The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Cody wanted to pull Annabel over, but David stood between them, his eyes slightly narrowed, radiating danger.

While Cody was a playboy, he was pampered from a young age and didn’t dare to fight. He just cared about saving face, and it was clear that Annabel had made the first move, flirting with him. “Annabel and I did it consensually, you better get out of my way!” he exclaimed.

Annabel was also taken aback. David usually had a gentle and rigid demeanor, but now, he looked quite fierce.

Cody, despite his lack of wit, could sense what was happening. He turned to Annabel, his voice laced with anger, and demanded, ‘Who the hell is he?’

Annabel chuckled behind them. “Cody, just stay out of it for now. Let me talk to my teacher first. We’ll talk about our matters later.”

Cody wanted to argue a bit more. “But…”

Knowing that he was just trying to save face, Annabel cut him off. “Only people with no brains resort to violence. Where’s your high IQ and EQ? Besides, he’s my teacher. You should show respect.”

These were the words Logan often mocked her with, and now she used them on Cody.

David couldn’t help but find her words amusing. She was lecturing someone else about the stupidity of violence? Haven’t she caused enough trouble already? Yet again, he felt a surge of self-disdain. He had always tried to steer clear of her, but now that she was keeping her distance for another guy, he felt a strange stirring within him.

Cody snorted coldly. “I’ll be waiting nearby.” He turned and walked into the adjacent store.

Annabel smoothed out her bangs and leisurely approached David. “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t interfere in my affairs anymore? What kind of boyfriend I choose and who I like has nothing to do with you.”

David’s anger flared, “Don’t you know he’s a playboy? You don’t need to bring him up to provoke me. I won’t be the one hurt; in the end, it’s you who’ll suffer. You need to learn some self-respect!

His words carried weight. Annabel chuckled lightly, “David, I’m not a child anymore. I didn’t approach him just to upset you. Yes, I like you. I used to think you liked me too, but you have too many concerns. I can wait, it doesn’t matter how long. But now I understand, you don’t like me. Me sticking around only burdens you and makes you resent me. So I’ve decided to let go. With time, I’ll naturally move on. This world is so big, there will surely be someone who loves me and whom I love.”

David was stunned for a few seconds, but this was quite different from her casually dating someone. “But you can’t just pick him as your boyfriend. There are plenty of good guys out there. In the cars of him, girls, even someone like me who doesn’t like gossip, has seen at least three.”

“To be honest, among those who like me, he’s the most interesting. Even though you all think he’s bad, I think being happy together is most important. Whether he’s a playboy doesn’t affect me. After all, I’m not looking to get married or have a long-term relationship. I remember you said you couldn’t see me as a woman, and Orla said I’m more like a guy, so I just want to see if I have any feminine charm in front of the opposite sex. Cody has had so many girlfriends, so he should be authoritative.”

She paused for a moment, looking at his face with a mischievous smile. “Now I’ll prove you wrong with facts.”

David’s face turned iron blue. What was she thinking, trying out a playboy to see if she had feminine charm?

“I only said I see you as my student, not that you’re not a woman. If you want a boyfriend, can’t you find a responsible guy?”

She rolled her eyes helplessly. “Well, I’ve said I only care about being happy. Whoever I can get along with, that’s who I’ll choose.”

He snapped, “You get along with a jerk?”

He almost forgot that she wasn’t exactly the proper girl, now just revealing her true colors.

She huffed, somewhat amusingly countering him, “If you think he’s a jerk, do you also think I’m a bad girl? Is that why my dad chose you?”

She then put her hands in her pockets lazily. “I’m done talking. I’m leaving.”

Her attitude was clear: she could choose whomever she wanted, and he had no say.

David looked up, seeing Cody not far away leaning against the store door smoking, obviously waiting for her. His anger surged, and suddenly he grabbed her hand, pushing her into the corner of the nearby corridor, conveniently blocking the view of the passing crowd.

Pressing her hands against the wall, he lowered his head, gritting his teeth. “So, what do you have to do to act like a decent girl?”

David’s icy gaze locked onto her, he was very angry, gripping her hands tightly without regard for whether he was hurting her. “Do I have to confess my feelings to you, or beg you?”

She pursed her lips, looking cold, but she remained silent.

He leaned in closer, almost nose to nose with her. The vibrant and bright eyes, the slender and delicate nose, the soft skin, the sweet breath… He even had the illusion that Lola was standing right in front of him. They were so similar, their breaths intertwined, even their scents were the same. In his anger, he felt a trace of desire.

For a moment, he was confused. Suddenly, he was pushed away, and David snapped out of his confused thoughts.

She didn’t have her usual petulance and stubbornness, her expression was gentle. “You don’t have to do anything. This is my life. I’m an adult. I know you’re a good person, but you shouldn’t feel responsible for me anymore. It’s unfair to you.”

He stared at her blankly, his eyes soft. He seemed to be looking at her but without focus. She always asked him why he treated her so well, and he always used Thomas as an excuse to shut her up.

Paul said their deal with Thomas wasn’t for money, it was to get into Shining High School. She didn’t understand why he was so determined to get into Shining High School. With his abilities, was he afraid he wouldn’t find a good job?

And clearly, he had no romantic feelings for her, yet he always cared for her in various ways. He said it was the responsibility and habit of a teacher, but why hadn’t she seen him care for other classmates like this?

Meeting him, Annabel didn’t know if she was lucky or unlucky. “You know how I feel about you. If you can’t reciprocate equally, it’s better to keep your distance from me. Don’t play the role of a good person.”

Annabel’s words were firm. She straightened out the coat he had messed up, turned around, and started walking away. He called out to her from behind, somewhat defeated. “Annabel.”

She paused, but he didn’t know what to say. She smiled faintly. “After this semester, I’m going to study abroad. We won’t have many chances to meet in the future. I don’t want any unpleasantness between us.”

David was somewhat surprised, feeling a hint of bitterness in his heart. He suppressed all his emotions in the end. “I’ve been crossed the line.”

She nodded slightly, making way for him.

As David passed by Cody who was coming towards him, he overheard their conversation from behind.

The guy was asking her, “Did he do anything to you?”

Her voice sounded lazy. “The question you should be asking is whether I did anything to him. After all, I’ve been wanting to possess him for a long time.”

“Damn! You like him? Am I just a tool you use to provoke him?”

“Forget it. He doesn’t like someone like me. I’ve given up and plan to hang out with you.”

The guy surprisingly fell silent, then she burst into laughter. “Silly, they all say you’re a jerk, but aside from being a bit of a playboy, you’re pretty cute in other ways.”

“Fuck, are you really praising me?”

“Absolutely.”

“Can you stop leaning on my shoulder all the time? Have you seen any girl hanging onto her boyfriend’s shoulder all day long?”

The girl laughed. “Like this?”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

She probably linked arms with him or snuggled into his embrace. David cursed under his breath and turned into a nearby corridor leading to the dormitories.

A couple of days later, Iris called, her voice somewhat excited. “Son, let me tell you some good news. Your dad got promoted, he’s now the deputy director of the sub-bureau.”

“Really?”

Clay worked as a small section chief in a public institution, working diligently all his life. But how did he suddenly get promoted? Nonetheless, since there was this opportunity, David was still happy for his dad. But what Iris said next chilled him.

“It was announced this afternoon. Tonight, your dad invited their leaders to dinner. Their leaders said you are close with Liam from Green’s Enterprises, and it seems he helped in this matter. You should thank him properly.”

If it was Liam who intervened, then this matter wasn’t hard to explain.

“I’m not close with him. How does my dad know him? How could such a big favor be accepted just like that?”

Iris sensed that David’s mood was off. “You know your dad. He’s not someone who would flatter others. He only found out after the transfer order came down. There wasn’t a word leaked from the bureau. But your dad is quite happy about it.”

Then she tentatively asked David, “Liam works at Green’s Enterprises. Do you think this matter is related to Annabel? Do you still keep in touch with Annabel?”

David felt a complex and indescribable feeling in his heart. He didn’t want Iris to overthink. “We haven’t been in touch for a long time.”

Iris had always been afraid that David would get involved with Annabel. Regardless of whether Annabel was good or not, with her influential family background, how could they climb up to her level? Even if they were together by some miracle, her son would have to live under others’ shadows, which would be meaningless even if they were rich.

“That’s good. We can’t afford to climb up to her level. I don’t want a daughter-in-law like her either.”