Leo only discovered the true reason behind the Byrne family's visit from Anya and Jade later on.

"They didn't come to propose."

Leo explained, "No one proposes with such meager gifts, and certainly not without giving us a heads-up first."

Anya gazed at Leo with admiration, "Chad, how do you know all this?"

Jade quipped, "He's just doing his homework for when he has to woo his sweetheart."

"Woo who?" a clueless Anya asked again.

A brief, tense silence fell over the room.

Anya seemed to catch on, disbelief mixing with realization. She looked at Leo, who was already looking back at her.

Anya felt like her heart could stop right then and there!

Leo's intense gaze briefly met hers before he turned to Molly, "You're all talk, Jade. Why did you clam up when Chad was supposed to pop the question?"

Jade found her outlet for frustration, "Like it was easy to hold back? I had a ton to say, but Mia's hubby gave me one look, and I couldn't even whisper a punctuation mark."

All eyes shifted to Mia, who was cradling her baby.

"Don't look at me. I handle the finances at home, but all the big decisions are in my baby's dad's hands."

The baby, now well-fed, joined the conversation with a "goo and gah."

"See, even my one-month-old gets it," Mia said, gesturing with her bundle of joy.

Leo, with mock disgust, "Mia, you're always so tough. How come you roll over when my uncle's around?"

Mia shot back, "And you're supposed to be tough as nails. How come you bolt when your uncle lifts a finger?" Leo: ""

Anya watched the three bicker, chide, advise, and solve each other's problems, a sense of envy in her smile.

"Auntie Jade, Auntie Molly, Chad, you guys have such a great bond."

felt no such exclusion with them. She had experienced the warmth and affection of her fiery-tempered aunt and the protective nature of her eloquent aunt. Now, as the three argued, no one seemed truly

me, getting Grandpa's approval is the most important thing,"

you handle our stubborn old man? Got

looked at everyone and asked, "What do you think is

room fell

had fallen on the Cedillo family estate, the

gaming, preoccupied with thoughts of his daughter being

Byrne family had left that day,

"You four think I've lived

Hansen was straightforward.

replied, "We're here to

was skeptical:

...

Andre's bedroom, he had just taken a shower and returned to find

little burrito wrapped up on

your mom leave you with

little guy turned his head,

the bathroom, gently

features you got from

son regarded

a long moment, Andre

Henry: "..."

Back in Hansen's bedroom.

"You promised, the winner gets to pick a truth or dare." "You let me win

with him, and when he played a "3,"

or dare, you

"I'll take the

see who can jump further. I can make 2.1 meters. Loser does a

Hansen: "...I'll take truth."

"Name three of my

had guessed it was a trap! Why did he leap

Anya entered with a plate of her magical

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

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