The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

When the exam results came out, Logan predictably took first place in Eastdown. Brenna was overjoyed, and even Thomas boasted proudly about it.

Annabel’s results were actually quite good, but overshadowed by Logan’s achievements, she naturally didn’t receive as much attention. Often, after praising Logan, there would be a passing compliment for her.

The schools for studying abroad were decided. Annabel quietly applied to a domestic university as well, only selecting one school: Magic City Normal University. She had already given up, but Christopher’s words seemed to plant a seed in her heart, quietly taking root and sprouting.

With the exams over, Bonnie also planned to return to accompany Annabel for a while. Annabel asked Eve to arrange for someone to tidy up the old house, planning to move in as soon as her grandmother returned.

Unexpectedly, when Eve returned, she told Annabel that the house had changed owners. Annabel was furious and had a big argument with Thomas. “You sold my home! Give it back to me!”

Because of David, Annabel’s relationship with Thomas had become increasingly distant over the past two years, and there was some resentment in her heart.

The day Bonnie returned, Annabel persuaded her to buy the house back, but Bonnie instead tried to dissuade her. “It’s already been sold. How can we buy it back? Others will laugh at our family.”

Annabel pouted unhappily. “We just need to pay a little more money. We isn’t short of money!”

Bonnie, with a helpless expression, playfully poked Annabel’s forehead. “Nonsense! Grandma is getting old and wants to live with your father and you, to enjoy family life.” Her words deliberately ignored Brenna and her son.

Brenna didn’t mind at all, even responding considerately. “Yes, a family should live together. I wouldn’t know what to do if Bella moved out.”

Bonnie looked at her coldly, smiling without saying a word.

Brenna remained outwardly calm and gentle, while Thomas chimed in, “Mom, try this. She know you like it and has been busy all afternoon.”

Angrily, Annabel went upstairs, and after a while, Bonnie followed. For the first time, she didn’t coddle Annabel, her face serious. “Bella, this is your home. You should stay here. In the future, the entire Green’s Enterprises will be yours. You must protect it.”

Annabel didn’t quite understand. She didn’t have much of a concept of family business, and she was innocent and naive. Logan’s test scores made the old lady even more wary. She was worried that Annabel would be taken advantage of in the future. Logan was young but deep and sophisticated. He was calm and collected in everything he did, and he was very scheming. She was afraid that he and his mother would join forces to harm Annabel. And Thomas was confused about this matter.

Speaking of this, Bonnie felt that her son wouldn’t be foolish enough to hand over the family business to an outsider. Although he was cultivating Logan, he probably wanted him to be Annabel’s right-hand man in the future. Logan was very talented and destined for greatness, but who could guarantee that he would be willing to play second fiddle to Annabel and serve Green’s Enterprises? However, if Thomas’s idea was to treat Logan as a prospective son-in-law, wanting to hand over Green’s Enterprises to him in the future, she would never agree to it.

At her age, Bonnie had seen all sorts of people and could see through what kind of person Brenna was. Only Thomas, who seemed to be under a spell, would believe that Brenna was a gentle and kind woman. Fortunately, Annabel disliked this stepbrother, so at least Bonnie didn’t have to worry about her granddaughter being blinded by so-called love like her son.

Annabel, however, didn’t think so far ahead. She wasn’t lacking money, so she didn’t think money was important. She didn’t understand the hardships of her ancestors’ entrepreneurship, so she didn’t see Green’s Enterprises as very important. Her mind was solely focused on whether she could successfully get into Magic City University.

Bonnie’s room was on the ground floor. After taking a shower and holding her pillow, Annabel went to find her grandmother. Passing by Logan’s room, he stood there with his arms crossed lazily, leaning against the door. She teased him, “Good Baby, seems like you haven’t been weaned yet!”

Logan was full of sarcasm. As soon as Bonnie came back, she hugged Annabel and called her “good baby” over and over again. Logan held back a laugh. Annabel was a little lioness, and even if not a lioness, she was still a Garfield cat with puffed-up fur. She had nothing to do with being a good baby.

Annabel glared at him angrily and continued walking. He calmly said from behind, “Forgot to tell you, I also plan to attend the university in Kenland. Looks like we might be alumni in the future.”

“I’ve got offers from both universities, but I’ve decided to go to the one in Kenland.” He smiled at her, his eyes flashing with malice. “Don’t ask me why. I just don’t want you to be too satisfied!”

Angered, Annabel threw a pillow at him, and the door was already closed. This damned Logan was becoming more and more audacious, with no sense of living under someone else’s roof.

She pestered Bonnie to sleep together at night, and the two of them talked for most of the night, but most of the time it was Annabel complaining.

In the blink of an eye, it was her eighteenth birthday. The Green Family organized a grand coming-of-age ceremony for her. She invited Mason and a group of childhood friends, but none of her classmates were invited. She never wanted people to know about her relationship with Logan.

She received so many gifts that night, the most precious of which was a set of diamond jewelry from her grandmother and a piece of jade from Thomas. Mason jokingly suggested she rent a safe deposit box at the bank.

Orla, on the other hand, looked envious. “The gifts you received tonight, your net worth must be over tens of millions.”

Alex disdainfully glanced at Orla. “Tens of millions? That’s nothing. In the future, Green’s Enterprises will be hers.”

Alex had never liked Orla. He found her tacky, especially when he noticed that she was orbiting around Logan all evening, which annoyed him even more.

Logan gave her a Garfield cat. Whether she accepted it or not, he simply placed the cat in her arms without even wishing her a happy birthday. He just said, “Here’s a little sister for you so you won’t be bored in the future.”

Annabel wanted to curse him in disgust, but seeing the chubby cat was just too cute, so she accepted it.

The BO band sang two songs to celebrate, and there was also an unknown singer at the scene. With shoulder-length hair and eyes full of stories, Annabel hadn’t even heard of him, but his singing was particularly charming.

After he finished singing, he suddenly said, “I am honored to be here today at Miss Green’s birthday party. I have a gift for Miss Green on behalf of a friend.”

Bonnie didn’t pay much attention, laughing at the antics around her. “Young people nowadays love these little tricks.”

The man walked up to her and placed a beautifully wrapped small gift box in her hand. “Miss Green, please follow me.”

Thomas looked expressionless as he asked, “Who is your friend?”

The man smiled faintly. “Mr. Green will find out when he comes with me.”

Annabel actually guessed who had commissioned him, and couldn’t help but be curious. “So mysterious. What is it?”

The guests followed along to see what was going on.

In the middle of the courtyard was a brand new MINI COOPER pink limited edition. The man winked at Annabel. “Miss Green, now that you’re eighteen, you can drive.”

Annabel quite liked racing. She had obtained her track racing license at fourteen, so her driving skills were naturally good. Before living with Thomas, she used to drive, but she hadn’t touched the steering wheel since then. Now, seeing this girly car, how could she not be tempted?

Everyone speculated about who had sent it. Orla exclaimed in surprise, “It must be Christopher.”

Alex also said, “Mr. Robins mentioned preparing a birthday gift for you half a month ago. Besides him, no one else would be so generous.”

Most people knew a bit about the feud between Christopher and the Green Family, so seeing Thomas remain calm, no one dared to say much.

Thomas summoned Annabel to the study with a stern face. Annabel was a little afraid of Thomas. Over the years, she had secretly interacted with Christopher behind Thomas’s back, never expecting him to expose their relationship to Thomas all of a sudden.

“Do you often interact with him?”

Annabel nodded honestly. Thomas stared at her expressionlessly for a while. “Tomorrow, I’ll have Liam return the car to him. If you want any car, I can buy you one anytime. From now on, don’t interact with him anymore.”

Thomas was always like this, never explaining, but always making decisions for her.

Annabel shrugged. “I’m eighteen, I don’t need you to make decisions for me.”

With that, she turned and left.

Elizabeth and Mrs. Cross met in the bathroom. Mrs. Cross was a fan of Christopher, the third wife of the owner of Chengye Department Store. She couldn’t help but ask, “They mentioned Christopher, the movie star, right?”

“That’s him.”

“He sent such a valuable gift. Is he friends with the Green Family?”

Elizabeth lowered her voice. “Impossible. This Christopher had a romantic relationship with Mr. Green’s ex-wife.”

“No way?”

Elizabeth snorted. “Do you know why Mr. Green married Brenna? It’s because his ex-wife behaved improperly.”

As soon as she turned around, she saw Annabel with a black face standing in front of her. “If you weren’t Mason’s mother, I would have slapped you long ago. You used to be friends with my mom, but now, to curry favor with Brenna, you’re slandering her behind her back. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Elizabeth remained calm and signaled to Mrs. Cross with her eyes to leave first. The latter, afraid of offending the Green Family, hurriedly left the scene.

“Bella, what I said wasn’t false at all. Your mom and Christopher have always had a romantic relationship. If you don’t believe it, you can go ask Christopher yourself. You’re eighteen now, and it’s time you knew some things.”