Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

It seemed in the end, the grand awakening of maternal love had hit a snag.

Yet, when little Tommy was hungry and yearning for his grandma's comfort, he somehow made his way into his mother's embrace. But she wouldn't let him rest against the arm adorned with the cherished bracelet.

The living room no longer displayed the ostentatious dowry, and at dinner, when the Cedillo family gathered, Andre caught a glimpse of his wife's wrist adorned with the bracelet, letting out a chuckle. It appeared their little Mia had learned the value of that piece. The emerald bracelet was a perfect fit, enhancing her beauty, a true complement to her.

Hansen also noticed the bracelet on Mia's wrist. After an afternoon's respite, he felt much better.

"I thought Mia was above such material things," Hansen commented, recalling his own impulsive actions from earlier that day. Mia had played a part in calming him down, so he decided to rib her a bit, to vent his own frustrations. "When I first included this in the dowry, Mia treated money like dirt and tried everything to call off the wedding. I thought highly of her for that."

Mia, looking at the luminous and cooling bracelet, retorted, "Dad, next time you prepare a dowry, if it includes such treasures and my groom still doesn't show up, I'm definitely not backing out."

Andre, sitting beside her, coughed lightly. She was clearly still holding a grudge, dredging up past grievances.

Hansen sensed something amiss; they were already married, why was there talk of another proposal?

His deep-set eyes glanced at his neglected second son and then back to his daughter-in-law's discontented face. "What's the problem now?" he asked. His daughter was married to Chad as she wished, so why was Mia unhappy again? Not just Hansen, but others at the table sensed the tension.

Mia, picking up her fork, filled her plate, "Just fell out of love, I guess. He's got no room for me in his heart anymore. Doesn't want this life. Thinks I'm childish just because we have a kid now."

Andre, sitting beside her, uttered not a word.

Hansen, realizing the gravity of her words, directed a stern look at his son, "What have you done to upset your wife this time?"

Andre, unafraid of his father's tone, replied coolly, "Our marital issues are ours to resolve."

Mia muttered under her breath, "You deal with it then. I'll just take care of my son and myself."

Andre remained silent.

Mia took the baby

melodramatic. If she stormed back to her parents' house over a minor squabble, they'd think she was suffering at her in-laws', possibly sending her brother to

freedom of Maplewood Estates. The clear-headed Mia eventually chose to return to the bedroom,

few hours and savoring its charm, she carefully stored

everyday chores. Even washing her son's tiny clothes by the sink made

in its wooden box, kissed her chubby baby, and continued

the bathroom to find her scrubbing their

the basin, enveloping her tender

else with them." Baby clothes couldn't be washed with regular detergent; his skin was too sensitive. They had a special, gentle laundry liquid just for him.

I'll wash them," Andre

"You're the mature and composed

let out a silent sigh. The word "childish" had become a sticking

one of the parents had to give in. Finally, Mia

bedtime, Mia cuddled the baby, isolating

magnet to his mother, his

realized his young wife had developed a remarkable new

shirts came back from the laundry wrinkled, previously Mia would have ironed them out without a thought. Now, they hung just as wrinkled

half-asleep, nursing the baby, Andre changed into a

at his sleepy wife, who seemed ready to snooze again, and

want to come down

forgot the

the sight of his family

smoothly, but by the afternoon, Mia was awake and remembering her

cold war, "Mia, what's up with you and