Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

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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

walked in from work. He was a quiet man but, upon seeing his son upsetting his wife, he gave Leo a surprise slap on the back in

attacks are not the way

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

mood lifted at her husband's

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

"Naomi's family squabbles are cute, but if

up and was

isn't the point. With genetics like his, I bet

Mia fell silent.

around, and Andre joined them from his

his grandpa. When Andre came down, he smoothly took his son back, familiar and wordless. Henry, back

who couldn't eat, had his own

ring and couldn't resist teasing, "Jade's

narrowed on his daughter's hand. "What's

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

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

fired back, "Brave words. Let's see if you

off the taunt. "Anya's above these things... Wait, who said I'm getting anything

you didn't. But did you know Anya has

friends, let alone a guy. You're overestimating

Leo's curiosity waned. "Oh."

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