Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

---

Molly watched Mia juggling her toddler and scrolling through her phone. She leaned over, her voice filled with concern, "Mia, maybe you should put the phone down for a bit."

"Why should I?" Mia chuckled, eyes still glued to the screen. "People are calling my husband a saint, saying Max is so cute they'd kidnap him if they could, and they're calling me beautiful. How can I not read this?" Mia knew what worried her friend. With a carefree shrug, she added, "The only thing that would bother me is if Max's pictures got out there. But they're all off the net now. What else is there to worry about?" Molly remembered how the online community had once falsely accused them, turning their whole town into a spectacle. Mia had been unbothered then too, even comforting Molly and her husband, Leo. Speaking of Leo, Molly suddenly realized someone was missing. "Hey, where's our Leo?"

Mia looked up from her phone. "Yeah, where is he?"

Back at the Cedillo household, young Leo waltzed in, twirling his keys on a keychain.

His mom, Naomi, was waiting for him, impatient and worried. As soon as she spotted him, she grabbed his arm. "Where have you been all day? Did you see the news?"

Leo almost tripped over from his mother's strong grip. "Of course, I saw it. I wouldn't miss such a big deal."

Breaking free, he complained, "I spent the afternoon in your cafe, going at it on two computers. My fingers are cramping from all the typing." He stretched out his hands for his mom to see, the very picture of a martyr. Naomi looked at her son with a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "How did I ever end up with someone like you?"

The room was heated, and Molly and Anya watched in disbelief. Online feuds were a thing for them, but Naomi found herself torn between pride and concern.

Leo sheepishly withdrew his hands. "You only got me, Mom, and you're not having any more kids."

As Naomi raised her hand to smack her cheeky son, he nimbly dodged her, his height and long legs to his advantage.

"Why'd you even come back?" Naomi was at her wit's end.

Leo, ever the provocateur, answered simply, "I came back for dinner."

made Naomi

seeing his son upsetting his wife, he gave Leo a surprise slap on the back in solidarity with

are not the

at his successful intervention. "Gentleman? You're in your twenties

mood lifted at her husband's support, and

"If in twenty years, Andre, Henry, and I can still get along like this, that

had to point out the obvious. "Naomi's family squabbles are cute,

baby, who had just woken up and was yawning adorably. "Andre

weighed in, "Whether he learns it or not isn't the

Mia fell silent.

and Andre joined them from

Uncle Bruce to Aunt Naomi, and finally to his grandpa. When Andre came down, he smoothly took his son back, familiar and wordless. Henry, back in his

family gathered for dinner, even Henry, who couldn't eat, had his

and couldn't resist teasing, "Jade's rocking a bigger diamond than

on his

hid her hand, her eyes flashing a silent threat. "Leo, are

scoffed at their rings. "I'll never understand you two,

Mia fired back, "Brave words. Let's see if you stick to them

above these things... Wait, who said

further, "Please, she wouldn't care less if you didn't. But did you know Anya has a new guy friend?

wasn't as light. "That's impossible. Anya barely has girl friends, let alone a guy. You're overestimating her."

Leo's curiosity waned. "Oh."

pushed further, "Just wait till Anya marries that hacker instead