Mated in the Shadow of My Sister

Lily was picked up from St. Marys Orphanage by May, her new mother, May Thompson. It was winter in Japan, and Lily was bundled up by May like a little white dumpling.

She peered out the car window, watching the world go by. The early morning roads were covered with a thick layer of frost, and the roadside tree branches were slender and fragile, bending under the pressure of the wind as if they were the spines of the elderly. From the top of those trees, the sky seemed like a massive block of ice slowly rotating.

If you listened closely, you could hear the sound of the car wheels grinding against the uneven ground, intermittent and reminiscent of a creaky old song.

Leaving the old country road, they were then on a brand-new asphalt road, a straight gray path that seemed to have no end.

Upon arriving at Serenity Temple, May helped Lily out of the car. Lily stood at the entrance, occasionally breathing warm air into her hands, and for a moment, the faint mist also scattered, blurring her vision.

She had always felt that she should be alone. In the orphanage, she was sensible, intelligent, and mature beyond her nine years, but she felt that she should be by herself, and that she should be a boy.

For no apparent reason, she was stubborn about it.

But May wanted a girl. She had given birth to twelve children and adopted one, all boys. Having a daughter had almost become an obsession for her. She fell in love, married, got pregnant, and gave birth—until four years ago when her thirteenth son was brought to her by her already twenty-one-year-old eldest son, she still hadnt given up.

What followed was a divorce notice and a medical report—she could no longer have children. Excessive childbirth had almost drained her body and ruined her husbands love for her.

So she had to adopt a daughter from the orphanage.

Lily was healthy, intelligent, and beautiful, with particularly spirited, dark eyes that May liked at first sight.

"Ah, little Lily, dont be afraid, the brothers are all very easy to get along with," May comforted with a smile.

Lily forced a cute smile, indicating that she was mentally prepared to accept her new family.

But when she was at the door and was hugged by a silver-haired large feline creature, and her tender little face was wantonly rubbed by the other party, she felt that she should indeed live alone.

Holding her was Cypress, the fifth son, and rescuing her was Cedar—the two were identical twins among the Thompson triplets.

Already seventeen, Cypress seemed to have IQ and EQ that couldnt keep up, with a temperament as a child. Yet he was narcissistic, stroking his silver hair and laughing like a fool.

This was in stark contrast to his black-haired brother Cedar, and the strict Jujube.

Faced with such a contrast among the triplets, Lily felt even sillier.

With an expression as if looking at an idiot, Lily called out in a soft voice under Mays hopeful gaze: "Onii-chan."

The little girls soft voice almost made the brother-loving Cypress dance with joy.

He squatted in front of the sofa, looking at the small bundle in front of him, cute and chubby, with a particularly tender face, looking like a delicious bun.

The little bun also pursed her pink little mouth, looking particularly... how to put it? Oh, right, delectable.

He wanted to take a bite.

Thinking this, the practical Cypress took advantage of the moment when May turned to talk to his brothers and bit Lilys mouth.

Lily was stunned!

She had never seen such a shameless person!

Cypress looked at the childs dazed appearance, chuckled, smacked his lips, probably thinking it tasted good, and he leaned over to take another bite.

Lily: !!

Im still young, please let me go! Im just a child!

Struggling to dodge Cypresss mouth, Lily felt that the sofa was no longer a place for her and her dignity.

Staggering forward, she ran until she bumped into someone and fell into a warm embrace. Lily hadnt reacted yet, her eyes still filled with pitiful tears. At the moment of being held, she reflexively hugged the persons neck.

Lily: QAQ.

Kyo, the second son of the Thompsons, held the little thing and disapproved of Cypresss innocently cute face. At twenty-two years old and a social professional, he had more than just the dignity of an elder brother; he also had the shrewdness and competence of a man of the world.

"Cypress."

A light word was enough to make Cypress sit up straight on the sofa.

On the other sofa, Yusuke, the eleventh son, and Fudo, the twelfth, turned their heads. They were with Hikaru, the fourth son.

Only nine years old, Yusuke laughed so hard his body trembled. Fudo, with his big eyes spinning, slapped his eleventh brothers red hair with a chubby hand and then sat up straight as if watching TV seriously.

Yusuke, who was attacked, turned his head, saw Fudos innocent expression, and then fixed his gaze on the lanky Hikaru.

He bared his teeth, his eyes particularly fierce.

Hikaru gave him a gentle smile, and poor Yusuke shivered and meekly lowered his head.

Lily saw clearly from Kyos arms, her eyes brightening—she liked Fudos rascal nature, able to make trouble and dare to cause a fuss.

This inexplicably reminded her of a friend from the orphanage, Xander, who was now adopted by the Grayson family.

He was also a complete troublemaker.

But Lily liked such people—she was delicate and soft, and it was always inconvenient to do bad things with such a soft face and get punished, so finding a comrade-in-arms as mischievous as her was the way to go.

Fudo was obviously too smart; the original Xander didnt have his quick wit. If there was someone around the same age, suitable for being tricked, it was only Yusuke, the eleventh son.