Lahat ng Kabanata ng Forbidden Step Brother : Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

Tokyo was exactly as I remembered—overwhelming, neon-bright, relentlessly fast-paced. But this time, I saw it differently. Through the eyes of someone with everything to lose.Kenji had arranged a car to pick me up. The driver was silent, professional, taking me not to my old apartment but to a new high-rise in Roppongi."Mr. Tanaka wants you comfortable," the driver said in accented English. "This apartment is yours. Penthouse level."The apartment was ridiculous—three bedrooms, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, furnished like something from a design magazine. A prison made of luxury.I'd barely unpacked when there was a knock.Hana stood in the doorway, more beautiful than I remembered. Elegant in a designer dress, hair perfectly styled, smile calculated."Marcus. Welcome back.""Hana. I didn't realize you had a key.""My father owns the building. I have keys to everything." She walked in uninvited, surveying the space. "Do you like it? I picked out the furniture.""It'

Kenji's private dining room overlooked Tokyo from the fortieth floor of his office building. The view was spectacular. The atmosphere was suffocating."Marcus, thank you for joining me." Kenji was all charm, pouring expensive whiskey. "I thought we should talk. Man to man.""About what?""Your future. Hana tells me you've been exemplary. Attending events, playing your role perfectly. I appreciate dedication.""I'm fulfilling our agreement.""And more. You've been asking questions at the office. About the security breaches, the leaks. Very proactive."A warning. He knew I was investigating."Someone's sabotaging my father's company. I'm trying to protect our interests.""Of course. Admirable." Kenji smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Though I wonder—why are you really here, Marcus?""You forced me here. The investment—""The investment is a tool. But I think we both know this is about something deeper." He set down his glass. "Your mother. Anna. She was a brilliant woman."I kept m

Spring break arrived like a gift from the universe—a week away from campus, from reminders of Marcus, from the whispers and stares that followed me everywhere."Road trip!" Jules announced, bursting into my room with maps and highlighters. "We're doing it. You, me, Ethan, and six other people from the environmental club. Camping, hiking, living our best granola lives.""I don't camp.""You do now. Because sitting in this room moping about Marcus is not an option." She pulled clothes from my closet. "Pack layers. We're going to Olympic National Park.""That's like five hours away.""Exactly. Five hours from this campus, from your problems, from everything. Just you, nature, and a week of absolutely no cell service."No cell service meant no photos of Marcus and Hana. No social media updates about their perfect Tokyo life. No torture."Fine. I'll go."Ethan picked us up the next morning in a borrowed van, looking genuinely happy to see me. We hadn't talked much since Tokyo—things were c

Hours crawled by. The men stayed up drinking, playing cards, laughing about things that made my skin crawl. Through their conversation, I pieced together that this cabin was a waypoint—a place to hold people before moving them to final destinations."Where are the units now?" one man asked."Warehouse near Port Angeles. We pick them up tomorrow at dawn, bring them here for processing, then ship by nightfall."Processing. The word made me nauseous.Jules was shaking beside me, trying to stay quiet. Across the room, I could see Ethan's eyes through the bedroom doorway. He looked terrified but focused.Around 2 AM, four of the men finally went to sleep. One stayed up, watching the door. A guard.We were well and truly trapped.I checked my phone—still no response to my 911 text. Either help wasn't coming, or we were too remote to be found quickly.At 3 AM, the guard stepped outside to smoke. It was our only chance.I signaled to Ethan. He nodded understanding.Moving silently, we crept t

Two days after Marcus returned, men in dark suits showed up at the mansion."FBI," the lead agent said, flashing credentials. "We need to speak with Marcus Steele. And Aria Bennett."We sat in Richard's study, surrounded by agents and lawyers. They recorded everything."Mr. Steele, we've been investigating Kenji Tanaka for eighteen months," the lead agent—Morrison—said. "Your father's report gave us probable cause for warrants. But we need your testimony about what you experienced in Tokyo."Marcus told them everything. The forced return, the fake relationship with Hana, the infiltration of Steele Industries, the nephew who'd offered to cooperate. And—most damning—what he'd learned about his mother."Your mother was an informant," Morrison confirmed. "She'd been gathering evidence on Tanaka's trafficking operation for six months before her death. We believe she was murdered for it.""Can you prove it?" Marcus's voice was steady, but I could see his hands shaking."With your help, poss