The room fell into stunned silence. Mom’s face twisted in confusion, Dad’s went deathly pale, and a heavy quiet settled over the living room like a thick fog. My heart hammered against my ribs as I stared at the girl standing there. She had burst into our home like a storm, forcing a confrontation none of us were prepared for. If Mom ever learned the full truth about my involvement with her, I would be finished.
After what felt like an eternity, I stepped forward, grabbed the edge of her sleeve, and whispered urgently, “What are you doing? Stop this right now! Get out of here!”
Anna turned her head, her voice small and timid. “Brother...”
Mom’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at me. I leaned in quickly and hissed in her ear, “This is role-playing. I’m not her brother!”
She ignored me completely. Instead, she took two bold steps forward and threw herself into Dad’s arms, wrapping her hands tightly around his waist. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out, “Dad!”
Dad placed a hand on her shoulder, ready to push her away, but he froze mid-motion. He glanced helplessly at Mom, his face etched with panic.
Mom’s voice rose sharply. “What the hell is going on? Who is this girl?”
“She is... she is... she is...” Dad stammered, his voice trembling so badly he could barely form words.
I sensed something was terribly wSophia. This wasn’t about me at all. I rushed forward, gripping her wrist to pull her back and give Dad some breathing room. “She’s the girl who framed me on the bus that time,” I explained hastily to Mom.
Anna clung to Dad with surprising strength, refusing to let go no matter how hard I tugged. She turned tear-filled eyes toward Mom. “My name is Anna Reeds, and my father isRichard Reeds.”
The name hit me like a slap. It took several long seconds for the meaning to sink in. Dad’s face had gone ghostly white, his lips quivering uncontrollably, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Mom bit her lip hard, her cheeks flushing with rage. She glared at Dad, her chest rising and falling rapidly as fury built inside her. “You... she... she is...”
Dad’s expression twisted grotesquely. He tried to smile, but it came out as a frozen grimace. “She is...”
With a sudden crash, the dishes, chopsticks, cups, and saucers on the dining table shattered across the floor in a chaotic explosion of sound.
Mom stared at Dad with bloodshot eyes. After a long, tense silence, she turned on her heel and stormed toward the bedroom. I reached out to grab her wrist, but she roared, “Don’t touch me!”
I yanked my hand back instantly. The bedroom door slammed shut with a resounding bang that echoed through the house.
Dad finally snapped out of his daze. He pushed Anna away, his face filled with reproach. “Why did you come here? I told you not to! I said I would come to you if anything was wSophia.”
Tears continued to roll down Anna’s cheeks. “They beat me,” she said, her voice full of grievance. “Today is my birthday. I called your phone, but you didn’t answer.”
Dad pointed at her, his brow furrowed in distress. “You...”
Hearing their exchange, my mind reeled. This little troublemaker was Dad’s daughter. That meant she was my half-sister. The realization struck like lightning. Not only had I slept with my own sister—I had taken her virginity. The thought left me reeling, my legs weak and my throat bone-dry. This life was far too chaotic, too overwhelming.
Dad opened his mouth several times but said nothing. Finally, he muttered, “Sit down for now.” He walked to the bedroom door and knocked softly, whispering pleas through the wood. Mom’s angry shout came back immediately: “Get out of here!”
He persisted, knocking gently and murmuring apologies.
I turned my attention back to Anna. A bruise marked the corner of her mouth, her left eye was swollen and red, her hair was disheveled, and tear tracks stained her cheeks. Despite everything, a pang of concern hit me. How had this clever, mischievous girl ended up beaten like this? Who would do that to her?
My feelings toward her were now a tangled mess. I grabbed a couple of tissues and handed them to her gently. “Wipe your face.”
She took them but didn’t use them right away. A small smile touched her lips. “Thank you, brother. You’re so kind to me.”
I frowned and lowered my voice. “You knew I was your brother all along?”
Anna nodded obediently.
“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner?”
“I did tell you,” she replied.
“When?”
“Last time in the park, when that big guy was bothering me. I said you were my brother.”
I remembered now. She had said it, but I had dismissed it as a desperate excuse to use me as a shield. Another, even more disturbing question surfaced.
I leaned closer and whispered, “Since you knew I was your brother, why did you still seduce me?”
“I didn’t seduce you,” she shot back. “You raped me.” A sly smile crossed her face. “I have a video. Want to watch it?”
My head spun. Damn it—I had been played.
“What exactly do you want?” I growled through clenched teeth.
“I don’t want anything special,” Anna said lightly. She slipped her arm around me, resting her head on my shoulder. “Brother, are you satisfied with the gift I gave you?”
“Gift?” My mind was blank. “What gift? Where?”
“I...”
“Brother, do you like me?”
“What do you mean?” I tried to push her away, but my arms felt heavy and unresponsive.
“Do you like me or not? Tell me.” She shook me gently, pressing closer.
“You let go. I don’t like you at all!” I had no idea what game she was playing, but I couldn’t let her win again.
Unfazed, she leaned in until her lips brushed my ear, her breath warm and intoxicating. “Then... brother, do you like sleeping with me?”
The closeness sent a shiver through my body. Even knowing the truth, she still had this dangerous, magnetic pull.
“Do you like it or not?” She hugged me tighter, her voice turning coy. “Do you still want to fuck me in the future? Tell me, brother.”
“What the hell do you want?” I demanded.
At that moment, Dad returned to the living room. Seeing us like this, he froze. “What are you two doing?”
Anna released me and tilted her head innocently. “Just playing with my brother.”
Dad shot me a glare and growled, “This doesn’t concern you. Go back to your room.”
I wanted to argue but couldn’t find the words. I glanced at Anna one last time and headed toward the bedroom.
I had only taken a couple of steps when Mom emerged from the room, bag in hand, clearly preparing to leave. Dad rushed over and blocked her path. “Elena, please listen to me. Let me explain.”
“Get out of my way! What explanation could you possibly have?” Mom’s eyes were red, but she held back tears. Anger radiated from her like heat from a fire.
“She is... how can I even say this? Just put the bag down and hear me out.” Dad’s posture was bent, almost pleading.
“You get out of my way!”
He grabbed her arm, refusing to budge. “Wife, just one sentence. Please.”
“I won’t listen. Let go.” Mom’s gaze was murderous. “Are you letting go or not?”
Dad faltered under her intensity and released her. Without another word, Mom walked out the door.
Dad waved me over frantically, signaling me to follow. I grabbed a coat without changing and chased after her.
She reached the parking spot downstairs, got into the car, and I slid into the passenger seat. She shot me an angry look. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m worried about you. I just want to make sure you’re okay.”
Mom said nothing. She didn’t start the engine right away, just sat staring blankly ahead. I watched her quietly. Even in her fury, she looked composed—long black hair neatly combed, a gray plaid blouse, a flowing gray chiffon skirt, ultra-thin flesh-colored stockings, and elegant black pointed stiletto heels. She always maintained her dignity, no matter the circumstances.
A girl showing up claiming to be Dad’s daughter was a blow her proud nature couldn’t easily absorb. If she ever discovered my connection with Anna, the fallout would be catastrophic. Dad’s secret had hurt all of us.
I rubbed my temples, silently vowing that Mom must never learn the full truth.
She glanced at me. “What are you thinking?”
I feigned calm. “Dad really crossed a line this time. How could he do something like this?”
“Don’t swear,” Mom snapped.
“Aren’t you angry?” I asked, indignant.
“Of course I’m angry. I can scold him—you can’t. He’s still your father.”
“But... how could he hide a child for over ten years?” I rambled on, then tried to comfort her. “Mom, don’t get too upset. There might be more to the story—some misunderstanding. You should hear him out. Remember when you were misunderstood recently? Dad listened to you. Try to do the same.”
“What explanation is there?” Mom stared at me sharply. “When that girl called him ‘Dad,’ did he deny it?”
“Well... no. But I think—”
“I haven’t even questioned you yet!” She turned fully toward me. “How long have you known that girl?”
“I... I knew her, but I didn’t know about this.” I stumbled over my words. “Remember when I was almost arrested as a pervert on the bus? I told you I was framed. That was her.”
“And you kept seeing her afterward?”
“No!” I firmly denied it. “Absolutely not.”
Mom narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “You seem awfully familiar with her.”
“We only met a couple of times,” I insisted, raising my hands. “I swear I had no idea she was connected to Dad.”
Mom sighed and turned away. “You can go back now.” This chapter was copied from g.com without permission.
“I’m not going back. I can’t leave you alone. I’m eighteen now—not a kid anymore. I’m a man. I can take responsibility.”
“What responsibility?”
“Taking care of you.” I sat up straighter. “You’re in no state to be alone. What if you get too upset and do something reckless?”
“With you here, I feel even more upset,” she said. “Just be quiet.”
“I’ll be quiet. I promise.”
She sighed deeply, started the car, and drove away from the neighborhood. I didn’t ask where we were going; I already knew it would be to Aunt Sophia place.
Halfway there, Mom called Aunt Sophia and arranged to stay for a few days. Aunt Sophia agreed. It looked like she planned to remain there for some time.
When we arrived, Lily opened the door. She looked surprised to see me. Aunt Sophia glanced at me but said nothing.
After offering Mom some hot water, the two women disappeared into the bedroom for a long conversation.
Lily pulled me onto the living room sofa, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What happened? Did your parents fight again? Usually your dad runs away. How did you and your mom end up getting kicked out this time?”
“It’s complicated,” I said, scratching my head. I felt a pang of guilt thinking about how I had gone behind her back before. And now it turned out the girl involved was my half-sister. Maybe this really was some kind of cosmic payback.
“Come on, tell me,” Lily pressed, leaning in eagerly.
“I... might have gained a sister.”
“What?” She blinked in confusion. “You mean a god-sister?”
“No. It’s... Dad might have had a child with someone else. Secretly.”
Lily mouth fell open. “What?!”
“Remember that girl who kept bothering me at the movies?”
“Yes... Wait, her?”
“Yeah. Her.”
“Oh my god!” She covered her mouth. “No wonder she was always around you. She had an agenda.”
“Exactly. And it was a big one.” I kept the most dangerous details to myself—no one, especially not Lily , could know I had already been intimate with my half-sister.
Mom and Aunt Sophia talked for over two hours before emerging. Aunt Sophia turned to Lily. “Go sleep in the study on the small bed. Give your room to your Aunt Yun.”
“Okay.” Lily nodded, then looked at me. “What about Ethan?”
“Don’t worry about him,” Aunt Sophia said impatiently. She addressed me directly. “You can sleep on the living room sofa tonight. Go home after school tomorrow.”
“What about Mom?” I asked.
“She’ll stay here for a while, of course.”
“Then I’m staying too. Wherever Mom is, I am.”
Aunt Sophia raised an eyebrow. “You’re too old to be glued to your mother. Do you still need to be breastfed or something?”
Mom looked at me. “Go home tomorrow. It’s inconvenient here. Don’t let this affect your studies.”
“I’m worried. I’m staying wherever you are.”
Aunt Sophia snorted. “We only have three rooms and three beds. You want to sleep in one of them?”
I glanced briefly at Lily but quickly looked away. “The sofa is fine.”
Mom grew anxious. “Why are you being so stubborn?”
I flopped dramatically onto the sofa. “I’m not leaving. This is my home now too.”
Aunt Sophia sighed but fetched a pillow and a light quilt. “Fine. Sleep here. But I’m warning you—if you misbehave, you’ll regret it.”
I smiled. “You’ve never been polite to me anyway. But I promise I’ll behave.”
She handed me the bedding and left me to it.
The sofa was soft enough, but narrow and awkward. Without my usual toiletries or pajamas, I tossed and turned all night, feeling restless and suffocated. The day’s shocking revelations replayed endlessly in my mind, leaving me drained yet unable to sleep peacefully