**Original Text:**

"Mr. Butler, we've got a juicer," the butler announced.

Mr. Hansen raised an eyebrow. "Did ours break?"

The butler shook his head. "Not yet, sir."

Mr. Hansen let out a silent huff.

Later that afternoon, Andre returned home.

No sooner had he stepped through the door than he swept up his precious son, Henry, into an embrace. The little boy giggled happily in his father's arms.

Mia, always the tease, said with a smirk, "Silly boy. You don't even know who didn't want you last night, and you're all smiles."

Andre gently placed his finger in Henry's tiny palm. "Did you behave today at home, or did Mia have to spank you?"

Henry, sensing his father's attention, gurgled back impatiently, as if in conversation.

Mia, not one to be left out, handed her husband a piece of sugar cane she didn't want. "Honey, I saved this for you."

Andre eyed the barely-touched treat. "Couldn't finish it, huh?"

Mia laughed shyly and nestled the sugar cane into her husband's arms. "It'd be a shame to waste it. You finish it for me." Then she scooped up their son, who had been 'chatting' with his father. She was absolutely smitten with the little guy-round and so endearing when he cried, smelling sweetly of milk.

These days, she found herself wanting to kiss her son constantly, her affection for the child far outpacing her affection for his dad.

Grandpa Hansen was just as fond of his little grandson. He would boast to the family that despite his age, he still had his uses.

Anya, clinging to Mia, pleaded to sleep with the baby that night, too enamored with the little bundle to let go. Whoever held Henry, Anya was right there, squatting down to play with him. "You can't, you're still a child yourself," Mia told her.

"But Grandpa's old, and he gets to sleep with the baby," Anya pointed out.

"He may be old, but he's raised three children of his own," Mia countered.

Hansen couldn't help but feel a bit of pride. "When it comes to raising kids, you all should listen to me. None of you has the experience I do. When I was raising Bruce, Andre, and Molly, your mom still took my advice." Molly leaned against her father, teasing, "You just say that 'cause mom's not here to call your bluff."

"I'd say it even if she was here," Hansen retorted, unfazed.

Leo, the family's resident smart aleck, couldn't resist jabbing at Grandpa Hansen. Pretending to see something behind him, he said tensely, "Grandpa, there's something behind you, don't turn around." Hansen was unamused.

Mia silently snuggled up to her husband, and Molly made a show of huddling in her coat. "Weird, why did it just get so cold?"

Hansen stayed silent.

Anya wasn't scared until the atmosphere got to her. She clutched Henry's little hand, eyeing the quiet living room.

The room fell silent for a mere five seconds before Hansen, brandishing his walking stick, started chasing his mischievous grandson. "You little rascal, I'm not your grandpa if I don't knock some sense into you today." Naomi and Bruce watched their son being chased, laughing heartily. "It's been over a decade, and he still hasn't lost that smart mouth."

Andre chuckled. "A good thrashing might do him some good."

Mia held her son, schooling him gently, "Remember, sweetie, don't take after your cousin Chad."

The living room was bustling, with everyone but Leo enjoying the commotion. Poor Leo, and Anya felt for him.

As evening approached and dinner was done, it was time to rest.

Hansen, holding a grudge, pushed his daughter away when Molly sought a private word. "Off with you. Didn't you say you were cold? Go to bed."

Mia pretended to ask her father for a favor as she slipped out with her son. "Dad, could you "

"I'm not helping, not dealing, not caring. I'm old, and I'm retiring. Your son, your problem," Hansen declared, holding another grudge.

Mia was thrilled her son was her ticket to a free night!

Leo, nursing a lump on his back from Hansen's swing, approached his grandfather. "Old man, was that really necessary?"

"What did you call me?!" Hansen glowered.

Leo taunted once more, "Hansen?"

his stick, Leo beat a

night, Hansen sulked alone, his mood

bedroom. "Oh, my son, you'll be

as Andre's

for Leo, Anya later took a first-aid kit to his door. "Chad,

was surprised, opening the

the kit. "I

He wouldn't really hurt his

her determination, Leo relented.

uncomfortable because I'm a girl, I can get Aunt Molly,"

need to trouble my mom. If you want to have a look, come in," Leo said, ushering Anya

her sleeping child, reluctant to let go

own room, sleep eluding her, her heart heavy with the

Byrne family treated her like their own, but the Cedillo family was

for help was out of the question; the consequences could be dire for

to her to broach the subject with her

and paced hesitantly

fled with her son. Suddenly, she spotted Molly

are you doing

of Leo's room?" Jade

to see Leo, adjusting his

was certainly

before the two youngsters,

suspicion, "why is Anya coming

Catching a glimpse of a young man ushering out a lady while straightening his clothes was enough to cast shadows on her mind. "Leo, what on earth were you two up to? Why

Leo were taken aback by the sudden interrogation from the

why are you both still up?" Leo managed to stammer, hoping to

room was filled with queries bouncing off the walls, yet

twos, with a little one nestled in his mother's arms, smacking his lips as slumber

emerged, his presence somehow causing everyone to lower their heads in

of a judge's gavel. With a firm hand, he guided his petite wife, who was still cradling their snoozing son, back to their sanctuary. And with a nudge less

---

**Enhanced Text:**

we've got a juicer," the

an eyebrow.

butler shook his head. "Not

out

afternoon, Andre

he stepped through the door than he scooped up his precious son, Henry, into a big bear hug. The little boy giggled happily

smirked and said, "Silly boy. You don't even know who didn't want you last night,

"Did you behave today,

his dad's attention, gurgled back impatiently, as

not one to be left out, handed her husband a piece of sugar cane she

barely-touched treat. "Couldn't finish it,

sugar cane into her husband's arms. "It'd be a shame to waste it. You finish it for me." Then

and so endearing when he

found herself wanting to kiss her son constantly, her affection for the child far

grandson. He would boast to the family

night, too enamored with the little bundle to let go. Whoever held Henry,

can't, you're still a child yourself," Mia

gets to sleep with

may be old, but he's

has the experience I do. When I was raising Bruce, Andre, and Molly, your mom still took my advice." Molly leaned against her dad, teasing, "You just say that 'cause mom's not here to call

she was here,"

Grandpa Hansen. Pretending to see something behind him, he said tensely, "Grandpa, there's something behind you, don't

made a show of huddling in her coat.

Hansen stayed silent.

scared until the atmosphere got to her. She clutched Henry's little hand, eyeing the quiet living

his walking stick, started chasing his mischievous grandson. "You little rascal, I'm not your grandpa if I don't knock some sense into you today." Naomi and Bruce watched their son being chased, laughing heartily. "It's been over a decade, and he still hasn't

chuckled. "A good thrashing might do him some

him gently, "Remember, sweetie, don't take

Leo enjoying the commotion. Poor Leo,

and dinner was

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255