The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

The living room of the Wolf Family was filled with fragrance and warmth, yet Annabel and Logan, two teenagers, didn’t attract much attention despite their tardiness.

Speaking of the Chi siblings, Rose, the daughter, had been pampered by her father, Jack, since childhood, so her coming-of-age ceremony was particularly grand. However, Jack’s approach to Mason was strict, almost like tough love, which was quite similar to Thomas. The only difference was that in the Green Family, the roles were reversed. However, Mason was luckier than Annabel; at least he had his biological mother to protect him.

Rose spotted them in the crowd and waved. “Bella, Gan.”

Having spent the past few years studying abroad, Rose rarely had the chance to meet with Logan and the others.

Annabel gave her a gentle hug. “Rose, happy birthday.”

Rose looked Annabel up and down. She was wearing a blue dress, showcasing her long legs. Her eyes sparkled, hidden beneath her black short hair, making her look cute and playful. Annabel took after her model mother completely. “Bella, you’re getting more beautiful every day.”

Logan, standing beside her, also showed a rare friendly smile. “Happy birthday, Rose.”

Rose chuckled. “Thank you. It’s been years since we’ve seen each other. Does Bella still dare to pick on you?”

As a small boy newly arrived at the Green Family’s residence, Logan was a frail and diminutive figure, often subjected to bullying by Annabel.

Logan smiled and remarked, “She’s no match for me now.”

Annabel protested unhappily, “You’re biased. Why don’t you say Logan bullies me?”

Suddenly, someone behind them spoke up. “Who dares to bully you? If you don’t bully others, I’ll thank the heavens already.”

It was Thomas, accompanied by Jack and his wife, bringing both families together.

Annabel frowned and grunted at him before turning to find Mason.

Jack always favored her daughter more. “Thomas, you’re too strict with Bella. Girls should be pampered.”

No matter how dissatisfied he was with Annabel, Thomas would never criticize her in public. With a gentle smile, he remarked, “I just hope she’ll improve.”

Everyone laughed along.

Jack’s wife, Elizabeth, has a somewhat cold smile, and while she is quite friendly with Brenna, she has always been cold to Annabel.

Mason pulled Annabel aside quietly and asked, “I heard Logan’s girlfriend bullied you?”

With a fleeting glance at Logan, who was engaged in conversation with Thomas, Annabel let out a triumphant chuckle. “I’m no pushover,” she declared, “not about to let that pretentious woman bully me. But how did you hear about what happened at my school?”

“You were there, so I naturally paid more attention. But now that you’ve made friends with a bunch of top students, you don’t hang out with us anymore. I’m serious when I say this-I’m jealous!”

Annabel punched his shoulder playfully. “Come on, with our relationship, could I ever abandon you?”

Satisfied, Mason said, “Let’s go to my room. I have something good for you.”

Jack watched Annabel’s tall, slender figure as she walked away. She resembled her mother so much. If only she were his daughter, he thought.

Someone nearby joked, “Look at how close Annabel and Mason are. Why not just arrange a marriage between your families?”

To outsiders, this seemed like a great idea. The two families were old friends, and their wealth was comparable. If they could really join through marriage, it would benefit both families greatly.

Jack chuckled. “I’d love that.”

Thomas also laughed. “Yeah, but it’s not up to us. We’ll have to see what they think when they grow up.”

While Jack held onto this beautiful wish, Thomas only saw it as a joke. Despite all his complaints about Annabel at home, he couldn’t imagine someone like Mason, a playboy, being a suitable match for his Bella.

Not far away, on the spiral staircase, was a group of Annabel’s friends, with Mason in the middle, holding Annabel’s shoulder as they laughed and chatted.

Logan wondered, if they were close childhood friends, what did that make him and Annabel-pseudo-siblings or enemies? Perhaps to Annabel, he was nothing at all.

As the night approached eleven o’clock, the party downstairs was winding down, but Annabel hadn’t come down yet.

Thomas frowned. “She’s been out of control!”

Logan hurriedly offered to go get her.

Upon reaching the second floor, he heard the noise coming from Mason’s room. Pushing the door open, he found chaos inside, with snacks and fruits scattered everywhere. Some were playing the drums, others were holding guitars, and Mason had a guitar in his hands. It seemed like they had formed a little band. Annabel was sitting against the wall, holding a beer can and cheering occasionally.

Everyone turned to look at Logan as soon as he entered, and the room fell silent.

Annabel’s friends used to bully Logan when he newly arrived at the Green Family, but Logan, although he appeared calm, had a fierce determination. He wasn’t afraid of anything, not even if they all ganged up on him. He never shed a tear, which even intimidated those who bullied him. Among these people, besides Annabel, the others had been beaten by Logan until they cried, so they didn’t dare to provoke him anymore.

Logan raised his chin coldly at Annabel. “It’s time to go home.”

With that, he turned and left.

Annabel put down the beer can, feeling a bit unsteady as she stood up. “Remember to let me know next time you have a performance. I’ll definitely be there.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Mason quickly supported her, complaining, “You should drink less. Your dad will scold you again later.”

Outside the main door, Jack’s family bid farewell to everyone. Jack reminded Annabel, “Bella, come over often in the future. Help Uncle take care of that stinky kid, Mason.”

Annabel smiled and agreed. The Green Family’s car disappeared around the corner of the road. Elizabeth turned her head and looked at her husband coldly. “You’re thinking about that woman for the rest of your life, and you want our son to marry her daughter? Tell you what, it’s not going to happen!”

Jack glared at Mason, who looked surprised. “Get in!”

After Mason walked away, Jack angrily said, “Stop talking nonsense in front of the children!”

Jack looked down on his wife’s narrow-mindedness from the bottom of his heart. With the current power of the Green Family, she wouldn’t be able to curry favor with them even if she wanted to.

Thomas was also very unhappy in the car. “That kid Mason, you should interact with him less in the future!”

Annabel huffed. Thomas wasn’t pleased with her performance tonight, and he couldn’t help but raise his voice. “Did you hear what I said?!”

Annabel replied calmly, “Yes, I’m not deaf.”

Thomas held back his anger, persuaded by Brenna not to continue scolding her.

Annabel remembered Mason pointing at her backpack before getting into the car, so she took it out and found the latest model iPhone inside. She felt warm inside. She hadn’t expected Thomas to refuse to give her a gift for her birthday, but Mason remembered, even she didn’t know how many months he had saved his pocket money for it.

Beside her, Logan raised an eyebrow, then turned his head away.