From Mistress to Brother-in-law

Chapter 1

Okay, so here’s the deal. Me and my boy, Mark, we were both dating sisters, the super-famous Su sisters. Everyone in DC knows them.

Mark? Dude was all about public displays of affection. The ice queen, Chloe Su, supposedly lost her mind over him. Like, went full-on rom-com.

Me? I kept my mouth shut about dating Tiffany Su, the crazy-rich, definitely-gonna-stab-you-in-your-sleep older sister. Everyone thought I was single.

Until Mark saw this unique cufflink. The kind the Su family is known for. In my room.

The dude went ballistic. He rolled up on my dorm with like, half the football team, dumping garbage all over my bed.

“I thought we were brothers, man! You trying to steal my girl?”

He even live-streamed the whole thing, trying to paint me as some home-wrecking side piece. Then, when Chloe Su started giving me the eye, he offered me a deal: I could be his “little brother” in the relationship.

I’d had enough. I decked him. “News flash, genius: the Su family has two daughters.”

Cut to a few weeks later, Tiffany Su, who basically owns this town, had her arm around me, looking ice-cold.

“Heard someone’s spreading rumors about my boyfriend being a side piece?”

…

“Jake! Get back here! They’re trashing your room!”

I sprinted back from the library.

As soon as I hit the hallway, I smelled something foul.

“Pour it! Get all that garbage on his bed! Gotta cleanse the sins!”

“The dude’s a snake. I treat him like family, and he tries to steal my girl.”

Mark stood in the doorway, arms crossed, playing it tough.

Then he’d turn to face the camera and show off his puppy dog eyes.

“My girl is Chloe Su, the queen of keeping it classy. I spent three years just to get to know her. Then this clown, Jake, he’s all over her when she picks me up, wearing a tank top, flexing his abs, giving her the bedroom eyes.”

“He even tried to sleep his way into her bed…”

One of the thugs smashing stuff chimed in. “Mark’s too nice, we gotta protect his girl!”

“Yeah, protect their amazing relationship!”

“Protect the princess and the quarterback!”

They were all puffed up with righteousness, all while destroying my stuff.

Ding!

I got a link from a friend.

I clicked it: Side Piece Tries to Steal the Ice Queen, Gets Caught by Star QB.

And right there, plastered at the top, my freakin’ mugshot. In black and white, no less.

That was it. I was done.

I kicked the door open. The room went quiet for a second, then erupted with even more jeers.

“Well, well, look who it is. The home-wrecking hero.”

“If I were you, I’d just die outside. No shame at all, huh?”

Mark wiped away some non-existent tears, flashing his most vulnerable look for the camera.

“Jake, I know you’re jealous. I get it. I have a beautiful, rich girlfriend. But that’s not a reason to try and climb into her bed…”

His girlfriend?

I wracked my brain. Nothing came to mind.

So, I asked, “Who’s your girlfriend?”

Mark stared at me, eyes wide with disbelief. “You…you don’t know Chloe Su?”

Chloe Su?

Wasn’t that Tiffany’s flaky younger sister?

I’m dating into the same family?

“I’ve seen her around, but we haven’t really met.”

I was being honest.

But Mark took it as me trying to weasel my way out.

He bit his lip, all wounded and silent, eyes getting red.

The keywords: “side piece,” “ice queen,” “brotherhood,” were blowing up the comments.

People were trashing me, feeling bad for Mark.

Some were even digging into my family.

“Like mother, like son. His mom was probably a total floozy, giving birth to that bastard.”

“Who are his parents anyway?”

Seeing how they’re trying to uncover my family history, I grabbed the phone and smashed it to the floor.

“My phone! That’s a grand! You’re paying for that.”

The screen shattered into a million pieces.

I nodded. “I will.”

Before the goons could laugh, I pointed at the mess. “But you’re paying for my damages first.”

The garbage on my bed stunk. The expensive suit, sliced to ribbons. My watch was on the floor, covered in footprints.

My expression darkened. “The clothes were custom-made. Cost a few million. The watch was even more.”

Hearing about paying up, the thugs gave Mark worried looks.

Mark puffed out his chest. “He couldn’t afford that stuff. My girl bought it for him.”

Mark seemed like a stranger. It was all stuff we bought together, yet he could claim his girlfriend gave it to him with a straight face.

“He’s just giving it back to the true owner. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it.”

So, he was convinced I was after his woman?

Taking the order, the thugs went even more crazy.

“What secrets are you hiding?”

I knew I couldn’t reason with them, so I pulled out my phone and dialed 911.

Before I could finish, a woman snatched it from my hand.

Mark lit up, rushing to hug her. “Chloe, you’re here!”

“Someone’s messing with my man?”

Chloe clutched her prayer beads and Mark, protecting her “man.”

The goons gave Mark a look of jealousy.

I inhaled, reminding myself she was Tiffany’s sister.

I forced a smile. “Your boyfriend’s got the wrong idea. I’d appreciate it if you set him straight.”

Mark scoffed. “Who’s got the wrong idea? I saw you sneaking out of the Su house last night. Then I see the Su family cufflink on your desk.”

“What else could it mean?”

“My girl is chaste and devoted. She’s only in love with me.”

I laughed. “There’s more than one Su sister, you know.”

Mark howled. “You’re saying you’re trying to get with Tiffany Su? The 16-year-old Harvard PhD, who built a multi-billion-dollar business, and now has her finger in every pie?”

I gave a firm nod.

Chloe gave a knowing smirk. “I knew you were into me when I heard you liked my sister.”

Mark’s expression changed drastically and he tugged on Chloe’s arms. “You said I was your home.”

Chloe pats his head. “You are. I’m just looking for a hotel.”

Mark gave a defeated expression but didn’t say another word.

Chloe threw off Mark, looking me up and down.

“You do look familiar. Have I seen you at a club somewhere?”

“But I don’t like men with makeup. Take it off and let me see the real you.”

“If you aren’t a total troll, then you can be little brother.”

Mark heard and made a face.

Chloe pats his head. “There there, I promise I will always love you.”

Chloe fixed her gaze on me. “What are you waiting for? Take off the makeup now.”

“And help him,” she said as she slapped Mark’s behind.

Mark turned to me with a sinister smile.

“Jake, you’re gonna call me big brother. As long as I’m here, you’ll always be the side piece!”

He approached with the thugs…

They pushed me to the sink and forced water into my nose.

I opened my eyes and saw Mark holding a kettle of boiling water.

I dodged it and the water spilled into the sink.

If I hadn’t dodged it…

I grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

“Hello, I’d like to report a robbery.”

Chloe’s anger immediately vanished as she realized there was no makeup. “You’re naturally good-looking.”

She made a face. “Alright, you can kiss me.”

I hated her, but I knew I would tell Tiffany.

Mark looked defeated, but forced a smile. “You’re gonna serve me tea now.”

They didn’t have tea, so a thug handed a bottle of water.

I smiled at Mark, opened the water bottle, and poured it all over him.

Mark screamed.

The police arrived and everyone dispersed.

…

After the police station, Mark leaned on Chloe.

“All that money is hers anyway.

Chloe rubbed her prayer beads. “If you want the money, no need for stunts.

“I’m always generous to men who can serve Mark and me.” She produced a check. “Be on the bed, and it’ll all be yours.”

I coldly said no and pulled out my phone. “I have a person offering fifty-thousand for one night.”

“You dare?” a voice on the phone said. “Where are you?”

I replied with my address, and Mark scorned me.

Minutes later, dozens of bodyguards swarmed the place.

Mark latched on to Chloe, who raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“Yes ma’am, but just hold on.”

I got frustrated at Tiffany.

“If you don’t get here, you’ll never see me again!”

“15 minutes,” she said, making me relieved.

Chloe started to panic, and kicked Mark to the ground.

“You ruined it for me! Apologize to him!”

Mark said sorry many times and started slapping himself.

I sneered. “You all can beat yourself up.”

Chloe shot back. “Who are you?”

With my back straight, I told her who I was. “I’m your sister’s boyfriend.”

Chloe laughed.

“There’s no way Tiffany would date him.”

Chloe was interrupted by the sound of tires.

A limo stopped and a beautiful woman showed up.

“Who dared to touch my man?”

Mark smiled and rushed to her. “Tiffany, you’re here to pick up Chloe?”

Tiffany ignored him.

He swallowed and explained to her.