Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Jack sat next to his wife, Emily, while Nick cozied up beside Grace. Lucy sat alone on the couch, her head down, wiping away her tears.

Harold's voice cut through the tension. "Alright, everyone's here. Let's get this out in the open."

Samantha felt like an outsider and was about to leave with little Oliver, not wanting to interrupt the adults' conversation. But Alex held her hand firmly, guiding her to sit beside him. "Stay put," he said gently. "Big brother Jack, I... I want to marry Dylan," Lucy managed between sobs.

Jack's brows furrowed instantly. "Absolutely not."

Nick, usually the easy-going one, showed his displeasure. "Lucy, I don't agree either," he said firmly.

The Smith men stood united, surprisingly over Lucy's situation.

Seeing his sons agree, Harold's anger subsided a bit. "Lucy, no one in this family agrees. If Dylan doesn't want to embarrass himself, he should just give up."

Grace finally spoke up, stating her position clearly. "Dad, Lucy's a grown woman. She's going to get married eventually, and Dylan..."

"I said no means no," Harold cut her off, raising his voice.

Even Mia, who usually had the highest regard in the household, stayed silent after Grace was reprimanded. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.

Jack glanced at his wife; he knew she was Lucy's closest confidant. Yet, she hadn't spoken up this time.

Perhaps Lucy could count on a sudden show of support from Grace, but surely she had not forgotten Mia's suggestions. Otherwise, how could Grace have so quickly accepted Lucy and Dylan's relationship? Anyone else would need time to ponder before offering support. Only after Mia's prompting would Lucy have realized who in the family could be swayed to her side.

Mia looked down at her son's sleeping face, aware of her husband's intense gaze. She didn't dare meet Jack's eyes, feeling intimidated.

unlikely ally in Alex. "Grandpa, if you're

do I need? Can't I just dislike Dylan?" Harold almost got into

passed a tissue to Lucy from the table. "Auntie,

continued, "Aunt Lucy and Dylan are fine together. They're the ones getting married, not you. You don't have to live

pointed his walking stick at Alex. "One more word,

to the noisy atmosphere and started crying. It was

stood up, rocking her baby

had startled his grandson. "I'm the

warned, "Just don't scare Samantha away with

to herself, "I'm not scared,"

looked at his prospective granddaughter-in-law

mood in the room, cooed to her son. "Shh, sleepy time now, close your eyes,

spoke coldly, "Lucy, you're too young. I don't approve

was even younger

who was trying to pacify the baby,

marveled at

the nerve to challenge Jack, the man everyone feared! Jack demanded, "Is your situation with Mia the same

a disgraceful forced marriage, the other is fighting

this isn't the

furious, and Lucy didn't dare speak

a precedent with Mia, skirted around the issue of age. "Lucy, I just don't think you

back into the Byrnes is like returning to her own home. They share similar values, so there won't be any major differences in their fundamental beliefs. Furthermore, we all know the Byrnes very well; we're familiar with how they treat our Lucy. We won't have to worry about her being mistreated in the future." Jack questioned, "Who would dare to

her brothers dead? Or was the Smith