The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Before he could reprimand her, she burst out angrily, “Don’t kiss me, and don’t look at my face!”

She bit her lip, her eyes turning red. He knew she felt hurt and wronged. Despite his guilt, he couldn’t bear to see her like this, so he pressed her against the wall and held her tightly.

She didn’t resist with force this time. David looked at her steadily, while she turned her head away, proud and stubborn.

He asked, “Do you really not want to see me? Should I just leave?”

She responded coldly, “Suit yourself!”

He lowered his head slightly, seeing a graceful curve of her neck, where faint blue veins could be seen. He felt a stirring in his heart and wanted to soothe her, so he leaned down and gently kissed her neck. She stiffened and tried to pull away, shrinking against the wall. David felt a throbbing sensation, the smooth texture of her skin tempting him to bite. He couldn’t help but apply more pressure.

She kept avoiding him, pushing his head away angrily. “It hurts! Are you a vampire?”

He looked up and teased, “If I’m a vampire, then you’re a little puppy. Haven’t you bitten me enough before?”

Suddenly, there were faint footsteps behind them. David let her go and looked towards the hallway, where a shadowy figure stood.

Annabel stood against the wall, one hand on her arm, head bowed, looking dejected. “I’ve been thinking these past few days, how do you really see me? If I didn’t look like her, would you treat me well? Would you be with me?”

This topic was unavoidable. If Annabel didn’t look like her, he wouldn’t have had special feelings for her from the start, wouldn’t have poured all his time and energy into her.

Over the three years of high school, she had been a constant source of worry but also a great comfort to him. He owed Lola, and he had repaid it all through Annabel, to the point where he couldn’t distinguish his feelings for her.

His expression showed hesitation. Annabel suddenly straightened up, helping him adjust the collar she had messed up. “David, I don’t want to hear lies. Even if the truth is harsh, I want to hear it.”

She laid her hand on his chest, looking at him intently. He had always treated her like a child, but this time, it wouldn’t work.

He often found himself looking for traces of Lola in her. No matter how much they resembled each other, they were two completely different people. He had poured his heart out for Annabel all these years; how could he not love her?

He thought carefully about how to phrase it. “There are no ifs, so there’s no need to consider hypothetical situations. I admit that because you look alike, I treated you differently from others, leading to many things. But whatever the reason, we ended up together, and I like you and care about you. Isn’t that enough?”

He met her dark eyes, like making a big decision. “Since we’re being honest, I won’t lie to you. I owe Lola too much, and I’m afraid I won’t be able to forget her in this lifetime. If you can’t accept that, I won’t blame you.”

She was stunned, her expression turning cold. “What do you mean?”

His gaze fixed on her, showing some guilt. “I’ve confessed everything; you make the decision.”

She laughed coldly, standing up straight, eyes blazing with anger. “You’re really fucking honest and understanding! Thanks a lot!”Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

She cursed, full of fury. At that moment, David felt a tension in his heart suddenly relax. Her reaction had given him the answer.

He stood close to her as she shouted, “Get away from me!”

She started to explode again. In the past, she often cursed and provoked with a wild attitude, but would calm down upon seeing him. He instinctively wanted to hug her and comfort her.

She pushed him away forcefully. “Go away.”

She turned and walked into a private room, and he subconsciously followed a couple of steps.

She suddenly turned around, her face full of murderous intent. “Don’t follow me!”

David watched her walk to the end of the private room, where she kicked the door open and then bent over, seemingly in pain. Just as he was about to go over and check, someone came out of the room to support her. David couldn’t see the person’s face, only their long fingers around Annabel’s slender waist, which made him uncomfortable.

Annabel impatiently pushed him away and soon disappeared into the doorway. The person poked their head out, looking in David’s direction with a cold expression. It was Logan, who nodded as a greeting and then turned to follow Annabel inside, and closing the door behind him.

With Logan there, David felt he didn’t need to worry about her getting drunk and causing trouble, but for some reason, he felt even more depressed.

Inside the room, people were singing, while others played truth or dare. Annabel wasn’t in the mood and hid in a corner, pulling out her phone to vent her frustration by playing a game.

Most of the high school friends present were Logan’s buddies. Besides Aria and Ryan, the rest inexplicably became Annabel’s friends. They had accompanied her through the darkest period of her high school years. Although Annabel appeared fierce, she still appreciated them deep down.

With Logan around, it wasn’t surprising that Aria was there too. She kept following Logan with her eyes, and it was clear their relationship was good. But with Ryan there, everyone was too embarrassed to tease them about it.

Ryan pretended to be indifferent, but his awkwardness was evident. After all, on one side was his friend, and on the other, the girl he had always secretly liked.

When it was Logan’s turn to play truth or dare, Louis didn’t believe Logan had genuinely fallen for Aria and asked him a long-standing question, “Honestly, did you like Annabel in high school?”

Logan glanced at Annabel, who was curled up in a corner playing the game and swearing angrily. He suddenly felt annoyed; she only pretended to be gentle in front of David, but she was just a little rascal.

Everyone urged him to answer quickly!

Logan lightly traced the rim of his wine glass, casually saying, “She’s my sister, my stepfather’s daughter.”

He neither confirmed nor denied it, leaving the onlookers surprised, their mouths agape, all turning to look at Annabel. “You kept it well! We couldn’t tell at all.”

Annabel finally looked up from her phone, clearly annoyed, and glared at them. “What are you looking at!”

A warm light shone on her, highlighting a distinct bite mark on her fair neck. Oblivious to it, she kept tapping on her phone, looking frustrated.

Everyone noticed the bite mark. Louis vaguely remembered hearing rumors that Annabel and Mr. Curry were together but had never verified it. He was about to ask for gossip.

Aria whispered, “Mr. Curry is here. I saw him earlier.”

She didn’t say it outright, but her meaning was clear. Someone chuckled, “Annabel was gone for a while earlier. That bite mark on her neck must be from Mr. Curry, right?”

Aria sighed, “Mr. Curry got into grad school at his alma mater, and Annabel followed him there. Honestly, I admire her courage. There aren’t many girls as devoted as she is nowadays.”

Her tone seemed genuinely admiring of Annabel. Louis teased her, “I remember you didn’t like her. Now that you know she’s Logan’s sister, you admire her? Is it real admiration, or are you just relieved to have one less rival?”

Aria retorted angrily, “None of your business.”

Someone still doubted and asked Logan, “Are they really together? Is she really with Mr. Curry?”

Logan looked away, coldly replying, “I don’t know.”

Louis laughed, “Why guess? Just ask directly.”

He called out loudly, “Annabel, where’s David? Why didn’t you bring him?”

Annabel was most annoyed by hearing David’s name. She grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. “Don’t mention him!”

Louis made a gesture of surrender, then turned to the others and said, “Not only are they together, but they’re also having a quarrel!”

Logan frowned and warned him, “Stop gossiping about her.”

He glanced at the time. It was getting late. “It’s about time to wrap up.”

With that, he got up and walked over to Annabel.

Annabel and her childhood friends played a few more games, with Mason consistently dragging them down, not winning a single game. Annabel got even more upset, tossing her phone aside in frustration.

“It’s late, let’s go home.”

She was about to agree when Mason called. She was furious, scolding him harshly.

Logan listened to the laughter on the other end of the call with disgust. Annabel’s bad temper and habits were partly due to her grandmother spoiling her, but mostly because of Mason. They were kindred spirits, close as can be.

It was unclear what he had said, but her anger subsided, and she remarked in a dejected tone, “I’m so detest with my face right now. ”

She glanced at Logan, who was watching her with a cold expression. He had no intention of leaving, his eyes fixed on her neck.

She instinctively touched her neck, remembering David’s bite. Feeling uncomfortable, she snapped, “What are you looking at? Mind your own business!”

She took her phone and went to the bathroom.

Logan stood there, feeling defeated. He couldn’t compare to David, or even to Mason. To her, he was always an outsider; what right did he have to be disappointed?