"Are CEOS not human? Do CEOs have to be so busy that they miss every single checkup for their wife and kid? Am I a useless assistant who never works at the office because I'm too busy handling home stuff? And nannies can't do everything, right?" "Why can't you be like other CEOs?" Mia teased, her voice dripping with the sweetness of domestic bliss. Her eyes sparkled with love as she gazed at Andre.

Andre knew exactly what Mia wanted to hear. "Because I love you, and I love him too."

Right there in the parking lot, Mia wrapped her arms around Andre's waist. "Honey, I love you, and I love our little guy too."

Their son squirmed in Andre's arms, making baby noises, eager to join the conversation.

Andre wasn't one to say "I love you" often; he showed it through little everyday actions.

On the rare occasions he did say it, the big boss man was a bit bashful.

Luckily, only his wife and child knew his tender side.

Andre drove off, and behind them, another car slowly rolled down its window. The occupants watched the happy family in the parking lot, a camera zooming in on the tender scene.

As the holiday season approached, everyone was bustling about, buying new clothes, and decking their homes with festive cheer. Mia and Andre planned to head back to Maplewood Estates. "Dad, we're heading out. We haven't even started decorating our place," Mia said, slipping on her boots and calling to Hansen in the living room.

"Where do you think you're going? This is your home; no need for you to decorate."

Sure, Mia could be a handful at times, but the thought of her leaving had Hansen feeling oddly reluctant.

Naomi chimed in, not wanting her daughter-in-law to leave either. "Mia, people head back to their family homes for the holidays. You and Andre all alone in Maplewood Estates? That's no way to spend the season."

Mia retorted, "But we've got our son. He's a one-man party machine."

from his feeding, lay content in his father's arms, too delicate to be

more times than he could count. Now, he walked on eggshells whenever

I usually let you young ones be, but for the holidays,

and tidy, but the baby stays," Hansen declared,

spirited away

luck would have it, the baby had just been fed, and Hansen's attempt to snatch him resulted in a fresh stain of milky spit-up on

glared at

you expect? You think you got him from my husband because you're stronger?" It was clear Andre had strategically passed the spit-up baton to his dad. Hansen glanced at his ungrateful son Andre, then handed the baby back, "Go on

his son back, gently caressing

end, Mia and her family stayed at the old house

up to Andre, but rather because they were all wrapped up in

it was hinted that the trio might leave, Naomi, Bruce, and Molly all protested, wanting to keep the child close. "Wherever my little nephew spends the holidays, that's where I'll be," Molly declared. Leo,

words hardly

couple stayed at

cold season was upon them, and Mia hadn't even shopped for new

and overheard the women discussing a trendy new coat in a magazine, all

the prime of youth, yet seemed to have little

saw Mia's outfits from years ago, while their son's clothes piled up, season after season. He decided it was time to treat his

doing some shopping?" he asked, as Mia wrestled with their

his milk, and I need to be with him," Mia replied, fastening the diaper. Andre looked

to him, puzzled. "What's gotten into

didn't feel deprived for not shopping; being

Andre saw it differently. He felt Mia was missing out, that he had somehow neglected

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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