All Chapters of Off-limits: My One-Night Stepbrother : Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Ariana’s POVThe ride home was unbearable.Not because of shouting.Not because of fighting.Because Kian didn’t say a single word.The entire drive, he just stared ahead at the road with one hand gripping the steering wheel tightly while the city lights flashed across his face every few seconds.Sharp jaw.Unreadable expression.Dangerously quiet.And somehow, that silence felt worse than if he had yelled at me.I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, arms folded tightly across my chest while irritation burned hotter and hotter beneath my skin.The music from earlier was gone now.Only the low hum of the engine filled the car.Painfully quiet.I glanced at him once.Nothing.Not even a look in my direction.Seriously?He drags me out of a party like some jealous psychopath and now suddenly he has nothing to say?Fine.Two could play that game.I looked back out the window, jaw tightening.Minutes passed.Still silence.And the worst part?The longer he stayed quiet, the more irritated I

Kian’s POV It was past midnight by the time I got home. The day had dragged longer than expected. Meetings. Calls. Business issues that kept stacking one after another until my head felt permanently irritated. Filling up for dad until he came back. By the time I stepped into the mansion, I wanted quiet and rest. Nothing else. I loosened my tie slightly as I walked into the living room. Then something caught my attention. And I stopped. Ariana was asleep on the couch. The TV played softly in the background, low light flickering across her face while she lay curled slightly against the cushions. For a second, I just stood there. Looking at her. She looked… peaceful. Very peaceful. One side of her hair had fallen across her cheek messily, her book abandoned beside her while one arm rested beneath her head. And somehow, asleep like this, she looked softer than usual. Less defensive. Less sharp around the edges. I moved closer before I could think too much about it. S

Ariana's Pov Kian’s forehead rested against mine again, both of us still breathing unevenly.Still too close.His hand remained tight at my waist like he didn’t fully trust himself to let go.And honestly?Neither did I.The kitchen still felt painfully quiet except for our breathing.I could still feel the heat of his mouth on mine.Still feel the way he’d kissed me like he was trying not to lose control completely.Kian closed his eyes briefly before letting out a quiet breath against my lips.“We shouldn’t have done that.”The words barely sounded steady.I looked up at him slowly.But he was still close enough that our noses brushed lightly when I moved.“I know,” I whispered.Neither of us moved away.That was the problem.Kian’s eyes opened again, dropping immediately to my mouth before forcing themselves back upward.His jaw tightened.“This can’t happen again.”But even while saying it, his fingers pulled slightly at my waist, bringing me impossibly closer.The contradiction

Ariana’s POVTime moves strangely when you're waiting for someone.Too fast and too slow at the same time.One minute I was staring at my phone trying not to think about this morning, and the next it was already past dinner time with no sign of Kian anywhere.I hadn’t eaten properly since morning. Just snacks here and there whenever the hunger got annoying enough to deal with.Now it sat heavily in my stomach.I glanced toward the front door again.Nothing.The clock on the wall ticked softly in the silence.I hated how aware I was of every little sound tonight.Every footstep from the staff.Every door opening somewhere downstairs.Every passing second.Because some stupid part of me kept expecting him to walk through the door at any moment.And even worse?I kept imagining what would happen when he did.Would he avoid me again?Would he finally say something about this morning?Would he act like kissing me meant nothing?The thought irritated me immediately.I stood up abruptly and

Ariana's pov “There’s a gala tomorrow night,” Dad said finally, setting his coffee cup down. Mum immediately smiled. “Not just any gala.” Dad nodded once. “The Harrington Charity Gala.” Even I knew that name. It was one of those events constantly all over magazines and business pages every year. Wealthy families, investors, politicians, press—basically a room filled with people who enjoyed expensive things and talking about money. “We already missed the last one,” Dad continued. “And this one is important. Very important.” Kian nodded slightly beside me while listening. Dad leaned back in his chair before continuing, “It was originally supposed to happen next week, but the date got shifted unexpectedly to tomorrow evening. That’s partly why we cut our trip short.” Mum sighed dramatically. “Your father nearly started arguing with the organizers over the phone.” “I was not arguing.” “You absolutely were.” Dad ignored her completely. “There’ll be major investors attending t