The Stepbrother’s Hidden Desires

Annabel drove her pink MINI COOPER today. Iris frowned at her car, and Annabel didn’t understand why, but she politely asked her to get in.

The interior of the car was modified and exquisite everywhere. She probably just went shopping recently, and the back seat was still filled with shopping bags. Expensive high heels, bags, and coats could be vaguely seen. One pair of her shoes likely cost more than Iris’s monthly salary.

Iris sighed secretly. David should found someone like Sara who had a good personality, similar education background and family conditions, which would be the most perfect for their family and David.

Annabel asked her, “Iris, where are we going?”

“West Suburban Cemetery.”

Annabel turned her head and looked surprised, “She’s dead?”

Iris nodded silently, feeling a little sad, “She died at eighteen, just your age.”

Though many years had passed, Iris hadn’t forgotten, and she knew David hadn’t either. This sense of guilt might haunt them forever.

“How did she die?” Annabel asked.

“Car accident,” Iris sighed.

“Do I look like her?”Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

Iris nodded again. “Yes, you do.”

Nancy’s comment yesterday had given Annabel some inkling. She remembered Paul mentioning that David hadn’t dated anyone in college until he met her. She had once proudly told David that he had waited for the best, and he had smiled and agreed.

Looking back now, it seemed almost laughable. David had never initiated a kiss but liked to touch her face, often holding her cheeks as if he couldn’t get enough of looking at her. Now she knew that when David looked at her, he wasn’t seeing her but Lola. Knowing this, she felt like a weight had settled on her heart. David liked the face, not the person behind it.

“I don’t approve of your relationship with David. You two aren’t a good match, and now you know that David doesn’t truly like you,” Iris said bluntly, hoping to make Annabel understand.

Annabel, usually chatty, remained silent, her lips tightly pressed together as she focused on the road ahead.

Feeling a pang of guilt, Iris softened her tone. “You’re a young lady from a wealthy family. Being with David is a kind of injustice to you. We’re just an ordinary family; we can’t match up to yours.”

Annabel shrugged off her concerns. “These aren’t problems for me.”

Iris, who had always seen Annabel as an immature girl, found it hard to make her understand the complexities of the situation. She felt a headache coming on.

Annabel was frustrated. She liked David, that was all. Why did everyone feel the need to interfere?

Outside, the scenery flashed by as Iris continued to observe Annabel. Frowning slightly, Iris remarked, “You’re driving a bit fast. It’s not safe.”

Annabel chuckled softly. “Don’t worry. My mom was a model and a professional race car driver. She took me to go-kart clubs when I was five, and by seven, I was participating in track races with her. I started learning to drive race cars at ten, so I probably have more driving experience than David.”

Iris found it hard to believe. Taking a seven-year-old to race cars-what kind of mother does that?

When they arrived at their destination, Annabel bought three bouquets of flowers nearby. She handed one to Iris and kept the other two for herself.

Iris found this curious but refrained from asking.

Following Iris up a long staircase, Annabel suddenly stopped midway.

“Auntie, wait for me here,” she said, veering off to the right. She walked a short distance and stopped in front of a grave, placing a bouquet of lilies down. After speaking softly for a moment, she returned.

“That’s my mom. She loved flowers,” Annabel explained lightly.

Iris felt a sudden pang of sympathy for her.

She then led Annabel to Lola’s grave and pointed to the photograph of the girl. “This is Lola.”

Annabel placed her bouquet down. The girl in the photo was smiling serenely. Annabel thought she must have been a gentle and kind girl. Seeing how much she resembled Lola, any last shred of hope in her heart faded away.

“She must have been wonderful,” Annabel said.

Iris sighed deeply. “Yes, she was. David was a rebellious and unruly boy. It wasn’t until he got together with Lola that he started to change.”

Iris recounted much of Lola’s past. She and David were high school classmates. They started dating in their senior year but kept it a secret from their parents. During the critical period of their senior year, right before the college entrance exams, Clay and Iris had to return to their hometown to care for ill relatives, leaving David alone at home. They returned unexpectedly late one night and found Lola and David in bed together. Furious, they said many hurtful things, driving Lola to leave in tears, with David chasing after her. The next morning, they received the devastating news that both had been hit by a car. David was severely injured and unconscious, while Lola died on the spot. She had pushed David away from the oncoming car, sacrificing herself.

Iris spoke with deep regret about Lola’s death. Annabel remembered the slap Iris gave David that night, and David must have said harsh things to her. In his heart, he might also resent his parents for this matter.

Later, they found out that Lola had a high fever that night and, with no one home, David had brought her to his house to take care of her. Nothing inappropriate had happened.

“After graduation, he gave up his dream of studying architecture and instead applied to Lola’s favorite university and major, becoming a teacher at Shining High School. For all these years, he’s been living the life she wanted.”

Annabel didn’t know how to comfort Iris. She felt a complex mix of emotions towards Lola, including regret and admiration. Lola must have loved David deeply to instinctively protect him in danger. Annabel realized that to David, she was probably nothing more than a face resembling Lola’s.

Iris continued, “David might have eventually moved on if he were with any other girl, but being with you only keeps the pain fresh. Every time he sees your face, he’s reminded of his guilt towards Lola. He treats you well because he sees Lola in you, not because he loves you-you’re just her replacement.”

These words struck Annabel deeply. Iris then said earnestly, “You’re still so young. Don’t waste your precious youth on someone who doesn’t love you. It’s better for both you and David.”

Iris’s main point was clear. Annabel had suspected this all along-David didn’t love her. Hearing Iris and Nancy openly confirm this made her feel both embarrassed and angry.

However, she restrained her anger out of respect for David’s mother. Touching the photo on the tombstone, she said softly, “From now on, I’ll take care of him for you. Is that okay?”

Iris was taken aback. Annabel then smiled wryly, “Your silence means yes.”

Iris felt a mix of resignation and surprise. No woman would willingly stay with someone who didn’t love her, especially not someone as proud as Annabel.

Annabel certainly knew what was best for them, but she couldn’t bring herself to follow it. Anyone would remember such a sacrifice for a lifetime, especially if the deceased was a lover. Yet, being treated as a shadow and kept in the dark was deeply painful for her.

Annabel drove Iris back to her clinic, feeling heavy-hearted. Iris almost believed she had convinced her.

But Annabel turned to Iris and said earnestly, “I’ve thought about would I protect David like Lola did? My answer is Absolutely.”

David learned that Iris had taken Annabel to see Lola’s grave that same day. Furious and frustrated, Annabel ignored his calls and messages.

Her inner world had always been empty, drifting in a lonely and desolate wilderness. David was her lifeline, and now she was told that even this wasn’t truly hers. From the moment she met him in her first year of high school, David had been her emotional pillar. Now, everything was crumbling, leaving her feeling profoundly lonely. She thought that perhaps her grandmother was the only person who truly loved her unconditionally.

That evening, Logan came home to see Annabel in her pajamas, hugging a pillow and heading to Bonnie’s room. He silently chuckled at her childishness but couldn’t take his eyes off her.

Bonnie was on the phone when Annabel threw the pillow aside and snuggled into her lap. Logan could see Annabel’s profile, her jaw clenched in sadness and frustration.

Bonnie gently patted her, seemingly asking what was wrong. Annabel lifted her head and forced a smile, pretending nothing was amiss. Logan suddenly realized that her sorrow wasn’t caused by Thomas or Brenna, but by David.