So I've finally found time to play the update. Thank you so much. It's really excellent both in content and quality. I look forward with burning anticipation to the next one.
So I studiously avoided any spoilers related to the "cliff hanger" until I played to it. I actually don't see the ending that way in the least. Cassandra has no leverage over the MC or Kindra. No leverage at all. She's positioned herself as an opponent, but she has nothing to bring to the table. Neither the MC nor Kindra has any reason to interact with her. So her "we have to talk" is only her desire, nothing more. It's hard for dark clouds to gather when one of those who are supposedly under threat is an established billionaire with a fully realized infrastructure. Cassandra's resources are completely eclipsed by Kindra's. Especially since Cassandra doesn't actually control those resources and her access to them is conditional.
Lots of cute and engaging women in this VN, but in the end Kindra is exactly who the MC needs.