Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly slouched into her family's suburban home, her head hanging low. As soon as she stepped through the door, she locked eyes with her dad, Hansen. Father and daughter stared at each other, a heavy silence between them.

It was that damned fate - you always run into the person you least want to see.

"Dad, there's no such thing as a grudge that can't be mended between father and daughter, right?" Molly ventured.

"There is," Hansen replied curtly.

Jade was at a loss for words; why wasn't her dad following the script?

"Should I... go kneel in front of mom's portrait for a while?" Molly asked tentatively.

"Do that."

Jade: ""

She realized then, the whole 'like father, like daughter' thing was in full swing in the Cedillo household.

Defeated, Molly trudged upstairs and knelt before her late mother's photo.

So engrossed was she in her act of penance that her sisters didn't even notice she was home.

It wasn't until dinner when an extra plate appeared on the table that one of her sisters remarked, "Huh, when did you get back?" She had spent the whole afternoon in her room, video-calling her kids and Anya, oblivious to her best friend's return. Molly felt drained, too scared to speak up.

Andre had returned as well and was holding his mischievous son during dinner.

At the table, Molly didn't dare lift her head to meet her family's gaze.

However, the family didn't scold her again, and everyone dispersed after the meal.

Hansen had calmed down and had started to accept the situation.

Bruce, nagged by his wife, had also come around.

And Andre... had been forced to let it go.

Molly was uneasy. "Mia, do you think Dad and my brothers are just holding their breath, waiting to drop some big bombshell?"

brother has Naomi to keep him in check, and Andre just got over a spat with me and doesn't dare stir things up again.

Mia learned Molly had been back for a while, only to be scared into

ring was ready, and it was forced onto

ring on her middle finger. "Molly, we used to mock the marketing of this brand, but

custom ring, buying into their slogan about loving me for a lifetime. How could a

got a diamond ring. I still don't understand why

hand

major shopping mall, Andre

his way to a DR jewelry counter. The crowd huddled around the display, but when he appeared, everyone held their breath, questioning if it was

sales associate froze in shock. Was that Andre holding a child? Andre, of all

the rings, ignoring the stunned onlookers as he held his son close

and then taken out by his father, was a sight to

arrival caught the attention of the

looking at rings for?" the manager

wife," Andre

glanced at the little tyke in Andre's arms, a bit incredulous.

succinctly,

astounded. This adorable little bundle was Andre's son? But it made sense; only a precious

manager had seen plenty of men come to buy engagement rings, usually with their wives at their side. This was the first time seeing someone pick out a ring for his wife while holding his son-and

guys really only sell one ring per man

Andre, that's our unique

in the right place. He pointed to a ring, silently conveying

ring. Andre considered it for a moment, then lifted his

little one was

on a 70-point round diamond ring they couldn't take their

one exclaimed

under the light. "We'll take this for your mom,

one cooed in agreement with

Andre pulled out his ID and bank card. "We'll

managed to sign his wife's information with one hand. A simple action that caused quite

ended up sprawling in his father's arms; after all, as someone's baby, he had no say in

the