I was photographed getting into a car with the world’s biggest superstar, and the internet immediately tried to burn me alive. The "it-girl" of the moment was the first to twist the knife: "Some people are just so desperate for fame, they’ll crawl into any man’s bed." The superstar in question almost lost his mind. He didn't wait for his PR team. He logged onto X in the middle of the night. "Holy shit, I’m her literal brother!" "I’m begging you, stop poking the bear. I’m the one who’s going to get a lecture from our mom when we get home. Are you guys going to pay my medical bills?!" 1 The day after those photos went viral, my manager was still tearing her hair out, trying to find a way to spin the damage. Meanwhile, I had to show up for the filming of a high-stakes reality show. My manager had worked herself to the bone—and probably promised away her firstborn—to get me this slot. The cast was stacked with A-listers and icons. Compared to them, I was just a one-hit-wonder from a sleeper-hit drama. I was basically an extra in my own life. The second the cameras turned on, eagle-eyed viewers started dissecting my outfit. They realized I was wearing the exact same brand of hoodie, joggers, and sneakers as the global superstar, Leo Brooks. Then came the clip from the day before: me, standing on a curb, flagging down a car. Leo’s SUV pulled over, I slid into the passenger seat like I owned the place, and then—according to the edited narrative—I was "kicked out" and left on the sidewalk. The internet came for my throat. [I’ve never seen a pick-me girl this delusional. Flagging down his car on the street? Really?] [Shameless. Absolutely disgusting. Everyone thinks they can ride his coattails.] [Look at that hoodie. It’s probably a knockoff. There’s no way she can actually afford the real thing.] I ignored it all. I let the comments slide off me like water. Until the first game started. The host told us we had to call someone in the industry and ask to borrow $100,000. If they said yes, we passed. I was genuinely stuck. Leo was the only person I knew well enough to ask for that kind of money... but he had just sent me cash for a new designer bag a few days ago. I wasn't sure if his "sibling generosity" had a daily limit. While I was agonizing over the choice, the "it-girl" next to me, Sierra Vance, had already dialed. "Hello?" A deep, velvet-smooth voice echoed through the speakers. It was the kind of voice that belonged in a sold-out arena. I knew that voice. It was the voice that told me to do the dishes every other Tuesday. 2 "What’s up?" the voice asked. "Hey... big brother," Sierra said, her voice dropping into a sugary, coquettish pout. "What are you doing? Can I... borrow a hundred thousand dollars?" She followed it up with a shy, breathless giggle. She looked exactly like a girl talking to a guy she was head-over-heels for. Her face was flushed, her voice was soft. The live chat exploded. [NO WAY. I know that voice anywhere. LEO BROOKS?!] [Omg my heart just stopped. He sounds so hot even over the phone.] [To the people under a rock: Sierra and Leo have been close for a long time. They’re basically the industry’s power couple. Unlike certain people who just stage car-raids, Sierra is the real deal.] Wait. Brother? Since when did I have a sister I didn't know about? The transfer went through instantly. Sierra showed the confirmation on her screen, and the crowd went wild. The other guests were practically bowing to her. Leo Brooks was notoriously cold and unapproachable. People spent years trying to get a "follow back" from him, yet Sierra could call him and get six figures in seconds. "Oh, it’s nothing," Sierra said, blushing as everyone teased her. "Leo’s mom actually told him he needed to take better care of me..." The chat: [MEET THE PARENTS?!] [The ship has officially sailed!] In the middle of all the "aww-ing," I raised my hand. I couldn't help it. "Why did you call him 'big brother'?" I asked. The chat went silent for a microsecond. [...] [...] [Don't mind her, she’s just a child. Go play in the sandbox.] [I call my boyfriend 'Daddy' or 'Big Brother' all the time. Is this girl literally living in the 1800s?] [LMAO, what a dumb question.] Sierra saw the comments defending her and looked at me with a gaze that said, You poor, pathetic thing. I sighed. Fine. I dialed Leo’s number. The second he picked up, he sounded annoyed. "What now?" I remembered there were millions of people watching, so I tried to be polite. I pitched my voice high and sweet. "Big brother, can I borrow a hundred thousand dollars?" "..." Leo’s voice turned suspicious. "I know scammers use AI to mimic voices now. Is this a prank? Or is this another scammer trying to hit the same target twice?" I was speechless. "It’s really for a hundred thousand." Leo: "Don't believe you. Get lost." He hung up. Great. I tried to be nice, and he treated me like a telemarketer. In my head, I was already planning the ten different ways I was going to roast him when I got home. The chat was a riot. [Help! Who does she think she is, calling the King and expecting a handout?] [I’ve never heard Leo sound that annoyed. She must have been harassing him privately for months.] [Savage! Leo is a legend!] 3 The game ended. I was the only one who failed. The host looked awkward. It wasn't great for the show's vibe to punish only one person so harshly. "It’s okay, it’s okay," Sierra said, stepping in to play the "good girl." "Harper probably just saw me succeed and wanted to try her luck. It’s hard being yelled at like that. Everyone, don't be too mean to her." "Aria, if you need it, I can just wire you the money myself?" I almost laughed. What a perfect "sweetheart" performance. At that moment, my phone buzzed. It was Leo calling back. "Are you actually Harper?" Me: "Heh." Leo: "Fine..." The next second, I turned my screen to the camera. It showed a bank transfer for one million dollars. 4 The room went silent for exactly two seconds. The host was stunned but quickly found a way out. "A-and Harper passes too! Moving on to the next segment!" Sierra crossed her arms, a sneer tugging at her lips. "Photoshop is getting really fast these days," she muttered. The chat caught it and turned instantly. [Holy shit, Sierra is right! I didn't even think of that!] [It’s definitely fake. She almost had us. What a loser.] [She probably faked Leo’s voice too. The audacity.] [One million dollars with one phone call? I’ll believe she’s the Queen of England before I believe that. LOL.] Sierra saw the tide turning back to her and lifted her chin. "Maybe you should focus on Photoshopping yourself out of that 'car-crash' video from yesterday first?" That was a low blow. She was determined to keep me buried under the scandal. I was honestly more curious about her claim that my mom told my brother to "take care of her." Was that actually true? I couldn't be bothered to deal with her passive-aggressive energy. She wasn't even a tenth as annoying as my brother. I shrugged. "Oh? Are you only bringing that up because you’ve never actually been allowed in his car?" "Don't worry. Next time I'm 'climbing into his car,' I'll let you sit in the trunk." Sierra turned bright red. "You... you have no shame! I am nothing like you!" I looked at her with pity. "Yeah. You'll probably never get a ride from him in your life." The chat went nuclear: [The nerve! Does she really think she’s proud of being a stalker?] [The ego on this girl! Does she even know who Sierra is to Leo?] Fine, fine. You’re all like fireworks—one spark and you blow up. 5 Sierra was beyond humiliated. She decided to go for the kill. "I’m going to call Leo right now and tell him exactly what kind of person you are. He’ll stay miles away from you!" I highly doubt that, I thought. We live in the same house. The director, smelling a ratings goldmine, scurried over. "Uh, Sierra? Since you and Mr. Brooks are so... close... do you think you could ask him to join the show as a guest for a few days?" "We've tried reaching out to his team, but he's always 'too busy'." "It would be such an honor for the show..." Sierra looked at me triumphantly, then put on a "troubled" face for the cameras. "I don't know, Director... he really is very busy..." But the chat was already pushing her. [OMG is it actually possible?! PLEASE! I need to see Leo!] [Sierra said they’re close. It’s just one phone call away.] [Sierra, bring the King! Show this girl what a real connection looks like!] Sierra couldn't stand being doubted. She caved. "I’ll see... but I’m sure it won’t be a problem!" She called him. This was the third call my brother had received in thirty minutes. 6 "Join a reality show? Tell the director to talk to my manager. I’m busy." Leo’s voice was like velvet—deep, resonant, and currently dripping with irritation. Sierra didn't notice. She kept whining. "Just come for me? Come see the fun? There’s this really annoying girl on the cast who keeps bullying me and trying to use your name. I hate her." Leo: "???" Leo: "If you don't like her, don't talk to her. I’m hanging up." His voice was steady, but I knew that tone. He was on the edge of a breakdown. Before he could hang up, I leaned toward Sierra’s phone and spoke. "Just come." Sierra looked like she was about to explode. She covered the mic. "Who told you to talk?!" Then she went back to being sweet. "Bye, Leo!" But Leo didn't hang up. There was a pause. "Harper?" His usually calm voice actually sounded shocked. "Why the hell are you on a reality show? Do you know Sierra? She was just complaining about some 'annoying girl' who bullies her..." The silence stretched for a few more seconds. Then he spoke again, a hint of realization dawning on him. "Wait. Is the annoying girl... you?" Me: "Bingo! But there’s no prize!" Leo let out an exasperated laugh. "Fine. If you’re on that show, I’m booking a flight." 7 Thanks, bro. That was the second time I hit the trending list that day. #LeoBrooksGuestAppearance #LeoBrooksJoinsRealityShow #HowMuchDoesLeoLoveSierra Wait... #LeoBrooksSaysHarperIsAnnoying ??? The trending topics were taking a weird turn. The chat: [Leo Brooks, I’m crying. He’s so in love.] [He was going to say no until he heard Sierra was being bullied!] [I ship them so hard.] I couldn't even imagine their faces when they found out I was his literal sister. Sierra looked down at me like I was a bug under her designer shoe. "Just so you know," she said, "my relationship with Leo is something you could never understand." She actually believed he was coming "just for her." She warned me: "When Leo gets here, you better watch your mouth. Don't you dare try to get close to him. He’s here for me, understand?" I dragged out my voice in a mocking imitation: "He’s~ here~ for~ you~" Sierra looked like she wanted to scream. 8 When Leo finally arrived, Sierra was dressed to the nines, waiting at the gate. I was wearing a plain oversized tee and leggings. Sierra laughed when she saw me, looking at me with pure condescension. The cameras panned to the entrance. Leo Brooks stepped out of the SUV, wearing a baseball cap and a mask. Even covered up, his presence was staggering. He was doing his "cool and aloof" act, walking like the sidewalk was a runway. Then, he looked up. He saw me standing there, arms crossed, watching his little performance. Leo actually stumbled. He almost rolled his ankle. I burst out laughing. Sierra rushed over to steady him. "What happened? Are you okay?" Leo looked at me with a complicated expression and waved her off. Sierra took "waving off" as "I'm fine," but she didn't let go of his arm. She leaned in, trying to rest her head on his shoulder. I watched the disaster unfold. My brother was frantically shooting me "save me" eyes. I cleared my throat. "He’s waving because he wants you to let go." Sierra froze. The bluntness of it hit her like a brick. She scowled, about to snap, then suddenly laughed. "Oh, you're just jealous, aren't you?" I looked at Leo and gave him a look that said: I can't save you from this. Leo coughed and pulled his arm away, creating some distance. Sierra looked devastated. Like a kicked puppy. But she immediately turned her glare on me, blaming me for "ruining the moment." 9 The other guests and the crew finally caught up and tried to greet Leo. He didn't say a word to them. He just grabbed my arm and dragged me away. He had sent me a dozen texts that I ignored, and he was ready to interrogate me. He led me to a corner with no cameras. "Since when are you in show business? Why didn't you say anything?" I had been scouted right after I got back from studying abroad. I just wanted to see what my brother’s work life was actually like. Leo wasn't a big tech guy. He didn't spend much time on social media, so he had no idea about the "car-stalking" scandal or the fact that I’d gone viral for being "hated." I put on a pained face. "I didn't realize you worked so hard out here, Leo." He immediately forgot he was mad. He stood up a little straighter, adjusted his collar, and cleared his throat. "Tsk. It's not that hard. I mean, it’s a lot of work, but I do it for the family..." I cut him off. "Must be exhausting wearing those 2-inch height-boosters in your shoes all day. No wonder you almost tripped earlier." Leo let out a literal screech. "HARPER! I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" For a man, height is a matter of national security. We ended up in a scuffle. I poked his forehead. "Seriously, what is the deal with Sierra Vance? She thinks you're in love with her. Don't you see it?" Leo sighed. "It's complicated." "When you were abroad, Mom was lonely. She wanted to help someone, and she chose to sponsor a student from a rough background. That happened to be Sierra." "She was a drama major. When she graduated and wanted to enter the industry, Mom told me to 'keep an eye on her.' That’s literally it." Mystery solved. A gust of wind blew by. Leo, who had a lingering cold, started coughing. I rolled my eyes, but I reached out and patted his back to help him catch his breath. It was a perfectly normal sibling moment. But that was the exact moment Sierra burst through the door, livestream running on her phone. "Leo!" she screamed, then saw us. She lunged forward and shoved me away from him. "Get away from him!" Leo was baffled. "What are you doing? This is my—" I caught my brother’s eye and shook my head slightly. The chat saw it all. [OMG she’s already moving in! Sierra, protect our King!] [Get that homewrecker away from him!] [Harper, get off the show!] Leo caught a glimpse of the comments. His chest started heaving with rage—and pure confusion. He didn't understand why everyone was being so toxic to his sister. Mom had always taught him to protect his sister, and I had always been taught to... well, tolerate him. I wasn't ready to reveal the relationship yet. First, I wanted to see if Sierra was actually worth the sponsorship money my mom was giving her. Spoiler: She wasn't. 10 Sierra acted like I didn't exist. She turned to Leo, beaming. "Leo, I remember your family has a place in the city. The production ends in a few days and we have some free time. Can I come over? I really miss your mom." She was doing this in front of millions of viewers to "prove" her intimacy with the Brooks family. I chimed in. "Sounds fun. Can I come too?" Sierra put on a pained face. "Oh... I don't know. You and Leo aren't that close, and you've never met his mother. It might be a bit awkward to just crash, don't you think?" I almost laughed. "I've been there once or twice. Right, big brother?" Leo, being a little shit, played along. "Yeah. Once or twice." Sierra tried to act cute and grab Leo’s arm again. Leo’s expression went cold. "Sierra," he said firmly. "Know your place." 11 The final day of filming arrived. We were set to head to the city. Leo went ahead to the estate. Sierra and I were left in the courtyard. She suddenly started a livestream. She was being all sneaky about it. "Shh, guys, don't take screenshots yet! I promised I'd show you Leo’s family home. We’re in the front courtyard now!" I stepped in front of her camera, blocking the lens. "Recording on private property without permission... isn't that illegal?" Sierra, caught red-handed, hid her phone behind her back. "None of your business!" Then she got her confidence back. "You’re only here because I let you tag along. You’d never see a place like this in your entire life otherwise!" I sighed and checked her stream. The comments were all: [Exactly! She should keep her mouth shut and be grateful.] [I can't even look at her face.] The viewership was peaking. I looked at Sierra and let a small smile touch my lips. 12 A fluffy head popped out from around the corner. It was our family’s Shiba Inu, Mochi. I was about to go over and give him some love when Sierra beat me to it. "Aww! This is Leo’s dog, Mochi! He loves me so much!" She started making "pspsps" noises at him. Mochi looked over. His eyes lit up, his ears went back, and he charged like a rocket. Sierra crouched down, arms open... and then watched as Mochi dodged her and slammed directly into my chest. "Aww, baby! Did you miss me? Do you want a treat?" Mochi’s tail was a literal propeller as he licked my face. Sierra stood up, looking both furious and embarrassed. "I guess he just likes anyone today." "Yeah," I said, mimicking her tone. "Unlike some people, whom dogs don't like at all." Sierra glared at me. "You!"
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