Chapter 1My Boyfriend Is My Brother?

My mom ran away pregnant twenty years ago, living under an assumed name, and gave birth to me.

One day, I started dating a guy. I sent his photo to her.

But my mom, looking panicked, told me to break up with him.

Because his dad was my biological father.

I was stunned: So, my boyfriend was actually my brother?

In the end, Mom and I fled.

My boyfriend and his dad went crazy.

* * *

“Mom, this is my boyfriend. Isn't he handsome?”

I sent my mom a photo. It was a stealth shot of my boyfriend, taken when he wasn't looking.

“Stardust and galaxies…”

My phone rang. My mom.

I answered, a hint of confusion in my voice. “Hey, Mom, what’s up?”

Mom was silent for a long time on the other end.

“Who’s the man in the picture?”

“My boyfriend!” I boasted. “Handsome, right?”

Mom’s voice sharpened. “I mean the one on the far side.”

Mom’s tone was off. I sensed it immediately. I scrolled through my photo gallery to find the picture and realized I’d accidentally caught my boyfriend’s dad in the shot.

I was surprised by Mom’s strong reaction, but I answered honestly. “That’s my boyfriend’s dad. We ran into him and sat down to chat for a bit.”

Even now, I still cringe thinking about it. Blaine had come to pick me up from work for dinner, and we ran smack into his father. It was an impromptu meeting with the parents.

Only then did I realize Blaine came from an exceptionally wealthy family. Because that face, his dad’s face, I’d seen it on TV. It belonged to the billionaire, Mr. Sterling Vance.

“Mom, you have no idea how nervous I was. Blaine never even mentioned his dad was a billionaire.”

Luckily, I hadn’t made a fool of myself.

Silence continued on the other end of the line. I checked my phone; the call was still connected.

“Mom, why aren’t you saying anything?”

“Mom.”

I called out several times before my mom finally spoke. What she said next utterly shocked me.

“Autumn, you need to break up with Blaine.”

I was bewildered. “Why?” Although they’d never met, I’d told Mom about Blaine more than once. Mom had always seemed quite pleased with him. Why the sudden change of heart?

I poured myself a glass of water; my throat felt dry.

After a long pause, Mom’s voice was melancholic. “Because he’s your father.”

“Your biological father, that is.”

The water I’d just sipped erupted from my mouth. I quickly set down the glass, luckily not choking.

“Mom, you’ve got to be kidding me. You always said my dad’s grave had grass twenty feet high!” I was aghast.

“No joke.” Mom sounded utterly resigned. “Autumn, you have to break up with him. No one in the Vance family is any good.” My mom’s voice was indignant.

“Let me process this.”

“Let me just process this.”

I stared blankly at the succulents on the table. I never thought a cheesy novel plot would become my reality. My long-dead dad, resurrected. My handsome boyfriend, my actual brother?

It wasn’t April Fools’ Day, was it?

I wouldn’t give up. “Are you absolutely sure you’re not mistaken?”

“No!”

“So, you gave birth to Blaine?”

“No.”

“What?!” My voice shot up. “Mom, were you scammed?”

Mom also seemed confused. “I don’t know. When I left him, he only had me.”

Given that Blaine was three years older than me, and Mom, though usually a bit spacey, was undeniably beautiful…

I was incredulous. “Mom, you didn’t get caught up in an affair, did you? Like those stories online where married men pretend to be single to date naive young women, only for the wife to show up later, revealing the deception?”

Mom’s mind was still reeling. “Maybe. I remember hearing he was getting engaged, so I ran. Then I found out I was pregnant with you.”

“Autumn, do you want to acknowledge him?” Mom asked, sounding torn.

“No way. That jerk doesn’t deserve to be my father,” I retorted, disgusted.

“He’s a billionaire, very rich,” Mom said seriously.

“Still no. I love you the most,” I declared. To reassure her, I added, “Besides, I can earn enough to support you now.”

Mom mumbled a few times, but ultimately said nothing more.