The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Matthew, in his fifties, was a highly educated and sophisticated man with a wealth of experience. It was quite surprising to Thomas that Annabel, being much younger, could converse so effortlessly with him. Thomas had deliberately let her handle this occasion on her own, fearing she might be too arrogant or unsociable. However, she navigated the situation with ease, even if she might not have enjoyed it.

Her performance did not disappoint him, and he was quite pleased. Yet, compared to Logan, she still fell short. This made Thomas feel a tinge of regret, as he thought that if Logan is his son, he could confidently entrust Green’s Enterprises to him.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

The gentle flow of music filled the air, and people mingled, exchanged toasts, and conversed with warm smiles. Beneath the surface, there were unspoken tensions, clashes of interests, and strategic maneuverings. Outsiders only saw the vast commercial empire of Green’s Enterprises, unaware of the heavy burden it carried.

Thomas’s gaze shifted to the eldest son of the Masters Family, who was moving through the crowd with his wife. Jake had officially taken over the management of his family’s company and would inevitably become a business rival to Green’s Enterprises.

The redevelopment of the old district in the West City was a project both Wolf Family and Green’s Enterprises had their eyes on. The Wolf Family needed this project to make a comeback, but Green’s Enterprises could not allow them to grow, so they had already begun their operations. In the business world, it was often a matter of survival.

Looking at his daughter’s still somewhat youthful profile, Thomas felt a deep sense of melancholy. He feared her heart was only set on the boy she admired, with no room for Green’s Enterprises.

Annabel encountered Nancy near the end of the party, in the restroom. Annabel was washing her hands while Nancy was touching up her makeup. When Annabel looked up, their eyes met, and both were momentarily taken aback.

Nancy had become much thinner, her face no longer showing the arrogance and aloofness of their school days. Instead, her eyes carried a hint of maturity and world-weariness. She gave a meaningful smile and said, “So, it’s Miss Green.”

Back in school, Nancy had thought Annabel was just a troubled girl. She had no idea she was actually the daughter of the Green Family, which was low-key.

Nancy resented David, and upon learning about his relationship with Annabel, her hatred grew. Because of Annabel, he had trampled all over her pride and self-respect. Her six-year-long infatuation had turned into a complete joke.

“Hmm, Mrs. Masters, long time no see. Congratulations on your marriage.” Annabel greeted Nancy cordially, despite their past rivalry over David during their time at Shining High School. Now that David belonged to her, she didn’t mind exchanging pleasantries.

Nancy finished applying her lipstick and gave a satisfied smile at her reflection. “David used to treat you like an experiment. Back when rumors were flying about your teacher-student romance, he swore he had no interest in you. But now, he’s with his experiment. It’s really quite ironic.”

Annabel dried her hands and crossed her arms. “We might have been rivals before, but today the difference between us is that you’re a married woman and I’m still single. We actually don’t have any grudges left unless you’re still hung up on him. But I’d advise you not to mention David too much. After all, you’re married now. I don’t think your husband would appreciate hearing about your past.”

Nancy’s expression faltered slightly. With no one else in the restroom, she suddenly spoke in a more sincere tone. “My husband and I are doing well. I’m just worried about you being young and possibly getting hurt. I thought you should know that David doesn’t truly like anyone but Lola. I didn’t give up because of you; I lost to Lola. You’re just benefiting from her absence.”

Annabel was taken aback but then shrugged nonchalantly. “Why should I believe you?”

“I have no reason to lie. If you don’t believe me, you can ask Paul who Lola is. They were high school classmates, and he knows everything.”

Annabel recalled that Iris had called her Lola the first time they met and that Paul had mentioned the name before. She had suspected something but hadn’t pursued it, thinking it pointless to dwell on David’s past. However, it seemed she couldn’t avoid this person now.

Seeing Annabel’s silence, Nancy sighed again. “Annabel, you’re the heir to Green’s Enterprises. You could have any boyfriend you want. Why settle for being a substitute? And does your father know about this?”

Annabel found Nancy’s words somewhat amusing. “You’re really just trying to ruin things for everyone else because you didn’t get what you wanted. I think you even hope David to be unloved for the rest of his life.”

Since she and David had just started their relationship, she knew Thomas would definitely interfere if he found out. She warned, “You don’t need to worry about me and David. But if you tell my father, I won’t hesitate to make your life in the Masters Family even harder.”

Annabel knew Nancy wasn’t having an easy time in the Masters Family. Without any background, Nancy often faced cold stares and mockery.

Feigning nonchalance, Annabel turned and left, but Nancy’s words left her feeling uneasy. Calling her an experiment and a substitute for Lola infuriated her. She thought to herself, “I am David’s real deal!” Yet, deep down, she knew Nancy might be right, which explained why David treated her well but showed no romantic interest.

She felt disappointed and helpless, she couldn’t stop obsessing over him, even though he had never given her any indication that he felt the same way.

A few days passed without David contacting her, and she stubbornly resisted reaching out to him. However, she eventually gave in and drove to Iris’s clinic on a clear day.

“Who is Lola?” she asked.

Iris sighed. “You were bound to find out eventually. Let me take you to see her.”

Annabel, puzzled, followed Iris out the door.