Before my dad took his last breath, he left me a huge surprise. He told me my mom wasn't dead. She had remarried, taking my two older sisters with her. I left our small trailer park to find her, only to discover I didn't just have two sisters anymore. I had... One, two, three, four new siblings. The eldest sister, the CFO of the family empire: "Pick a gem, Leo. Can't decide? Just take them all." The second sister, Hollywood's new "It Girl": "I got you VIP tickets to my concert, front row center! It's all yours." Even the stepsister who isn't related by blood... "Little brother, drink your milk. You need to grow taller. Eat more, okay?" And the formerly arrogant, rebellious stepbrother... "Who bullied my little brother? Get out here, I'll kick your ass!" Me... I guess I'm just going to lie down and enjoy the ride! 1 My dad died. Before he croaked, he told me to find my mom. With no idea where to start, I embarked on the journey to find her. Mrs. Miller from the trailer next door tearfully stuffed homemade biscuits into my tattered backpack. "Leo, honey, don't go hungry." I hugged her and took the water bottle from old Mr. Henderson. "Leo, stay hydrated." Finally, Uncle Bob, the mechanic, rubbed my head and threw me onto the Amtrak heading to Boston. He said, "Your mom married rich. If she doesn't want you, use your secret weapon." I carried my small backpack, tears in my eyes, feeling like a lost puppy. I shouted into the wind, "Uncle Bob, what... is... my... secret... weapon?" No one answered. Only the echo from the canyon replied. Scared as I was, I eventually stood shakily at South Station in Boston. Clutching the address, I rang the doorbell of a massive villa in a wealthy suburb. The woman who opened the door was dressed impeccably. She looked me up and down. "Who are you looking for?" I fidgeted with my fingers. "I... I'm looking for my mom. Her name is Elizabeth." "Come in." Although suspicious, she let me in and made a call. "Mrs. Sterling, there's a young boy downstairs. He says he's looking for you." Before long, a woman walked down the grand staircase. I marveled at the place. It was like a palace. They even used an intercom to talk. "Leo?" The woman was beautiful, with barely any wrinkles under her eyes. She wore a silk robe and pulled me into a tight hug. I froze, feeling the softness and the strange sensation. Is this... Mom? "It's Mom, it's Mom. Leo, I missed you so much." The beauty wept, tears rolling down like crystal beads. "Mom?" I tentatively asked. "Yes!" She hugged me tighter and rubbed my hair. "Quick! Call Victoria and Chloe back!" My beautiful mom started giving orders. "Who are they?" I asked, confused. "Your sisters." She held my hand and led me upstairs. "Your dad had a gambling problem back then, and you were too young. I could only take your sisters and run. I planned to come back for you later, but you found us first." I whispered, "Dad died." Maybe it was my imagination, but she paused for a second before bending down. "Mom will treat you better. I'll be so good to you, Leo." "Stay here, okay?" Her eyes were gentle. I widened my eyes and nodded obediently. Soon, she cleaned me up and led me downstairs. Just as we reached the steps, someone pushed the front door open. The woman seemed to carry a cold wind with her. Her gaze was sharp. She put her briefcase aside and started unbuttoning her coat. I instinctively stepped back. Mom led me down. "Leo, this is your eldest sister." Mom explained gently. "Hi, big sis," I lowered my head, sneaking glances at her. The woman squatted down, her eyes full of smiles. "Leo, you've grown so much." She pinched my cheek, her smile deepening. "I'm back! I'm back! I'm back!" Someone shouted, rushing through the door. "My brother is here?" "Where is he?" The moment our eyes met, we both screamed. "Ahhhhh! Chloe Sterling!" She vaulted over the sofa with one hand. The next second, a beautiful face was magnified in front of mine. I almost stopped breathing. Even in my remote trailer park, I had seen her commercials on TV. America's Sweetheart, Chloe Sterling! She's my second sister! I started to suspect this was all a dream. "Leo, did you miss me?" Chloe pinched my cheek too. Not satisfied with one, she pinched both sides. "Leo was too small back then," the eldest sister crossed her arms, stating a fact. I nodded unconsciously. "Yeah." "It's okay, you'll remember later. Chloe loves you the most! I saved a ton of fun stuff for you!" Chloe grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the stairs. "Let's eat first. Leo traveled a long way. He'll see the stuff later," Mom said gently. "Madam, Mr. Sterling says he'll be back soon. Miss Harper and Master Ethan... said they aren't coming home tonight." A trace of helplessness flashed across Mom's face. "I know." "Harper and Ethan aren't coming back again?" The eldest sister sat aside, flipping through a file, her voice cold. "They've been acting out lately. Maybe Uncle needs to talk to them," Chloe said, twirling a lock of my hair. Mom sighed and called me over, showing me a photo. "Leo, this is your Uncle Richard, my current husband." The man in the photo was handsome and sharp. "This is Harper, Uncle Richard's daughter." The girl in the photo looked a bit disgruntled. "Her eyes are blue!" I exclaimed. "Yes, her mother was French," Mom explained. "Oh, okay," I nodded obediently, earning a round of head rubs from my sisters. "This is Ethan, Uncle Richard's son." The boy had great hair, but the corners of his mouth turned down. He looked full of angst. "He's handsome," I praised sincerely. "Our Leo is the best looking!" Chloe puffed out her cheeks and muttered. I pursed my lips and shook my head. "Haha, let me see the handsome boy!" A hearty male voice came from the door, footsteps heavy. I looked up. The man was tall; I had to crane my neck to see him. He was strong, completely different from my sisters. He looked... safe. He half-squatted and reached out. "Come here, let Uncle see." I moved from Mom's arms, curiously observing him. "Hello, Uncle." "Hello, Leo!" "How old are you?" He let me look at him, asking softly. "Eighth grade," I answered obediently. He rubbed my face, grinning from ear to ear. Suddenly, he lifted me up and placed me on the dining chair. He rubbed my head. "Let's eat!" Mom smiled and sat down. My sisters sat beside me. "Eat up. After dinner, I'll show you something cool!" Chloe whispered. "Chloe, less talking, more eating!" Mom interrupted. "It's fine. She can talk to Leo," Uncle Richard said warmly. My sisters both looked up, surprised by his words. Mom paused for two seconds before saying, "Oh, okay." "Which room does Leo want?" Uncle Richard asked while putting food in my bowl. "Victoria works late, don't disturb him. Chloe is rarely home, but when she is, she's loud. The room behind theirs is a storage room, you can't stay there." "Uncle Richard!" Chloe pouted, looking annoyed. I shook her hand under the table, signaling I'd see her toys later. "You are loud!" Victoria nodded in agreement and offered a suggestion. "Leo can stay in the room next to mine. Good lighting." Uncle Richard thought for a moment. "Okay, that one. If Harper and Ethan have complaints, tell them to come to me." I wondered why they would complain. I found out when I moved in. We were neighbors. 2 Chloe opened the door and introduced me. "My room is at the end of the hall. Victoria is opposite me." She opened the room next to Victoria's. "This is yours! Great sunlight during the day. The peach tree branches touch your window!" I rolled on the bed, overjoyed. "Next door is Ethan. Opposite him is Harper." Chloe looked around unnaturally. "Don't talk to them if you don't have to." "Huh?" I didn't hear clearly. "What did you say?" Victoria walked in with milk and kicked Chloe as she passed. "Don't talk nonsense." She turned to me. "Leo, drink your milk." "Okay." I drank it all, amused by their loving gazes. "I finished!" "Okay, bedtime now." Victoria tucked me in and dragged Chloe out. "Wait, wait! Leo, I have toys to show you!" Victoria grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. "Tomorrow. It's rest time." "Sleep? What time is it?!" Chloe protested. "Your schedule is unhealthy!" Victoria ignored her struggles, turning off the light for me at the door. "Goodnight, Leo. Toys tomorrow." I laughed and shouted okay. I yawned. I was tired. But I didn't sleep well. In the middle of the night, I met... Harper. I screamed when she kicked the door open, instinctively turning on the lamp. "You! What are you doing!" She was swinging a baseball bat, destroying my room. Bang! Crash! "Yo, this is the new brother?" "Harper, what are you doing!" Victoria arrived quickly, shielding the shivering me. "Just teaching the new kid a lesson. Letting him know who runs this house." Harper shouldered the bat, chewing gum loudly. "Leo is young! You're scaring him!" Victoria trembled with rage. "Why waste breath on her!" Chloe appeared and tackled Harper. Victoria joined the fray. I was left alone, circling them helplessly. Mom and Uncle Richard were on the third floor; they couldn't hear the commotion. Luckily, this seemed routine. Soon, the three of them stopped, panting. I worriedly circled Chloe. "Don't worry, Leo. I'm fine." I waved my hand. "Chloe, take care of your face. I like your face." Chloe froze. Harper stood up shakily behind her, sneering. "Brother, we'll clash plenty in the future!" I saw her stumbling and reached out to steady her. "Oh, okay. Goodnight, Harper." Harper's look changed. She stared at me like I was an idiot. Her gaze was fierce, almost making me cry before she looked away. "Scared stupid." "Watch your mouth!" Victoria and Chloe spoke in unison, ready to fight again. I stopped them and ushered everyone out one by one. After a quick tidy, I slept until noon. 3 I had met Victoria, Chloe, and Harper. Only Ethan was missing. I played with a small, exquisite action figure. "Like it?" Chloe sat beside me, eyes full of expectation. "Yeah!" I nodded, but hesitated. "Chloe, you saved... this many?" The entire storage room was filled with figures. Chloe twisted the hem of her shirt. "When you were little, you said you liked them." I blinked. I had no memory of my sisters. Mom said she left when I was born. When did I say I liked figures? Seeing me stare, she said awkwardly, "I was holding you, walking around. A guy teased you with a figure. You wanted it, he wouldn't give it! You cried." I was surprised. "I don't remember." She said anxiously, "I remember! I knew then I wanted to give you everything good in the world. But..." I patted her shoulder. "Okay, okay! Don't think about the sad stuff." I stood next to a life-size figure. "Chloe, am I as tall as this one?" She rubbed my head. "Our Leo will grow tall!" We spent the afternoon organizing the room. It became my playroom. Besides figures, there were expensive toys. Uncle Richard even sent a slide when he saw us. If Mom hadn't stopped him, he would have sent a ball pit. Well, he sent it anyway. After playing, I opened my door to find Victoria sitting at my desk. "Victoria," I called obediently. "Hmm. Like the playroom?" She wore gold-rimmed glasses tonight, looking gentle. I sat on a small stool next to her. "Yes! Chloe played with me for a long time!" Victoria pinched my cheek. "Chloe is the fun one. Leo must like her more. You said you liked her face yesterday." I sensed something wrong. I moved my stool closer. "I like you just as much, Victoria!" "Really!" "Victoria is great too!" Just a bit scary looking. I swallowed that thought. She looked like an abandoned puppy. "Victoria~" I tried to act cute. "Okay." Victoria pulled me up to sit on the desk. She stood behind me and produced three boxes like magic. "Look at these. Like them?" The first box had loose diamonds, sparkling under the light. "Wow!" The second had a ruby watch. Exquisite. "Pretty!" I couldn't take my eyes off it. The last box had a pearl necklace. Each pearl glowed. "This is too expensive, sister." I pushed the boxes back. "I don't need expensive jewelry!" Victoria rubbed my head lovingly. "I might not be able to play with you like Chloe, but I can afford these. If you want anything, I can get it for you." I bit my lip. "I know. I'll pick one." I felt it was too flashy for a kid. "Can't decide?" Before I could answer, Victoria decided. "Keep them all. By the way, the ruby is the cheapest." Watching her leave, I suddenly understood why she stopped Chloe yesterday. The gems sparkled, pure as a sister's desire to make up for lost time.
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