All Chapters of Raising Your Brat, Round Two: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

"Babe, Luca's still just a kid. I can't leave him alone. Let's bring him here."Eric Jablon's face was tear-streaked, eyes full of fake grief—and hope.For a second, I was lost. No blood, no pain, no mangled car. Just me, alive and home.Time had rewound.I squeezed out a few tears. "Of course. Your parents vanished so fast. We don't have kids, so we'll treat him like our own."Same old script—Gregory and Meredith's "late-in-life" miracle. They ditched town when Luca turned three, faked their deaths in a mudslide, and dumped the kid on us.I adopted Luca under my name, raised him like my own, turned him into a viral sensation. Then bam—Gregory, Meredith, and Tammy Page waltzed back. Tammy, Eric's first love and Luca's actual mom, wanted him back. And me gone.She made sure of it—ran me over with my own car.Not this time.I'd "pay" them all back—with interest.Eric lit up when I agreed, smile way too bright for a guy who just "lost" his parents. He ran to the door and brought

Chapter 2

Eric panicked, slapped a hand over Luca's mouth. "Your mom was Meredith. Your mom NOW is Dakota—HER, got it?"He leaned in, voice low. "Call her Mom."Luca mumbled, "Mom."I didn't press. Eric practically melted into the couch, like lying wore him out.I yanked him back up. "Your parents are dead. We need to file their death certificates.""Huh?"I shot him a look. "Seriously? Move it. Before the office closes."He threw out excuses the whole ride, but I dragged him to the clerk's office anyway.I'll give him this—he pulled a coroner's statement from somewhere, and it passed.At the counter, he stalled, wouldn't sign. After squirming forever, he finally asked, "Wait... if we file this, their pension stops, right?"Even the clerk blinked. "Uh, yeah. Pensions only go to the living seniors."I sneered inside.Gregory and Meredith weren’t dead. Even fakers got to eat, no matter where they were hiding.Last time, I was too caught up with Luca to think straight. Took me months t

Chapter 3

Eric's tone flipped fast. "Babe, what are you saying? We're married—what's mine is yours, what's yours is mine."I smirked. "That card was for your parents. They're gone, so I shut it down. Problem?"His eyes darted. "I... I was buying you a Valentine's gift. Picked the wrong card, that's all."I leaned in, all fake surprise. "Aww, that's so thoughtful! But I already have that bag. I like this new one instead—buy me that."He had no way out. Watching him wince as he paid? Priceless.I grabbed his phone and changed the delivery to my office. "One of my coworkers said her husband wouldn't splurge on this. I'm gonna unbox it at work—rub it in a little."His face? Darker than week-old gym socks.That one bag nearly wiped him out. I wondered how long Gregory and Meredith could survive now.Seeing me in a good mood, he tried to play sweet. "Hey, why not reopen the card for Luca? Think of it like he's inheriting my parents' money."Whose money?I rolled my eyes, then switched gears.

Chapter 4

Back home, I faked excitement for Eric. "Wild, right? Random people were stopping me to say how cute Luca is. Maybe he really could be a child star."Eric lit up. "You're already a talent agent—why waste your hookups on strangers? Luca's perfect. We could push the pretty-boy heartthrob thing... or the fun, boy-next-door vibe."I just stared at him.Next day, I dragged Luca to the office. Eric, obviously, had to tag along.In the studio, Luca beamed at the camera like a total idiot. I rubbed my forehead.Last time around, I somehow turned this painfully average kid into a star. Guess I was a miracle worker.The crew looked ready to murder me after hours of useless shots. Their faces were darker than coffee.I grabbed a few of the worst pics, tossed them into a "portfolio," and called it a day so everyone could escape.Eric, of course, was starstruck."If Luca doesn't make it, who could? He just needs a résumé. Sign him up for competitions!"Yeah, sure I will. The kiddie pagean

Chapter 5

Tammy's smile cracked, her voice shooting up. "Luca's not even blood to you—how could he be your son?!"Meredith's eyes nearly popped. "You barren witch! Can't have your own, so you steal ours? Letting you into this family was the worst decision!"I spread my hands, smirking. "Hey, not on me. Eric's the one who pushed me to adopt Luca under my name for our family's benefits. Free son—why would I say no?"Eric, about to play the saint, shot up. "So that's why you agreed so fast?! I thought you actually cared about Luca, but you were scheming the whole time! And I trusted you!"I ruffled Luca's hair, smiling. "Scheming? He calls me Mom, doesn't he? I've raised him like my own. You think it didn't cost me money and resources to build him up?"Fine. Hand over the house and car, and we'll call it payback for what I poured into him. From then on, every cent Luca makes has nothing to do with me."My smile dropped ice-cold. "Eric, if I wasn't desperate to cut ties with you and your trash

Chapter 6

Luca stuck to his word—total diva mode on set, refusing to do a thing. The crew was losing it.I just let him. He'd learn.What I didn't expect was him sneaking into my room that night.He tiptoed like he was in a spy movie, but I'm a light sleeper. I kept my eyes shut, curious.He lifted my phone, pressed my finger to unlock it, then started scrolling my chats.He only recognized his own name. Back and forth, searching. Nothing. Nobody had mentioned him.For a second, I almost felt bad.I sighed. "Don't bother. Your parents haven't asked about you."Luca jolted, almost dropped the phone, then scowled. "You're lying! Just 'cause I can't read doesn't mean you can trick me!""You know numbers, right? Check the date. Last text from your parents was over a week ago."He froze, eyes wide, then tears started pouring.I passed him a tissue. "Wanna bet? Come to shoots, make some money—your parents will be clawing to get you back. Deal?"He didn't answer, just dragged himself back t

Chapter 7

Over the weekend at the law firm, I signed the papers again.As soon as I put the pen down, Tammy yanked Luca close and sneered, "Jealous of someone else's kid? All you've got is that house drowning in mortgage and a busted secondhand car."I just smiled and nodded. No point wasting breath.Because I knew what she didn't—by year's end, the city council would announce a new subway stop in our neighborhood, plus a fancy new high school. Property values were about to explode.By the time I died last life, prices had already shot up fivefold.Maybe they'd cash in on Luca, maybe not. Either way, I was already sitting on a million.After sending Luca off, I won't lie—I felt weirdly empty.Tammy was right. Someone else's kid was never gonna be mine.So I made a choice. I'd leave something behind for my own. IVF, sperm bank, top-tier donor.I took a week off and picked one: 6'1", PhD in finance, Ivy League.When I came back to work, guess who I ran into.Eric. Clueless as ever. No c

Chapter 8

After lunch, my coworkers gossiped about Luca's parents and grandparents.Everyone cracked up, and I laughed along—but inside, it just felt heavy.He was still a kid, yet carrying the weight of feeding a whole family.I rested a hand on my barely-there bump and promised myself my child would never live like that."Dakota, would you think about being the face of our new project?" my assistant asked, pulling me back. "The theme's single mothers, and we can't find the right fit. You choosing IVF, becoming a single mom—it's trending and honestly inspiring. I think it'll blow up."I'd spent over twenty years launching child stars and internet darlings, but I'd never once stepped in front of the camera.I thought it through—and said yes.While my coworkers were getting me ready in the studio, the door slammed open."Dakota Dawson, you owe us an explanation!" Tammy lunged at me, nails out. "Other agencies said Luca's competitions were fake! You told us he'd make money—how dare you lie

Chapter 9

Parents who'd put their kids in those same competitions started speaking up for us:[If you wanted to be a real star, why not join official contests? These were just for fun and experience. Some people clearly had shady motives.][Their kid probably couldn't pass real auditions, so they tried shortcuts. It tanked, and now they're throwing a tantrum.]When the tide turned, Eric went live and came straight for me."Unwed woman knocks herself up—bet she doesn't even know who the dad is, acting all high and mighty. What kind of star kids could someone like her pick? Be a miracle if she didn't wreck them!"Classic. Nothing rattles a man more than a woman who doesn't need him—they always drag it straight into the gutter.I dropped the IVF documents online with one line:[A woman can be a mother on her own. Men, kindly step aside.]Then I plugged our new campaign: [Single Moms Save the World. Sign-ups open now!]Our official page blew up:[Dakota Dawson is a queen! Men are just sper

Chapter 10

"If Eric found out the son he went broke for, gave up everything for... wasn't even his, what do you think he'd do?"Tammy's face drained. Her legs shook so hard it looked like she might collapse. "I was wrong. Eric's all I've got—don't tell him!"Yeah, I pushed you, but you're fine, right? Just let it go. Please... don't ruin me."I smiled slow and sharp, folded the paternity test into a paper airplane, and flicked it over her shoulder.Her eyes locked on it, arms flailing as she stumbled after—completely blind to the figure standing right in front of her.Eric snagged the little plane off his shoulder, frowning. "What's this? What are you two up to?""N-Nothing! Just give it back!" Tammy stammered.Suspicion darkened his face as he unfolded the paper. With every line he read, his fists clenched tighter—until he finally crushed it and hurled it at her."I poured time, money, everything into you and that kid—and you made me raise somebody else's bastard?!"His whole body shook

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