Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

"Hank, a man needs to stay sharp. It's not Molly messing with Vivian that worries me. It's the thought she might turn on you someday."

Hank shook his head firmly, "No way! My girl's an angel."

Jack eyed Hank, seizing every chance to sway him. In the Cedillo family's living room, he made his pitch, "Just let Molly marry me. Let her stir up trouble with the Byrnes instead. I'll have her back, and it'll give the Cedillos a break." Hank wasn't buying it; Jack just wanted him to give in and agree to marry off his daughter. "Forget it. I'd rather deal with my own family's chaos than ship off my girl too early."

Jack paused before asking, "Hank, has Molly ever crossed you?"

Images flashed through Hank's mind, but his pride held firm, "...No."

Jack didn't believe it for a second; he knew of more than a few incidents.

Hank, seeing Jack's disbelief, asserted, "Even if my girl did cross me, I'd let her. I'm happy to be outsmarted by my own flesh and blood."

Jack was speechless. Like father, like daughter.

Sometimes, Molly would be just as stubborn in front of him.

It was getting late, and Jack couldn't overstay his welcome at the Cedillos. Standing up to leave, he told Hank, "If Molly steps out of line again, just give me a call." Hank scoffed, "What good would that do? She shrinks back into her shell at the mere sound of Andre's voice."

Jade, who had been eavesdropping behind a column, bristled, even though she was indeed that timid. But hearing her dad say it so bluntly stung a little.

Jack, left speechless by Hank's retort, held back any comeback out of respect for his future father-in-law and departed without another word.

Watching Jack leave, Jade peeked out from behind the column, sauntering over. "Dad, is Jack gone?"

"He couldn't get one over on me, slinked off with his tail between his legs," Hank replied proudly.

his daughter, Hank narrowed his eyes,

retreated back to the safety of the staircase, "Dad, if I said we were just showing Henry the ropes,

brandished his cane in a warning, causing Molly to back up

Mia who took

Upstairs in the bedroom.

bathed son into Andre's arms. "Clean and fed,

their son meant she was all

this time?" Andre

excuses never spared anyone

as he took his son and headed

eyeing the little bundle in his

his son into Hank's

left sputtering, "Since when am I the

Henry cooed in his arms, seemingly

this is funny? Your mom takes you out to fights, your dad doesn't want

grew, babbling away in conversation with

to his room, "I must have sinned in a past life to get a son like yours, and now in my old age, instead of peace, I have to babysit. The mighty business

note of joy in

out. "If I had been there, I would've held that baby tight to give Aunt

didn't Uncle punish you this

in thought, Leo couldn't

...

bars, Molly only