Raising Your Brat, Round Two

In my last life, my in-laws "died," and my so-called DINK husband, Eric, begged me to raise his sweet little "brother," Luca.

Seven years flew by.

That scrawny kid turned into a total cutie and blew up online—pulling in tens of thousands a month.

Then one night, boom—Eric's parents came back from the dead.

And with them? Tammy. Eric's first love. She clung to Eric with one hand, Luca with the other, all smug as hell.

"I've been traveling for seven years. I'm tired. And wow, what a perfect son—thanks for raising him."

Eric's parents didn't even pretend to care.

"You couldn't give Eric a kid, but at least you were useful this once."

"Sign the divorce papers. Make room for Tammy."

I walked out of that law firm wrecked—and right into the path of a speeding car.

Tammy was behind the wheel, smiling like she won.

Next thing I knew, I woke up on the same day Eric's parents had "died."

"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 in Luca.

Kid was a mess—tear-streaked cheeks, snot everywhere. Tried wiping it on his sleeve, but Eric stopped him real fast.

In my last life, I bought the whole 'sad little boy' act, failed to notice the signs. Now? Crystal clear—it was all theater.

Eric kept the drama rolling.

"I knew you'd say yes. You've always had such a big heart. It's my fault, really—I was too scared to have kids, and I stole your chance at being a mom. But now with Luca here, maybe this makes up for it."

I smiled—cold, crooked, fake.

After we got married, I begged for a baby. Eric shut it down hard.

Said his mom almost died giving birth to Luca. Swore he'd never risk me like that.

I thought that meant he loved me. Nah. He just already had a kid—with his first love, Tammy.

Luca stayed close to Eric, quiet and awkward. "Daddy..." he whispered.

Last time, I