The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Annabel felt conflicted. Mason sighed and said, “He’s badly injured. The doctors say whether he can pull through this depends on his own willpower. Bella, I know your thoughts. We don’t know who was right or wrong in the past disputes of the previous generation, but Christopher’s kindness to you, I don’t need to explain, right?”

Annabel stood in front of the huge screen, where red letters blinked alternately. She felt uneasy. “Come pick me up.”

After giving the address, she waited a while until a car came to pick her up.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

There were a large number of media outside the hospital. Annabel followed Lara through a special passage. As they exited the elevator, there were bodyguards in black suits stationed every ten meters or so in the hallway.

Lara complained, “A few days ago, some unscrupulous media disguised as doctors and sneaked in. We have to be careful. Dealing with these media these days is enough trouble.”

She led Annabel to the ward. Boris was standing by the window, head down. When he saw Annabel approaching, he frowned. Annabel was wearing a loose hoodie, a hat, and a large mask, with only a pair of bright black eyes visible. It was evident that she was being cautious, but at least she had come.

“Holly.”

Annabel then noticed a woman coming out of the doctor’s duty room at the end of the corridor, her face grave.

Lara asked, “What did the doctor say?”

Holly stopped in her tracks, her face pale. “Same old, waiting.”

“Holly, she’s Annabel.” Lara pointed at Annabel.

This Holly forced a smile at her. “I know you.”

Annabel had been in contact with Christopher for two years, but she had never seen his family or friends apart from his staff.

Was this woman his girlfriend or his secret wife? Although not very pretty, she had an elegant and serene demeanor, indicating she was probably a decent woman.

Seeming to sense her thoughts, Holly said with a hint of bitterness, “I used to be Christopher’s agent, and I was also old friends with your mother.”

Any mention of her mother in connection with Christopher felt like a subtle hint, making Annabel uncomfortable. She asked expressionlessly, “What about his family?”

“He grew up in an orphanage, with no family.”

Annabel felt even more sorry for Christopher. Holly’s expression was bleak. “Thank you for coming. To him, you are his family. Can you help me wake him up?”

“You’re my family,” Christopher had said this before, but Annabel had only taken it as a joke. Holly added softly, “He made a will a long time ago, and you’re the heir.”

Annabel was surprised, then moved. Boris, who had been serious all along, now turned to her with a casual tone, “It’s not just about inheritance, but his family, too. You have to wake him up; otherwise, you’ll have to take care of them in the future.”

Didn’t they say he grew up in an orphanage? Annabel suppressed her doubts and followed the nurse to change clothes before entering the isolation ward.

The rhythmic beeping of machines echoed in the silent space, serene yet chilling.

She knew he had been in hospital for several days, but she had never thought Christopher might die. Now, the cold machines surrounding his hospital bed and Christopher, whose face was covered in gauze, made her realize for the first time that maybe he really could die. At this moment, her resentment and wariness towards him suddenly became unimportant.

She spread his palm and placed her hand inside, “Hey, it’s Annabel. Long time no see.”

She leaned closer to his ear and whispered softly, “You told me the grilled meat at that family restaurant was really good last time. I’ve been craving it for so long, and yet you didn’t take me there.”

“You better wake up soon. Your family is still waiting for you to take care of them. I won’t help you take care of them, hum.”

“I actually quite like you. If you wake up, we can still be friends.”

…

She talked for a long time, but he still lay on the bed, unconscious. Annabel felt afraid. She even felt that he might never wake up again.

She let go of his hand and stood up, tears falling uncontrollably, “None of you are good people, all liars. You’ve finished deceiving me and now you’re pretending to be dead. I don’t agree! Wake up!”

“The foolish girl!”

Boris saw Annabel crying heavily inside the room, tears falling on Christopher’s face. He wanted to rush in and pull her out, but was suddenly stopped by Holly. “Don’t go in.”

“But she…”

She interrupted him suddenly, “No buts, he’s waiting for her!”

The usually gentle Holly showed some forcefulness, leaving Boris stunned. Since Christopher’s serious injury and hospitalization, it had been Holly taking care of him. Despite her seemingly fragile appearance, she was extremely decisive in her actions. She could quickly soothe the hearts of the company’s employees internally and handle external matters adeptly. Boris held her in some respect and admiration.

She could handle everything outside well, but whether Christopher would wake up was something she couldn’t grasp, so she had Boris find Annabel several times.

Christopher didn’t wake up. Annabel was filled with disappointment, but Holly seemed oddly pleased. She pointed to the monitor screen of the equipment, “He knows you’re here.”

Three days later, Orla called her to say that Christopher had woken up. Annabel’s heart finally settled, but compared to Mason’s gratitude and concern for Christopher, Orla seemed much colder.

Orla’s voice sounded a bit excited, “In a few days, I’m going to Kenland for an event.”

Annabel had caught a cold these past few days and was lying in bed, feeling drowsy. “Good, you’re becoming an international star.”

“Since your university workload isn’t heavy, why don’t you come with me?”

“No. I have classes.”

Orla knew that Annabel had given up the best university in the world for a man whose future was uncertain. Orla felt a bit sorry for her, but Annabel was born into privilege, so perhaps she only needed to fight for love, and whether it was worth it or not was not important.

“Come with me. It’s only three or four days,” Orla tried her best to persuade, but Annabel refused. Finally, Orla exploded, “Fuck, are you on purpose? You know Logan is studying at Kenland. Just accompany me and help me set up a date with him, Can’t you?”

Annabel chuckled inwardly, knowing Orla’s intentions. “He’s there, and Aria, who has been secretly in love with him for six years, has also gone. Guys probably like that kind of devoted bitch. Maybe they’re already together. I’m just waiting for you to go over there and break them up.”

“Oh, now you recognize my worth?”

“Of course. Ten Arias aren’t worth one of you. If you don’t break them up, I’ll do it myself.” If Aria married into the Green Family, Annabel feared she would have to sleep with one eye open.

She remembered in the second semester of her sophomore year when they went to the countryside for a life experience. A group of people were playing by the river, and Aria fell in. It wasn’t clear if she was pushed or if she slipped in herself.

Annabel was closest to her and was the first to jump in to save her. Aria kept splashing and screaming for help in the water, and when Annabel tried to pull her to shore, Aria grabbed onto her hair and pushed her head underwater. At first, it seemed like Aria was panicking out of instinct for survival, but Annabel vaguely saw Aria treading water, suggesting she could swim. Annabel didn’t think a high school student would be malicious enough to want her dead.

Just as Annabel was about to suffocate, Logan pulled her out. No one would believe that Aria did it on purpose.

But when Aria got out of the water, she tearfully pointed at Annabel and said she pushed her in.

Annabel was dumbfounded. This bitch was simply a drama queen. Annabel was so angry she wanted to slap her.

Finally, Logan pointed at Annabel coldly and said, “I don’t know who pushed you, but when you fell into the water, she was squatting on the side playing with her phone. it’s not her.”

Ten explanations from Annabel couldn’t match one sentence from Logan. Even Aria looked bewildered and innocent. “Did I wrongly accuse her?”

Immediately, someone said they did see Annabel squatting on the side playing with her phone. Aria appeared a bit flustered and appealed to the teacher leading the group, “Regardless of who it was, it definitely wasn’t intentional. Please don’t pursue it.”

Her plea made everyone think Aria was truly kind, and whether Annabel pushed her became unclear. Annabel was so angry she felt like she had internal injuries.

Orla laughed, “You don’t need to do anything. I guarantee I’ll scatter them like a jigsaw puzzle. But you have to give me his address, phone number, and any other information. Come on.”

This left Annabel in a dilemma. “I don’t have any contact with him.”

“Just ask casually, and you’ll find out. If you don’t help me now, you’ll regret it when Aria marries into your family.”

Since that birthday party, Logan hadn’t paid much attention to Orla. She was itching with impatience, as Annabel would say, like a hungry wolf seeing meat.

Annabel agreed readily, “Okay, I’ll help you this time.”