Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Jack watched Anya devour her food in the car, her cheeks puffed out with a half-eaten burger. She shot him a nervous glance and apologized, "Chad, I'm so sorry, it wasn't on purpose." Jack chuckled, "Take it easy, don't choke."

Mia just sighed, lost in her thoughts. It hit her why everyone was so surprised when her husband indulged her, and why she had unknowingly stepped on some of Andre's soft spots. Turns out, everyone has that one special person in their life who lets them get away with just about anything. Mia patted Anya's shoulder. "Kid, Aunt Mia's got your wedding gift all ready."

Anya looked puzzled, "..."

Jack gently swatted Mia's hand away. "Go back to your mommy blog empire. We're heading out."

Jack slipped on the Ray-Bans Mia had given him and drove off.

On the road, Anya unwrapped another burger for Jack, ready to feed him. But Jack took it with one hand while steering with the other, taking a big bite.

"Chad, have you ever eaten in your car before?"

"Yeah."

Anya relaxed a bit. After a moment, Jack added, "You're the second person."

Anya's eyes widened, "..."

Half an hour before the exam, Molly sat on a bench outside, munching on a burger, waiting for Jack to drop off Anya at the test center.

Soon, Jack arrived. He sat next to Molly, handing her a wad of paper.

"What's this?" Molly unfolded it to find a bunch of notes.

studied much in the last six months, and I'm really worried you won't pass. It's better to have something than nothing. If the proctor isn't watching, start with the essay questions. I'll

"Even your

grumbled, taking another bite of her

At the Byrne residence.

Chad went back to talk with his

had been taken in for questioning by the police, Grandma Aubree and Grandpa Elmer were out at

his mother, "Molly cares most about your opinion. If you're on

son, "Exactly because she cares so much about what I think, my approval would just stress her out more. Chad, if

"You're right, I've been pressuring her these past days. Mom, leaving me out of it, would you be at ease if Molly married someone else? If she ended up with a nitpicking mother-in-law and a

firm, "Those aren't good enough reasons. Despite the challenges with your father's relatives, he has been good to me, and your grandparents have always treated me like a daughter.

exhausting. Coleen wasn't some naive, sweet girl; she was a renowned businesswoman. And since she

watch, said goodbye to his mother, and went to the school

a cheat sheet from her sleeve and compared answers with Jack. "I got this one right, didn't I? I remember reviewing it last night, but I didn't dare pull it out since the proctor was strict." Jack tallied up

more ambitious, "Next year, I want to apply for... never mind, it's probably out

accidentally fell from her sleeve, Jack was surprised to see she had one too. Before Anya

grabbed Anya's arm from behind her

felt her sweater riding up her arm along with Jack's hand

with a

you for so long,

help but defend her, "Why are you being so harsh? Weren't you scared of failing and having to retake courses in your first year? Anya's a freshman, and you know how the advisors intimidate new students. It's normal to buy cheat sheets when that's the environment, and it's not like she actually cheated. Anya's a good kid, she said she didn't

turned to Anya, "Do you

at Jack, feeling a bit intimidated, "Um... Auntie, your brother's here to pick you up." She cleverly sidestepped