calm.

She turned slightly—and their eyes met.

Time didn’t stop.

But something shifted.

He stood across the room, dressed in all black, his mask simple but sharp, like everything about him. His presence wasn’t loud—but it was heavy. Dangerous in a way that didn’t need explanation.

Salish looked away first.

Big mistake.

Because now… he was interested.

Rafael moved through the crowd without effort, people stepping aside without even realizing why.

By the time Salish reached the edge of the ballroom, he was already there.

“Leaving so soon?” his voice came from behind her—low, smooth, controlled.

She paused.

Don’t turn around.

But she did.

Up close, he was worse.

Sharper. Colder. More… real.

“I don’t remember saying I was leaving,” she replied calmly.

Rafael’s eyes flickered with amusement. “You looked like you were escaping.”

Salish tilted her head slightly. “Maybe I don’t like crowds.”

“Or maybe,” he stepped closer, just enough to make the space between them feel smaller, “you don’t like being seen.”

Her heart skipped.

Just once.

And she hated that he noticed.

“I could say the same about you,” she shot back.

A pause.

Then—he smiled.

Not a warm smile.

The kind that meant this just got interesting.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The music faded into the background.

The world blurred.

And somehow, in a room full of people… it felt like it was just them.

Two strangers.

Both hiding something.

Both pretending to be someone else.

Rafael leaned in slightly, his voice quieter now.

“Tell me your name.”

Salish held his gaze.

A battle. Silent. Intense.

Then she smiled—just a little.

“You first.”