I've been a goody-two-shoes for 18 years. The only outrageous thing I've ever done is get into a secret relationship with my stepbrother, Kieran Brock, even though my mom and my stepfather, Andre Brock, are still living in the same house as us.

During the day, we're stepsiblings who aren't familiar with each other. At night, however, we tangle with each other heatedly in the same bed.

During the fifth year of our underground relationship, I accidentally overhear Kieran's conversation with his friend.

"When you were 21, you robbed your stepsister of her virginity. Now that you've toyed with her for five years, aren't you planning on giving her a legitimate position by your side?"

I feel my heart tensing. Somehow, I look forward to hearing Kieran's answer.

As Kieran plays with his lighter, he shoots his friend a flippant smile.

"Like you said, she's my sister. She's not meant to be known as my lover. Had I not plan on getting revenge on her mom for ruining my family, there's no way I'd sleep with her!

"Also, I've already proposed to Vivian. She's the only woman who is worthy of becoming my wife."

I don't break down and demand answers from Kieran. Instead, I pretend to not hear anything as I turn on my heel and walk away.

On the day of Kieran's wedding, he specifically tells his friends to watch over the venue to prevent me from causing trouble there.

What he doesn't know is that I've already boarded a flight meant for another country. This time, I will never come back.

At his birthday party, Kieran Brock pulled me into an empty private room next door. Scorching breath swept in together with a searing kiss.

I could hear the faint murmur of strangers passing by behind the door.

Blushing furiously, I tried to push Kieran back. But he caught my wrists and pinned them above my head until I couldn't move.

"Esty, don't say no to me, please."

His usually steady voice had a pleading edge to it that instantly melted my resolve. I wrapped my arms around his neck.

It wasn't until Kieran's hand slid under the hem of my dress, sending a shiver through me, that I finally snapped back to my senses.

Breathless, I caught his hand before he could go any further. "N-Not here."

Kieran's voice was low and hypnotic. "No one's coming in."

I looked away, afraid that if I caught his gaze, I'd lose myself and agree to anything. "I can't. Mom is waiting for me to get home."

Kieran stiffened for a moment, then thoughtfully buttoned up each undone button for me.

"I won't be done here for a while. Let the driver take you home first. Text me when you're back safe."

I could see the disappointment in his eyes. I bit my lip and whispered, "I-I'll wait up for you tonight. I came out in a rush today and left your gift in my room."

Kieran paused, a playful glint returning to his eyes. "Let me guess. Is the gift… you?"

Even after five years together, his bluntness still made my heart race.

I smoothed out my dress and replied, "You'll find out when you get back."

With that, I bolted for the door. Kieran's soft chuckle came from behind me.

I hurried down the hall.

The early spring air was crisp. As soon as I stepped outside the club, the cold wind helped settle the frantic drumming in my chest.

The thought of the gift brought a smile to my face. I couldn't wait to see his reaction tonight.

Once I was in the car, I reached into my bag to text Kieran, only to realize I'd left my phone on the couch when he'd pulled me into that room.

I had no choice but to head back.

Just as I reached the door, I heard a mocking voice from inside. "Kieran, you took your stepsister's virginity at 21 years old, and you've been with her for five years now. Aren't you going to give her a title?"

My hand froze on the handle. My chest tightened, and my breath hitched.

Throughout the five years of my secret relationship with Kieran, I was constantly longing for the day we could be out in the open together.

The room went quiet as everyone turned toward the corner.

Kieran gave a dry chuckle. As he flicked his lighter, the orange flame danced across his sharp features.

"As you said, she's my stepsister. She was never meant to be seen as my partner. I've already proposed to Vivian. She's the only one fit to be my wife. When Esther's mother played the mistress and drove mine to her death, she never could have imagined her daughter would be moaning in my bed."

The blood in my veins turned to ice. That hopeful rhythm in my heart simply stopped.

Someone teased, "Guess 'love grows over time' doesn't apply to you, Kieran. Five years and still not a drop of feelings?"

Kieran exhaled a cloud of smoke and sneered. "If it weren't for wanting to get back at her mother, how could I have put up with the disgust of being with her?

"I can't wait to see the look on that woman's face when she finds out her precious daughter is my side piece. It's going to be priceless."

The man who had been whispering sweet nothings to me just minutes ago now seemed utterly unfamiliar amid the swirling smoke.

There was no love in his gaze. Only endless coldness and the anticipation of a long-awaited revenge.

The room erupted into whistles and cheers.

"Classic Kieran. That's one genius idea. But hey, it isn't all bad. Esther's a dancer. That body… Damn, just looking at her is enough to make anyone drool!"

"We saw how eager you were. Don't think we don't know what you did once you got her alone in that room. Why are you back so soon? Don't tell me all those late nights have wrecked your stamina. Ms. Fowler's going to be disappointed."

Those cruel words stabbed at me.

I clenched my palm desperately and fled from that suffocating place.

When I got home, my mother, Clare Peck, was already sitting on the couch waiting for me.

The moment Mom saw my red, swollen eyes, she rushed to her feet. "Esty, did Kieran give you a hard time at the birthday party?"

She sighed and reached out to brush my cheek with a look of pure heartache.

"Even after all these years, Kieran still hasn't let go of his misunderstandings. He's always been so hostile toward us. I have Andre by my side, so I can handle it. It's you I worry about."

My secret relationship with Kieran was a secret even from her.

For the past five years, every time Mom tried to comfort me, I'd feel a secret surge of thrill. I was thrilled that Kieran and I were lovers and that I could one day be the link between him and Mom, helping him fully accept her.

I had even daydreamed about a future where the four of us could finally be a real family.

Now, I realized it was all a pathetic delusion. The brutal truth Kieran spat out tonight had shattered every fantasy I had for the future.

I wiped my eyes. "No. I just got something in my eye."

Mom and my stepfather, Andre Brock, were truly happy together. The last thing I wanted was for the mess between Kieran and me to ruin the life she had built.

Mom let out a breath of relief and patted my back. "Alright. As long as you and Kieran can at least be civil, I can rest easy."

I fought back the lump in my throat. Terrified she'd see through me, I mumbled a quick goodnight and hurried upstairs.

Once I sealed the outside world out, I sank to the floor with my back resting against the door.

The tears finally broke.

It had never crossed my mind that the last five years with Kieran were nothing more than a calculated act of revenge.

I was 12 years old when Mom married into the Brock family. Kieran was 15 years old then, and his gaze toward us was sharp and cold.

It wasn't hard to tell that he hated the very idea of us being there.

I remember clutching the hem of my dress as Mom introduced me to him as his sister.

Kieran only glanced at me coldly and sneered. "My mom only had one child. I'd appreciate it if certain people didn't try to force a connection. Especially the child of a homewrecker."

The humiliation of those words pinned me to the spot.

I tried to find my voice and explain that Mom didn't date Andre until long after Kieran's mother had passed away. She wasn't a homewrecker.

But Kieran didn't care for the truth. He treated us like dirt, and no matter how many times Andre scolded him, nothing changed.

To keep the peace for Mom, I stayed out of Kieran's way to avoid sparking his fuse.

I thought my relationship with Kieran would always stay this tense.

Then came the night I turned 17 years old.

I was walking home alone after a late study session. As I turned a corner, I came face-to-face with a drunken man moving toward me, his words lewd and foul.

I clutched my bag to my chest, panic surging as I scanned the street for help, but it was deserted.

Despair began to sink in.

Just as the man's hand reached for me, a firm grip suddenly yanked me back, shielding me. Then came a heavy thud as the man hit the pavement.

I stared blankly at the figure standing in front of me. I never expected Kieran—who had always loathed me—to be the one to save me.

Kieran shook out his wrist. His gaze at me was as impatient as ever, yet I caught a flicker of genuine tension in his gaze.

"You've got a car but won't take it? Are you just asking for trouble? Don't make it seem like we're abusing you."

Andre had arranged for a driver to take us both to school. But I knew my presence only irritated Kieran, so I had never ridden with him.

The instant our gazes locked, I hurriedly averted my eyes, unsure of what to say.

Kieran clicked his tongue in annoyance, grabbing my wrist and shoving me into the backseat.

The finer details of that night have blurred over time. But I would never forget the way my heart hammered against my ribs as he stood before me.

For as long as I could remember, it had just been Mom. She worked so hard that I never wanted to burden her with my problems. I kept every slight and every bruise to myself.

That night was the first time I had ever felt protected.

Since then, my relationship with Kieran had begun to change subtly.

I found myself watching him without thinking, quietly keeping tabs on his life. I convinced myself I was subtle enough that Kieran would never notice.

But on the night of my 18th birthday, a feverish kiss laid all my hidden feelings bare.