I hadn't held much hope for my mom striking it rich, only hoping she could sell fish while helping take care of the kids. I never expected she would really strike it rich and live in a villa!
As I was thinking this, a familiar voice rang out. "Siena, I've missed you so much, Siena!"
I turned toward the sound and saw a well-dressed woman approaching with delicate steps. She was wearing a tailored dress, perfectly styled, with no trace of the roughness I associated with my mom when she was chopping fish.
"Mom?" I asked tentatively.
"How could it be that your mom has become so beautiful you don't recognize me?" My mom winked at me smugly.
"Mm." "Uh... yeah." I opened my arms to my mom.
Just as she was about to hug me, she suddenly noticed the three little ones beside me.
She withdrew her hands meant to hug me, squatted down, and gathered the three babies in her arms. "Oh, my darlings, Grandma finally gets to see you. Grandma has missed you so much, wah wah wah..."
Sure enough, my mom was still my mom, with a voice as loud as when she was in the seafood market.
Her loud cries attracted a crowd of onlookers.
"Mom, tone it down a bit," I couldn't help but remind her. In response, she glared at me. "I'm being affectionate with my darling grandkids, what business is it of yours?"
Me: "Mom, your makeup is smudged."
As soon as I finished speaking, my mom stopped crying, straightened herself, and walked elegantly into the villa, pulling the three little ones along.
"Mom, did you win the lottery?" I asked as we walked.
"Of course not."
"So this villa..."
In response to my question, my mom, who always had a thick skin, actually blushed. "Silly girl, it's because I found you a rich dad.
"What??"
My mom finding me a dad was as unexpected as when I had to tell her about my marriage to Kevin, my pregnancy, and the uncertain paternity of my children.
My mom waved towards the staircase, and a gentlemanly middle-aged man wearing glasses approached.
"Hurry, call him dad." My mom held the man's hand and winked at me.
Me: "..."
How could I possibly call him that??
It was my stepdad who was reliable. He smiled warmly and said, "I'm Konner Cooley, Just call me Konner."
"Konner."
Konner nodded at me. Then, when he saw my three babies, his eyes lit up with joy. "Such adorable little ones, oh! My darling grandchildren, come, come, call me Grandpa."
At that moment, his genteel demeanor vanished, replaced by a look of pure delight.
His grin was even more exaggerated than my mom's, and no matter how you looked at it, he seemed like a pervert.
Sure enough, birds of a feather flock together.
It was only when we were getting ready for dinner that evening that I learned I had a brother.
