is instant family based on a true story

Minnie Lane and her siblings had always relied on each other since they were kids. But an accident tore them apart, separating them for years. Fifteen years later, her younger siblings have each achieved success in their respective careers, while Minnie, tragically, was sold by human traffickers to Victor Zane in a remote village. Now, her younger siblings are determined to set out on a journey to find their eldest sister and bring her home.

In a devastating fire, a stepmother and her stepdaughter become trapped in an elevator, and Evelyn sacrifices her life in a desperate attempt to save Heidi. Unbeknownst to her husband, Vincent Clarke, Evelyn's tragic death occurs while he stands by the side of Heidi's biological mother, Fiona Lawson. Grief-stricken, Heidi cries out, "I only have one mother, her name is Evelyn Glover!"

Paisley Jenkins, a war correspondent, gave up her career to become a housewife after getting married and having a child. Ten years later, her husband, Lucas, gifts Paisley’s late mother’s camera to his "little sister," Sophia. Paisley discovers Lucas and Sophia’s ambiguous relationship, and their daughter, Anna, idolizes Sophia. Heartbroken, Paisley applies to return to the warzone. Her news director warns her, "War correspondents must stay until the conflict ends"—implying she might not come back alive. Paisley files for divorce, but Lucas dismisses it.

Karina's stepson's birth mother returns, threatening to take the boy Karina raised and helped heal from a congenital leg disability. After a heated argument, Karina realizes her husband and stepson saw her only as a free nanny. Desperate, she then discovers John, her silent protector, ready to help her restart her career and shine again as a cybersecurity queen. When her ex-husband and stepson regret it, it's too late.

Ten years ago, Shawna Stewart was left in the mountains and then taken in by a fool, Cherry. After being bullied for years because of Cherry, Shawna ran away and met her real mom Mindy Stewart. Mindy couldn't accept her daughter's adoptive mom was a fool, so she tried to take Shawna away. However, they accidentally found out that Cherry turned out to be the War Goddess, the Phoenix Legion's former commander.

Celeste Sawyer is the true heiress of Sawyer Group. However, she went missing when she was little and was adopted by June Jensen, a scavenger. When she grows up, she returns to her family to inherit her position as CEO of the company, while also helping June search for her missing daughter. On her first day of work, Celeste bumps into Holly Farke and notices that Holly bears the same birthmark on her wrist as June. Consequently, Celeste arranges for a paternity test between them. Meanwhile, Holly pretends to be the heiress of Sawyer Group. Celeste receives assistance from Kieran Scott, a Javoska tycoon, while Holly enlists help from Yves Graham. Gradually, Celeste's true identity begins to surface, and Holly's lies start to unravel.

Jane Arnold was imprisoned on her wedding day after being falsely accused of killing Francis Wooten's sister Jennifer Wooten. Jane gave birth to her daughter Bunny in prison. Years later, Bunny reunites with Francis but faces harassment and schemes from Francis' admirer, Sonia Thompson. By chance, Bunny meets her mother Jane Arnold, who now goes by Jean Smith. Mother and daughter work tirelessly to uncover the truth and clear their names, discovering that Sonia was the real killer. However, Sonia kidnaps Bunny. To save her daughter, Jane must agree to Sonia's unreasonable demands, but Sonia secretly plans to kill them both. Fortunately, Francis arrives in time to save the mother and daughter.

Margaret sacrificed everything to raise her two sons, only to have her "dead" husband Channing show up at their graduation with his mistress in tow. The truth hit hard: he'd faked his death, and "her" boys were actually his love children with Vivian. The shock killed her. Then she woke up in the delivery room. She reborned. Game on.

Joanie Sadler and Laurent Goff met and grew up together as children in an orphanage. After leaving the orphanage, Laurent set out to build a career and promised to one day give Joanie a home. Joanie was later adopted by Peggy Boswell and Benjamin Francis, a couple who had lost their own daughter. Peggy sees Joanie as a replacement for her lost child, and when Joanie's birth parents later come to claim her, the Francis couple forges false paternity test results to keep Joanie. Years later, the Francises' real daughter Joanna is found, causing the couple to immediately turn against Joanie and send her back to her birth parents. Joanna also resents Joanie for living the life that should have been hers. At this time, Laurent, through a paternity test from years ago, locates Joanie and arrives at the Francis household, bringing a billion-dollar investment project. However, due to a series of misunderstandings, Laurent mistakenly believes Joanna is his childhood friend Joanie.

Three years ago, Mabel witnessed her father being killed in a car accident by Sharlene, the heiress of the Quinn family. Her mother was brutally beaten to death, leaving the family in torment. Three years later, Sharlene became engaged to the wealthy Frost family but sought true love with a punk. Seizing the opportunity, Mabel took on Sharlene's identity, marrying into the Frost family. Using her new status as the Quinn family's heiress, she planned to exact revenge and make the Quinn family pay for their blood debt.

Alina, the true Windsor heiress, lost at three, was replaced by Angela. Found years later, Alina faced Angela's schemes and family alienation. After a tragic death, she was reborn, left the Windsors, and forged her own path. The family, through coincidences, realized her true love and regretted their actions.

Evelyn Willow, a strong female general, is honored by the emperor with the title of "Wise General" for her victories. Returning to the capital for her sister Vera Willow's wedding, she's mistaken for a beggar due to her worn clothes. Despite this, Vera fiercely defends her. But on the day of the wedding, Vera is betrayed by her entire in-law family. Evelyn uses her power to strike back, defending her sister's honor. After helping Vera annul the marriage, she arranges a new match with Caius Nelson. On the day the duke sends his betrothal gifts, both sisters unexpectedly encounter the parents who abandoned them. Evelyn decides to make them regret their actions for the rest of their lives.

Twenty years ago, renowned designer Taylor Snow traveled back to her husband Felix Moore's hometown with their children to honor his ancestors. But fate had other plans—a sudden storm led to a car crash, and Taylor and her daughter fell off a cliff, disappearing without a trace. Just a year later, Felix married his childhood friend, Zoe York, and life moved on. Fast forward two decades, Taylor Snow, now suffering from amnesia and living under the name Snow Taylor, finds herself reunited with the people she once loved—without even realizing it.

Ten years after Yancy Stuart vanished in a tragic hiking accident, her brother Jeffery finally found her, only to learn she had no memory of him. When Jeffery rescued Yancy from an abusive boyfriend, they agreed to reconnect despite her lost memories. Driven by guilt for not protecting her before, Jeffery worked to improve her life, but rebuilding their bond proved challenging. As they grew closer, Jeffery discovered they weren't biologically related. Embracing his feelings, he confessed his love. Together, they overcame adversaries, media scrutiny, and personal struggles, ultimately forming a strong and loving family.

Nina Lowe was abandoned by her mother at a young age and raised by Asher Leed. Twenty years later, her biological parents track her down and bring her back. However, upon returning to their home, Nina is met with nothing but humiliation. On her birthday, the Lowes threaten her with her adoptive grandfather and force her to sign a kidney transplant agreement. At the hospital, Nina runs into Max Yale, who reveals that the Lowes were responsible for Asher's death. Consumed by rage, Nina confronts the Lowes, and in that moment, they finally show their true, ruthless nature.

Alina, the true Windsor heiress, lost at three, was replaced by Angela. Found years later, Alina faced Angela's schemes and family alienation. After a tragic death, she was reborn, left the Windsors, and forged her own path. The family, through coincidences, realized her true love and regretted their actions.

After being reborn five years back, Isabel Lopez realizes everything she once poured her heart into was stolen. In her past life, she was framed, thrown in jail, and died cold and alone on the streets.This time, she's back for revenge.On the piano stage, she exposes Flora's lies. In the literary world, she crushes her second sister Quin with a hit novel. In the business world, she partners with former rivals to take down her brother Cyrus's billion-dollar empire.When the Lopez family gets on their knees and begs for forgiveness,Isabel rips up the family photo with a smirk.You made me suffer once. Now,I'll return the favor—one hundred times over.No more family. No more mercy.

In a family where sons inherit the fortune, while daughters are treated like strangers, Grace Reid is determined to secure her own position. To ensure her status, she switches her newborn daughter with another family's son. The baby girl is left in the care of Beatrice Young, who, more interested in money than motherhood, abandons the child. But twenty years later, Beatrice returns, presenting her own daughter as Grace's biological child, and Grace, desperate to marry off Abby as her daughter, begins to subject her real daughter, Kiana, to relentless humiliation and manipulation, pushing her to divorce her husband, Ashton Grant. In a twisted effort to bolster Abby's future, Grace even schemes to take Kiana's life…