The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

During the holiday break, all of Annabel’s dorm mates had gone home, leaving her to play games with a group of high school friends in the dorm.

“You’re slowing us down again!”

Louis had always been a diligent student, he’d only recently started gaming. He enjoyed it but lacked skill, often earning Annabel’s disdain. After less than half an hour of play, they called it quits.

Annabel exited the game interface and shouted through her headset to Louis, “You’re better off focusing on your studies. This isn’t your thing.”

“You underestimates me again. When are you going to play against Logan? I guarantee he’ll wipe you out.”

Annabel didn’t put much stock in his words. She’d only seen Logan play once. Most of the time, he was busy with various courses, and when he did have free time, he was usually buried in a book.

Louis sighed again. “Ever since he went abroad, we haven’t been in touch. He’s really not being considerate.”

Annabel remembered the day Logan left for overseas. To avoid Thomas witnessing her being more angry, she stayed in her room, playing with the little Garfield cat.

She heard the door close next door, the sound of a suitcase sliding across the floor. Logan hadn’t been too friendly toward her lately, and she hadn’t expected him to come say goodbye. Anyway not that she cared.

But as soon as the thought crossed her mind, she heard a knock at the door.

Annabel was sitting cross-legged on the recliner, feeding the kitten in her lap when she saw Logan. She just looked up and said, “What’s up?”

The grudges of the past generation were still unresolved, and her ability to maintain such an attitude was already her biggest concession.

He pointed to the kitten in her arms. “I came to see her.”

Annabel suddenly remembered that the kitten was a gift from him. She handed it over generously, feeling somewhat puzzled. It was strange that such cold person would also like small animals. It didn’t seem to fit.

He looked down at the kitten in his arms, stroking its back. “She doesn’t have a name yet? It looks lazy and clumsy, just like you. Just call her Bella.”

He was teasing Annabel, but his tone was serious, not at all like a joke. Annabel immediately retorted, “Why not call her Logan instead?”

This time, he chuckled lightly. “Fine, so you call her Logan.”

Annabel was at a loss for words, unsure how to respond.

Brenna’s urging voice came from downstairs, and he handed the kitten back to her. Then, he reached out his hand again, but this time it didn’t land on the kitten’s body; instead, it landed on her head, giving her a firm rub.

“Do not eat randomly; you’ll get sick. Don’t drink; it’s dangerous to get drunk outside. Don’t lose your temper all the time; it’s not attractive.”

Annabel stared at him, and before she could protest, he withdrew his hand, wearing that disdainful look again. “Although I’ve always known you’re pretty useless, you’re grown up now. You should learn to take care of yourself and stop worrying the adults.”

The key point Annabel heard was the phrase “you’re pretty useless.”

“You’re the useless one! You’re the most useless!”

He seemed to be in a good mood, smiling lightly, and as he left, he left her with a parting shot, “You’re the ugliest!”

Annabel didn’t feel much when Logan left. They would inevitably end up on opposite sides someday. Whether he was doing it to repay Thomas or for Green’s Enterprises, she refused. In this world, she didn’t need to have any feelings for Logan.

Annabel left the house when Brenna and Thomas had just left to take Logan to the airport, returning very late.

The third floor was quiet, not much different from usual, but it felt unusually empty and uncomfortable. It was the first time she voluntarily opened his room door.

The room had been tidied up; the bed and desk were empty, and even the piano sofa was covered with dust covers. Only the wall full of books remained. Suddenly, she felt that although Logan was annoying at times, he wasn’t that bad.

“Hey, Annabel, what do you think about Logan going abroad?”

The bustling voice in her headphones brought her back to reality, and she snorted, “None of my business!”

Louis laughed, “Hey, a high-quality talent is lost; foreign women are benefiting.”

“Don’t worry, Aria also went to study in Kenland. If she chases after him, I don’t believe Logan won’t be moved.”

This time, even Annabel was somewhat surprised. She didn’t like Aria very much, and although she didn’t think Logan was that great, she still thought Aria wasn’t good enough for him. Besides, if she and Logan really became a couple, with Brenna added to the mix, it would be a lot for her to handle.

Someone sighed softly, “Enough said, Ryan’s here.”

Ryan got into Eastdown’s Law School and was going to be a lawyer in the future. Soon, his relaxed laughter came through the headphones, “That part of our lives is long gone; we’ve all forgotten about it.”

Everyone knew that Ryan liked Aria. Even after they broke up, he silently followed her, just as Aria looked up to Logan. Annabel remembered the saying: the one who loves is humble, the one who doesn’t love is reckless.

Some continued to play games, some continued to chat. Just before nine o’clock, Annabel said goodbye to everyone, “I have to pick someone up. You guys carry on.”

“Hey, who is it? Your boyfriend?”

She chuckled and replied, “Yeah, that’s right, my boyfriend.”

She took off her headphones, isolating herself from the gossip, changed her clothes, and carefully applied makeup before heading straight to the train station.

Annabel felt the most meaningful thing she had done in these days was getting to know Perez. Perez was a chatterbox. He asked Annabel, “Do you like David?”

Annabel admitted it generously. Perez, seemingly experienced, thought for a moment. “He rarely mentions you. And I know there are quite a few girls who like him, so it might be challenging.”

Annabel felt a bit disappointed. Perez added, “David bought a train ticket for tonight and will arrive in Magic City at ten o’clock.”

This gave Annabel a small surge of excitement. It was only the 5th today. Was he worried about her and came back early? She didn’t tell David she was going to pick him up, wanting to surprise him.

She arrived at the train station at half-past nine. By ten past ten, two trains had arrived, but David was nowhere to be seen. She checked the train schedule; there were several trains from nine to ten. She called Perez to ask which one exactly.

“I didn’t ask him the specifics. Why don’t you just call him and ask?”

“You don’t get it!”

Afraid David would find out there was no surprise, she continued waiting. By eleven o’clock, he still hadn’t arrived.

Finally, she couldn’t bear it anymore and sent David a WeChat message, “When are you coming back to school?”

After a while, a message came back, “In a few days, when the break ends.”

Annabel didn’t reply. She angrily put her phone back in her pocket, hoping like a bubble bursting instantly. Annabel was angry but didn’t know who to be angry with, aimlessly walking the streets.

Although it was getting late, there were still many people coming and going in this commercial center. The huge screen in the center of the square flashed a line of text, “Christopher, keep going! We’re waiting for you to come back!!!”

Two girls passing by sighed, “I heard Christopher still hasn’t woken up. I hope nothing bad happens.”

“What a pity. He’s a good actor and good-looking. There aren’t many actors like him.”

Annabel’s heart skipped a beat. The news about Christopher’s injury had been flooding the internet recently, and she was aware of it.

The fact that Christopher was her mother’s lover made Annabel feel uneasy. Christopher had always been reserved about their past, and she resented others speculating that she was his illegitimate daughter.

That day in the study, she had asked Thomas for the first time, “Am I really your daughter?”

Thomas had been so angry that he gritted his teeth, “You’re not my daughter. Are you Christopher’s then?”

“Did you do a paternity test before bringing me back? Otherwise, if you hate me so much, you would have abandoned me to fend for myself on the streets a long time ago.”

From Thomas’s silent expression, she got the answer she needed. There was a moment of disappointment, but also relief.

Thomas asked her, “He’s just trying to drive a wedge between us. Are you going to let him continue to influence Green Family and even tarnish your deceased mother’s reputation?”

She outwardly refuted Thomas, “Is it any more honorable for you to be with a woman who has a child?” But deep down, she had already sided with Green Family’s interests. Christopher was a public figure, and if the media hyped that she was his illegitimate daughter, it would be devastating to Green Family’s reputation.

What she didn’t know was that more than a decade ago, the scandals of Green Family were even more unspeakable than what she was worrying about now.

Annabel stared at the screen in the square for a while, thinking about his kindness to her over the past two years. Finally, she sent a message to Mason to ask, “How’s Christopher doing?”

Mason quickly called her back. “Where are you?”

“At school.”

“Christopher is also at Magic City Hospital. Do you want to come and see him?”

They were all grateful to Mason for his appreciation and trust in their careers.