His Plaything Became the Heiress He Can't Touch

"Keep your voice down. Someone might hear us."

Edward had his hand tight around her waist, clearly up to no good.

There were footsteps shuffling outside. Carol bit her lip, a mocking smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "You're literally in my room in broad daylight-what, scared someone in the house might actually catch us?"

On the surface, she was just his assistant. His step-sister. But behind closed doors, that label didn't mean a thing.

Tonight was the Dawson family dinner. Mr. Timothy Dawson Dawson had hinted there'd be an announcement, so everyone was back. And yet Edward was still lingering here, wasting time fooling around with her.

Carol tried to stay composed, but as the teasing dragged on, she finally broke. "Enough."

"Oh? Already giving up? When did you get so soft, huh?"

She squeezed her eyes shut, digging her nails into his arm without thinking, leaving a trail of red marks.

Edward dipped low, lips brushing over her earlobe with maddening slowness. "Is this the only way to get you to behave?"

Still clinging to the last of her calm, Carol snapped back, annoyed. "What are you even rambling about again?"

Since the day things started between them, she'd never once gone against what he wanted. What was with the crap now?

"Then explain last night." His grip tightened on her waist, forcing her to tilt her head back. His voice was low and hoarse. "I asked you to come to the hotel. You didn't show. Worse-what, thought sending another woman in your place was a good idea?"

"I only did it... because I thought that's what you liked," Carol whispered, voice raspy.

She'd once caught a glimpse of the girl's photo in the pocket watch he always carried-probably someone he'd been hooked on before booze got the better of him.

"Carol, haven't I told you? Stop guessing what I'm thinking."

Just then, the door handle rattled. In that tense moment, Carol's eyes went wide.

"Carol..."

It was her mother, Sophia.

Right as she was about to push the door open, Carol shouted in panic, "Mom-don't come in! I'm... I'm changing."

Edward had that smug smile on, brushing his lips against her bare skin blatantly.

Outside, Sophia hesitated. "What's taking so long? Everyone's here already."

Carol inhaled, about to say something, but Edward suddenly moved lower. Caught off guard, she gasped out loud. "I-mmph..."

Sophia's voice grew sharp through the door. "Carol? What on earth are you doing in there?"

Carol lowered her gaze and saw that smug little smirk tugging at Edward's lips. She pinched her arm hard, trying to snap herself out of it. Right then, her mom's voice came again from behind the door-

"By the way, have you seen Ed? His grandfather's been looking for him just now."

How on earth could Carol admit Edward was literally all over her?

"Haven't seen him."

Sophia was about to head off when she paused, as if remembering something. "Oh, there's a gift box in your wardrobe. I picked out a dress for you-it's Ed's favorite style. Make sure to put it on and look pretty. You know how to catch his eye, right?"

Carol frowned, and she could feel Edward's entire aura drop a few degrees.

The moment the hallway fell quiet again, Edward gripped her chin, eyes glinting with a sneer. "Catch my eye? Your shameless mom really knows her way around that game better than you do."

That instantly snapped Carol out of it.

"Don't you dare-"

She didn't get to finish before he cut her off with a cold snort. "Am I wrong though? My dad once swore he'd never take another woman after my mom. Funny how your mother managed to make him break that promise, dump my mom like trash, and strong-arm the family into marrying her. No wonder he ended up dead in that car crash-you can thank your mother for that."

Each word was like falling into freezing water for Carol. Her voice came out icy cold. "Edward, don't dump a man's mistakes onto a woman."

After her parents divorced, she and her mom moved into the Dawson family through marriage. Her stepfather Raymond had treated her well, like his own daughter. But not long after marrying her mom, he died in a car accident.

From then on, the whole Dawson family saw her and her mom as cursed, blaming them for everything.

"You're something else, Carol," Edward murmured darkly, leaving a trail of bruises on her neck. She slapped at his hand that was still running wild. "Quit it. We need to go down. Everyone's waiting. I don't wanna get chewed out again because of you."

"So what if you do? Don't forget, you came to me first. This game doesn't end until I say so. You don't get to walk away."

Five minutes later, Edward, cigarette dangling from his lips and belt freshly buckled, finally zipped up but had already stripped Carol down bare.

She held onto the wall, barely able to stay up on her feet, hurriedly throwing her underwear and clothes back on.

"Hurry it up. Aren't we supposed to be heading down? Or do you want the whole family waiting on you?"

He was clearly getting impatient. She scrambled to toss her outfit together as fast as she could.

A few minutes later, the two of them came down the stairs one after the other. Every set of eyes turned to them at once, each glance filled with shock... and a suspicious kind of knowing.

When the family dinner ended with the announcement that Edward Dawson was getting married, Carol Bright wasn't all that surprised - just as she'd guessed.

Grandpa Dawson kept things vague on purpose, not saying who the lucky bride was.

Around the table, everyone chimed in with their congratulations, but Edward? His expression was plain unreadable, still that same laid-back, couldn't-care-less vibe.

"Oh, something just came up at the company. Gotta bounce."

He gave Carol a quick look. She instantly got the hint and stood up too, politely nodding to the others before following him out.

Carol had just stepped outside the house when she heard someone catch up behind her -

"Carol..."

The soft call made her mask her emotions in a split second. She knew that voice - it was Edward's older brother, Christopher Dawson.

"You alright, Carol?"

His voice carried real concern. She turned around after a steadying breath, smile easy, tone light. "I'm fine."

Christopher's gaze was gentle, voice warm, but his words stumbled a bit. "You heard what Grandpa said at dinner. He's picked someone for Edward to marry. Some things can't be dragged on forever... I think it's time you make a decision."

Carol's eyes dimmed slightly. She didn't warm up to him, but her response was respectful. "Yeah, thanks for the reminder. I'll think it through."

Christopher noticed her hesitation, a trace of guilt crossing his face. "Carol, I know you care about Edward, but after everything he's put you through... are you really still gonna stay by his side?"

That hit a nerve.

Carol's face cooled, her smile turning mocking. "You, of all people, should understand exactly why I stayed with him."

Her voice was calm but drew a clear line. "You know, I went to you first."

Back when Raymond passed away suddenly, and the old man wanted her and her mom out of the house... out of everyone, she had the best relationship with Christopher.

But when she turned to him for help, he said no.

So... she chose Edward.

Christopher clearly didn't want to go down that road. He reached out, clearly rattled. "Carol, I... back then..."

But the moment got cut off before he could finish. A pair of blinding headlights swept over them, making Christopher shield his eyes.

Carol knew right away - Edward had arrived.

"Chris, you should go in. Don't let me waste your time."

But Christopher stayed put, staring at the car approaching.

It rolled to a stop in front of them. Edward lowered the window, chin tilted slightly. "Get in."

"I'm heading out now, Chris."

Carol gave him a nod, then just as she was about to get in the passenger seat, Edward opened the door and stepped out. "You drive."

Outside the Dawson house, she was simply his employee. Stuff like this? Her job.

Carol walked around to the driver's side. As she passed Christopher, Edward brushed past him too - the moment their eyes met, the air practically sparked.

In the car, Carol kept her hands on the wheel, but her mind wandered to what Christopher said. Her gaze flickered with something soft.

Maybe to Edward it's all just business, but what he doesn't know is...

She'd known him long before she ever stepped into the Dawson household.

They went to the same high school years ago - he was two grades ahead.

Back then, Edward was the untouchable star; she was just a nobody in the background.

Seventeen's such an easy age to fall - he used to be so full of life. And now? He's more of a charming heartbreaker.

A loud snap of fingers snapped her out of it.

"What are you thinking about?" Edward asked.

Carol turned her head toward the laid-back man beside her, face calm. "Nope, nothing on my mind."

Edward's smirk deepened a little, voice casual but clearly poking, "Come on, Carol. Don't lie to me. What were you whispering to my brother just now? Something shady? Too secret for me to hear?"

Carol's tone stayed chilly. "You're overthinking."

Edward chuckled meaningfully. "Am I though? Or are you just trying to throw me off?"

His eyes locked onto hers, making her heart skip a beat. To hide her nerves, she shifted the topic and handed him the file she'd prepped. "The acquisition plan for Moran's Serenor Group is done. HQ finished the risk assessment and asset valuation. Waiting on your review and signature."

In the Dawson family, she was Edward's step-sister on paper. At the company, she was his top assistant.

Not that Edward ever acknowledged her as his sister. Just calling him like that once had set him off. And he clearly didn't see her as an assistant worth his time either.

Carol started explaining calmly. "PR over on the Moran side hasn't dared to take it on. Though West City's going well, Mr. Moran still won't budge, so if you want more market share..."

Edward cut her off, clearly annoyed. "I've said it enough times. Before they recover, stir things up deeper."

Carol knew his temper well and nodded. "Got it, I'll pass the word."

She thought that would be the end of it, but Edward suddenly asked, with that casual tone, "Heard my big brother's getting all cozy with the Moran family. That true?"

He didn't even lift his eyes, just idly fidgeted with the prayer beads on his wrist.

The air felt heavy for a second.

Carol's heart thudded, but she kept her expression still. "I've heard something."

Edward gave a sharp little smile, like a blade's edge. "Then why didn't you tell me?"

As she paused, unsure what to say, Edward leaned in close, that dangerously handsome face just inches from hers. "What? Still got a soft spot for him? Gonna team up and take me down together?"

Her hand tightened on the steering wheel, palms sweaty. "That's not it."

Edward caught her hand, his fingertip trailing across her clammy palm. "Sweaty and sticky. Still wanna say you're clean?"

She yanked her hand away. Edward casually pulled out his phone. "That guy who sold my intel last time-send him somewhere remote. I don't want to see his face again."

Carol froze inside, fingers clenched till they turned white. She knew damn well he was warning her.

With one arm resting on the car door, Edward let the chilly wind blow in through the crack, eyes flicking toward the traffic light. "Turn left up ahead."

"What?" Carol blinked, puzzled. Just had to ask, "Aren't we supposed to go right to the company?"

Edward lit a cigarette, taking a drag and exhaling a stream of smoke. "Not going to the office. We're heading back to No.1 Residence."

Carol's brows pinched slightly, mood turning impatient. "Didn't you just say you had stuff to handle at the company?"

The glowing tip of the cigarette dimmed to ash. Edward's gaze drifted, unreadable. "What, you think I'd be able to leave if I didn't say that?"

Carol paused slightly. "Then why lie?"

Edward gave a smug little grin, lips curling in that cocky way of his. "Because I wanted to."

Outside, a layer of fog had crept across the windshield, cool air sliding along the glass, blurring the view-isolating the tense atmosphere inside the car from the rest of the world.

Neither of them said anything for a good while, each stewing in their own silence.

Finally, Edward broke it. "Don't you wanna ask who Grandpa picked out as my fiancée?"