Rosamunde Pilcher: Falsches Leben, wahre Liebe (2020)

Marine Lieutenant William “Bill” Pexton and Marc Oliver “Mo” Miller become friends during the selection test for the combat divers. Mo has not had as good a life as Bill, who grew up in an intact family. Mo does not know his father; all he knows is that he is supposed to have served in the Navy. The young men have no idea that they are connected by much more than friendship: they were switched as babies. This only came to light two years after their birth, and by then the bond each mother had formed with the child she was raising was too strong for them to change things. The two women did want to stay in touch, but that fell through when Mo’s “mother” suddenly disappeared with him. Bill’s “mother,” Lady Theresa Pexton, nevertheless wanted to remain involved in the life of her biological child. She hired a private detective to follow the trail of the mother and child, which led to South Africa. Lady Pexton’s husband, Lord Frederic Pexton, was displeased when he learned of this, as he would rather have let the matter rest. Both Mo and Bill fail the combat diver test, although Bill fails because he refuses to leave his fallen friend Mo behind. At the end of the day, Bill invites his new friend to Cornwall, where his parents own an estate. On the way there, they make a detour to visit Bill’s girlfriend, Abigail Collins. But instead of Abby, Bill finds only her sister Doreen at the jewelry shop the sisters run. Bill does not know that Doreen, whose nickname used to be “Donut” because of her plump figure, has been in love with him for a very long time. Since being diagnosed with diabetes, Doreen has changed greatly in appearance and become extremely slim. Seeing her only from behind, Bill briefly mistakes her for Abigail. At the same time, Mo meets Abigail, unaware that she is Bill’s girlfriend. There is a powerful spark between them. Mo takes a selfie and also enters his phone number into the mobile phone Abigail readily lets him use. Mo is amazed when he sees the Pextons’ estate. Bill had not told him much, including that he came from an old aristocratic family of naval officers, where it was customary for the sons to join the Navy, even though Bill would rather have become a doctor. Lord Frederic and Lady Theresa welcome the young man warmly, as their son’s friends are always welcome. When Bill introduces Mo to his girlfriend Abby, the young people conceal the fact that they have already met. Doreen, meanwhile, does everything she can to suppress her feelings for Bill, which are still there—especially because the two of them get along so well. While everyone is still trying to get their feelings under control, Frederic begins to suspect that Mo might be his biological son, the one who was switched at birth. A naval insignia that Frederic happens to see also plays a part in this. Comparing the birth dates further supports his suspicion, which is increasingly confirmed. When Bill and Mo find out, at first they have no idea how to deal with it. Lord Frederic and Lady Theresa, however, are overjoyed and embrace the son they have found again. The Lord now does everything he can to have Mo officially recognized as his son and heir to his title. This makes things difficult for Bill, who increasingly feels like a fifth wheel and thinks he is no longer needed. But it is not Abby who supports him through this difficult time—it is Doreen. Even so, Bill proposes to Abby, as if he wants to hold on to the past. Abby, overwhelmed herself at that moment, accepts. To Doreen, it seems the time has come to leave Cornwall. Too much has changed between Mo and Bill for their friendship to remain carefree. Then Mo’s foster mother unexpectedly turns up and reveals that Lord Pexton was responsible for her disappearing with Mo all those years ago. He had wanted to buy his son from her. This revelation causes a rift between the Pextons, as Lady Pexton cannot understand or accept her husband’s behavior. Abby, too, has to admit that her dream of one day becoming Lady Pexton will not come true with Bill, since the title will now pass to Mo. What is more, she feels much more strongly drawn to Mo than she had been willing to admit to herself. She acts on this and gives Bill his ring back. A conversation between Bill and Mo clears up several things, including that Doreen is the right woman for Bill and that his career path is not the military but studying medicine. And so Mo gets his parents to reconcile, and Bill dances with Doreen at Mo and Abby’s wedding. When Doreen, glancing toward her sister, asks whether Bill is still sure he made the right choice, he kisses her and says, “Absolutely.”