The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Paul chuckled and patted her shoulder, “Yeah, yeah, you don’t. But, don’t you know that David’s graduation thesis is based on Annabel’s example? He made a bet with me that within a year, he would turn the school’s most troublesome student into a top student. The results have been quite obvious in the past six months. Besides, it’s embarrassing for you to be jealous of a student.”

Nancy was skeptical but visibly relieved. She glanced in David’s direction, wanting confirmation, but David didn’t look back. He sighed, “Nancy, this is my own business. Please don’t interfere.”

Nancy turned pale, tears welling up in her eyes. She stood up and ran out.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Paul sighed, “Her dad is the vice principal of this school. If you want to stay here and work, don’t offend her.”

Eastdown was a big city, and for someone like David without connections or background, the hope of staying wasn’t great.

David glanced over, not particularly concerned. “It would be best to stay, but I won’t compromise my principles just to please her.”

Paul knew he couldn’t convince him. “But there’s something Nancy said that’s true. You’ve done more for Annabel than her own parents. Annabel isn’t Lola. Have you lost sight of that?”

—-

As the end of the semester approached, David and the other intern teachers took leave to return to school for graduation defense. With David absent, Annabel’s motivation to study suddenly decreased by half, and the classroom atmosphere was not as lively as before.

Students began to gossip privately that David was leaving, which made Annabel feel uneasy.

Since returning to school, David hadn’t paid much attention to Annabel, busy with the defense and preparing for the graduation party. He only left her a message telling her to study hard because he would check when he got back.

On the day of the graduation defense, David and his friends gathered outside for a farewell. They were all somewhat sentimental, saying many words and drinking a lot of alcohol.

There were several missed calls, all from Annabel.

Although it was past three in the morning, he was worried she might be in trouble, so he hesitated for a moment before calling her back.

“Annabel.” But there was no response for a while. David called again, “Annabel.”

On the other end, came a soft “Hmm,” which was completely unlike her usual personality. David softened his tone, “What’s wrong?”

“I miss you.”

In reality, it had only been a week, but Annabel felt like it had been much longer.

David actually knew about Annabel’s feelings and dependence on him, as well as the crushes many girls in his class had on him. He didn’t see it as a bad thing; he could guide them to maintain an appropriate distance, which would eventually turn into warm memories as they grew older and matured. But when it came to Annabel, his feelings were more complicated. He ignored her statement, “You have school tomorrow. Get sleep now.”

“They said your internship is ending, and you’re leaving the school, right?” The voice on the other end of the phone sounded somewhat disheartened.

“I want to stay, but it depends on your grades. There’s still a month left. If you do well on your exams, then I have hope.”

Annabel was skeptical, “Really? If I do well, you won’t leave?”

David couldn’t help but chuckle as he held the phone, “Of course.”

The voice on the other end immediately perked up, promising to study hard. David couldn’t help but smile at her earnest expression, He felt a warmth in his heart, but at the same time, an inexplicable emotion stirred within him. She really reminded him of Lola.

After hanging up the phone, David couldn’t sleep. His parents had always hoped he would continue his postgraduate studies and stay in Magic City, but Lola was in Eastdown. How could he bear to leave her?

His roommate, awakened by his phone call, peeked out from the top bunk and teasingly asked, “Are you in love or something?”

“No, I’m not.”

“You don’t realize it yourself. Listen to your voice and look at your expression. Poor Nancy, liking you for four years. She must be heartbroken.”

David was startled, feeling like a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. Annabel was only 16, and he was no longer the high school student he once was. How could he treat her like Lola?

After that night’s phone call with David, Annabel seemed like a changed person. She was active in class, buried herself in her studies after class, didn’t even go out with Mason when he asked her, and even took the initiative to find Thomas and ask him to hire a tutor to give her extra lessons. Thomas smiled like a flower in relief.

After the tutoring sessions, often ending around eleven at night, she would continue to study, like a fighter jet.

Logan figured it was related to the retention quota for the intern teacher. Only an idiot like Annabel would believe that the retention quota was based on work performance.

At the end-of-month parent-teacher meeting, Liam represented David. The teachers took a long time to praise Annabel, noting her improved academic performance and attitude.

Liam recited every word of the teacher’s praise to Thomas, who nodded in satisfaction. “Finally, someone can keep that little lioness in check,” Thomas remarked.

Liam glanced at his boss, hesitant to speak. Thomas calmly said, “Go ahead, I’ve handled her beating someone up and getting detained. What else can’t I accept?”

“Bella seems to have a crush on their new physics teacher, David.”

Liam had been a loyal subordinate of Thomas’s since the Green Family’s downfall, and he had also served as Bella’s guardian for many years, so he was considered like an elder member of her.

Thomas chuckled. “It’s not a big deal. Having a crush on a teacher is quite normal, especially for Bella, who’s nearly sixteen. It’d be strange if she didn’t like any boys. I remember even having a crush on my teacher. She’s changed for the better now, all because of David. I think David is good-he’s responsible, knows how to guide her, understands boundaries. I trust him with Bella.”

Liam agreed after hearing this. That night at the bar, David and Paul had saved Annabel, and as a token of gratitude, Thomas had given each of them a bank card loaded with five hundred thousand dollars. For young men who hadn’t graduated yet, this was a considerable sum, but they returned the money untouched. Thomas had chosen wisely; their characters were reliable.

“I should be thankful as long as she doesn’t hang out with Mason and his bunch of spoiled brats,” Thomas remarked, feeling that Annabel had learned bad habits from them.

The Wolf Family and the Masters Family were once the two giants of Eastdown’s household appliance industry. While the Masters Family had since declined and exited the market after facing closure, the Wolf Family was also on the decline. Only the Green Family remained dominant after ten years of operation.

“Jack is a sly one, who knows what he’s up to.”

It was clear that Thomas was now on guard against Mason, afraid that he had his eye on his daughter.

However, it was evident that Jack had a fondness for Annabel. It was said that Jack and Annabel’s mother were once lovers, but why she ended up marrying Thomas remained unknown. Liam still remembered Annabel’s mother, Essem, with her stunning beauty in her youth. Annabel must have grown into a beauty herself.