The Secret Life of My Mother's Illegitimate Child

My roommate turned out to be the heiress of a famous company, and I was just wondering which one when I heard the name of my mom's company.

I ducked into the bathroom to call her, my voice buzzing with excitement. "Mom, do you have an illegitimate daughter or something? Does Dad know about this?"

She sounded even more worked up than I was. "Yeah, and your dad knows too."

My face dropped instantly, and then she sent me a photo of my brother in drag.

1

On the first day of school, I was the last one to arrive at the dorm. I'd rescued a stray dog on the way, so I showed up looking a mess, covered in dirt.

As I walked in, the lively chatter in the room came to an abrupt halt.

All five of my roommates turned to stare at me, their eyes sizing me up like I was an intruder crashing their territory.

Sensing their less-than-welcoming vibes, I gave a curt nod and headed inside.

They quickly picked up their conversation again. I glanced at the bed labeled with my name and frowned.

There were six beds in the dorm, and mine was the upper bunk on the left side in the middle. But it was already made up with someone else's stuff.

"Did one of you mix up the beds?"

I asked, cutting into their chatter with a neutral tone, keeping my emotions in check.

The room fell silent again.

After a moment, Hannah, dressed in a white skirt, flashed me a soft smile and said gently, "That's me. My bed's the one below yours, but I'm not comfortable with someone sleeping above me. I wanted to switch with you, but since you weren't here yet, I went ahead and set it up."

I nodded, understanding her point. "Alright, let's switch it back then. I'm not a fan of it either."

Hannah froze for a second, her smile faltering. "But... I'm allergic to dust mites..."

My eyes lit up, and I grinned. "What a coincidence-I'm allergic to dust mites too."

Her eyes welled up instantly. Scarlett, standing beside her, couldn't hold back. She sneered, "Are you seriously comparing yourself to Hannah? Look at who she is, and then look at you-so filthy. Your mom must be a trash collector or something, right?"

Melanie, another roommate, rolled her eyes at me and chimed in with a sarcastic edge. "Why do you have to make such a big deal out of everything? It's just a bed swap. Is it really worth making things awkward? You're the one who showed up late..."

"Protective much?" I shot back at Melanie. "Why don't you switch with her then?"

"You-" Melanie choked on her words, her face flushing red. She couldn't muster a comeback and just glared at me alongside Hannah, both looking wronged.

In an instant, the three of them turned on me with a united front, acting like I was some irredeemable villain.

I'd given up an elite private school to come to Arlington State University just to be at the same school as my online boyfriend.

Who'd have thought I'd walk into a nest of mean girls and their lapdogs on day one?

Fine, I'd play the bad guy to the hilt. I slapped the bed railing with a straight face. "Hurry up. Either move out and rent a place, or find someone else willing to switch. Just get my bed cleared."

In the end, Hannah reluctantly switched to the lower bunk, her expression sour.

As I unpacked my stuff, they started getting ready for bed.

Suddenly, Scarlett yelped, "Hannah, why would you use HR Night Cream as hand cream?!"

Melanie gasped dramatically. "Only the heiress of Luminous Innovations could pull that off. I've already seen you use an LV scarf as a rag, but this still makes my heart ache."

Hearing Melanie's words, my hands paused mid-motion. I couldn't help but glance over.

Luminous Innovations? My mom's company? Did my mom have an illegitimate daughter?!

Hannah soaked up their flattery with ease, waving it off generously. "Oh, come on, it's not a big deal. If you like it, I'll give you some later. I've got more unopened ones in my suitcase."

Scarlett and Melanie let out ear-piercing squeals of excitement.

Scarlett practically threw herself at Hannah, gushing, "Hannah, I'm on the top bunk. Why don't you switch with me? That way you won't have to deal with certain people."

Melanie nodded eagerly. "Yeah, or just ask the advisor to reassign her. I heard your mom is a major shareholder at Arlington State. She donates tons every year. Swapping a bed should be a piece of cake."

Melanie wasn't wrong-my mom was an alum and donated yearly out of nostalgia.

But even if you're my mom's secret kid, that doesn't mean you get to do whatever you want. Donations aren't bribes, okay?

Hannah pressed her lips together and said softly, "Actually, Mom bought me a villa near campus, but she told me to keep a low profile since I'm on my own. Plus, I wanted to live with you guys."

I nodded to myself. An illegitimate kid should keep a low profile. Fair enough.

"Look at that-rich people just have better manners. Unlike some people," Scarlett said, throwing a pointed glance my way. Hannah smirked at me triumphantly.

I rolled my eyes and bolted to the bathroom to call my mom and get the real story.

When I asked if she had a secret daughter, she chewed me out and docked half a month's allowance.

I shrugged it off-whatever, I never spent it all anyway.

2

After military training, there was a welcome party. Hannah performed some unidentifiable dance and, riding her status as the Luminous Innovations heiress, stole the spotlight.

A bunch of guys flocked to ask her to dance.

I didn't have time to care-I was too busy scanning the crowd for my online boyfriend.

I'd been in an online relationship since high school. He'd seen my face, but he never showed me his, and he was always borrowing money.

What he didn't know was that I'd already figured out who he was.

His name was Alexander, a guy plenty of girls crushed on back in high school.

When I finally spotted him in the crowd, I felt a pang of disappointment.

He didn't have that clean-cut, handsome vibe from high school anymore-his figure had gone a bit soft.

But I wasn't shallow. Sure, he wasn't as good-looking as before, but he'd always been decent to me.

He'd even sworn he'd only ever love me.

To surprise him, I staged a casual run-in.

I walked up and asked, "Hey, is your ID 'Waves of Time'?"

Alexander paused, his expression shifting oddly. "No, that's my roommate," he said.

I blinked. I hadn't changed *that* much, had I? We'd video-chatted all summer-how could he not recognize me?

"Sorry, I've got something to do," he muttered before I could reply, then hurried off.

I watched him stride over to Hannah, extending a hand like a gentleman to ask her to dance. That's when it hit me.

He'd dumped me. For Hannah, the Luminous heiress.

Catching my stare, Hannah raised an eyebrow at me smugly before taking his hand.

I spat under my breath-liar and gold-digger, a match made in heaven.

After the party, they both vanished.

Back at the dorm, Hannah and the other two were already there.

As I walked in, Scarlett raised her voice on purpose. "Hannah, you got tons of confessions today, huh? Anyone catch your eye?"

Hannah gave a shy smile, but her words were anything but subtle.

"I could give them all a shot. That senior, Alexander, wasn't bad. He helped me with my luggage on move-in day. He asked me out to that trendy restaurant tomorrow."

The room went awkwardly quiet for a second before Scarlett whooped, "Alexander? He's a third-year heartthrob and student council president! Some people have the nerve to hit on him without knowing their place."

She shot me a sideways glance.

I was mildly annoyed, silently cursing Alexander for being such a two-faced jerk.

He'd promised to pick me up on move-in day, but I'd waited at the station for half an hour with no sign of him.

When the last bus came, I had to leave. Only later did I get his text.

Too busy, can't make it. See you another day.

So, he was "busy" picking up Hannah?

3

Letting a sleaze like him off the hook was too easy. At the very least, I'd make him cough up the money he owed me.

Hearing the restaurant name from Hannah, I showed up there the next day.

The place was buzzing when I walked in.

In the crowd, I saw Alexander holding champagne roses in one hand and a necklace box in the other, gazing at Hannah with lovesick eyes.

"Champagne roses mean falling for you is the greatest happiness of my life-just like how I feel about you, Hannah... Will you be my girlfriend?"

The words sounded sickeningly familiar, and I nearly gagged.

Same old confession, different flowers-probably priced according to how he valued us.

The crowd cheered, and Hannah's face lit up with a mix of surprise and emotion, her mouth opening to accept.

"Wait!"

I pushed through the crowd and stepped in front of them.

Both Alexander and Hannah looked shocked, though Alexander's expression carried a hint of panic.

I fixed him with a calm stare and said, "Alexander, now that you've snagged a corporate heiress, how about paying me back the money you owe? One hundred thousand in total."

He tried to play it cool, avoiding my eyes. "Look at yourself, classmate. Why would I even know someone like you?" he said, his tone dripping with disdain.

I didn't bother arguing. I dialed his number, and his phone rang right on cue.

His face went pale. I hung up and raised an eyebrow. "Still denying it?"

Head down, his face a mix of shame and anger, he stayed silent.

Hannah, realizing what was up, glared at me and stormed off.

Alexander moved to follow, but I grabbed his arm. "Admit you're not man enough to own up, and I'll call this pocket change a dog's meal."

He clenched his fists, shooting me a dark look before muttering reluctantly, "I don't have that much right now. Can I pay you back in installments?"

"Fine. You've got two weeks. If you don't, I'm calling the cops, and you can kiss school goodbye."

4

Back at the dorm, I overheard Hannah and Scarlett talking.

Whatever Hannah said had Melanie riled up. "I can't believe Alexander's that kind of guy-chasing our Hannah while he's still tangled up with some random weeds. Disgusting!"

Hannah sighed. "Alexander told me he doesn't even like Anna and never borrowed money from her. He only chatted with her because she's a junior, and she got the wrong idea."

"What?" Scarlett scoffed. "No way Senior Alexander would go for a broke nobody like her. Her clothes don't even have brands!"

"Forget it. I've got plenty of boyfriend options besides Alexander. If Anna wants him, she can have him. Whether he wants her, though, isn't my problem," Hannah said breezily.

Melanie sighed. "Hannah, you're too generous. Why even think about her?"

I'd had enough. I pushed the door open and grinned at Hannah. "Yeah, please don't waste your energy on me. You might love sorting trash, but I don't collect it. Garbage belongs in the bin."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hannah snapped, her face red with anger.

Melanie patted her arm, soothing her. "Don't stoop to her level. She's just jealous."

I laughed. "Jealous of what? Her fake stuff? Or her trash-picking hobby?"

"What are you babbling about? Fake stuff? Are you insane?" Melanie looked baffled.

I glanced at the skincare products on their desks and kindly warned, "Whether I'm babbling or not, you'll find out when your faces break out and you're stuck in the hospital."

"You're cursing me?!" Melanie exploded.

Hannah held her back. "Let it go. She's probably never seen the real thing."

"Yeah, sour grapes," Scarlett added.

Fuming as they were, Melanie held off using Hannah's products that night, claiming she already had.

Two days later, a scream erupted from the bathroom.

We all jolted awake. I groggily pulled back my curtain and nearly fell off my bunk.

Scarlett's face was covered in a rash of pimples, her neck blotchy with eczema-like bumps.

"Help! Am I ruined? It itches so bad..."

She scratched frantically, and soon her face was a wreck.

"Get to the hospital," a roommate suggested.

"I'll go with you," Melanie offered, then glanced at Hannah's bed. "Hannah, want to come?"

Her curtains stayed shut, like she was still asleep.

Normally, she'd complain if I so much as rolled over-how was she sleeping through this?

In the end, only Melanie went with Scarlett.

When they returned, I was just leaving the bathroom.

Scarlett grumbled, "Why'd you stop me earlier? That quack doctor said it was cheap skincare. How could Hannah's stuff be fake?"

Melanie hesitated. "Maybe she didn't know it was fake. Just stop using it for now, and don't tell Hannah-she might overthink it."

I rolled my eyes. These two were practically Hannah's fan club.

What I didn't expect was Hannah owning up to them later, saying she'd been scammed by a fake seller.

Scarlett followed Melanie's advice and ditched the products, and her skin slowly cleared up.

5

A few days later, at a class meeting, the advisor dropped a major announcement.