Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Naomi had just noticed that her sister-in-law, Mia, was missing again early in the morning.

Whipping out her phone, Mia tapped into Jade's social media feed. "Look, Chad's off today. And there, a fresh post from some gal pal featuring a man's hand."

Mia didn't need to guess whose hand it was. "It's gotta be Chad. If Molly dared to post a pic of another guy's hand, Chad would track him down through cyberspace to his great-great-grandfather."

Naomi chuckled. "I never realized you young folks dated like this."

Mia shrugged. "It's not us, it's just Molly."

Teasing her sister-in-law, Naomi said, "You're not so different, Mia. If your feed had some random guy's hand, do you really think Andre would let it slide?"

That hit home for Mia. She had always sympathized with her bestie Molly being under Chad's thumb, never realizing she was in the same boat...

As they shopped, Naomi and Mia chatted. "Mia, Chad and Molly-it's not a recent thing, is it?"

Linking arms with Naomi, Mia confided, "I think Molly's been on his radar for a while."

Naomi nodded. "I agree, Chad's no simpleton."

The two strolled through the mall, seemingly mother and daughter in age, yet chatting like best friends without a generational gap. Sometimes, Mia loved talking with Naomi, who could map out the entire Cedillo family tree. As a Cedillo daughter-in-law, especially with the holidays around the corner, Mia wanted to avoid any name mix-ups.

Last holiday season, Mia and her husband paid their family visits. The usually vivacious Mia clung to her husband's side, prompting playful jabs. "Looks like Andre has got himself a little shadow. Wherever Andre goes, Mia follows." Andre had to laugh it off. "My Mia is new to all this, first-year jitters."

Though shy, Mia knew how to charm the elders with her sweet words when receiving gifts. "Thank you, Auntie, may your New Year be filled with prosperity" and "Thanks, Uncle, wishing you a joyous and fortunate new year." Then, people would tease, "Stoic Andre has got himself a wife with a honeyed tongue."

they wandered

"You look great in lighter colors, makes you look younger.

am young. If I

air. Happiness was key, and sharing it with someone who could make you smile was even

asked with a smile, "What woman

couldn't I have? I may be a mom, but I can hold my own against anyone." After that, Mia had won Naomi over even more.

bought clothes in both light

store, Mia dragged Naomi inside, and

front of a men's clothing store, Mia looked at Naomi

you want to buy something for Andre, just go

complex suits with vests, despite Naomi's attempts

wouldn't like them, and they're

with him for so long. Plus, anything too fussy wouldn't work with a

see that navy shirt down there," Mia pointed to a shirt on the rack, signaling

for him at the mall, Andre was at the office dealing with their son's first

heard from the CEO's office. The pitiful wails made it hard for anyone outside to concentrate, sparking

Some

wailing baby,

he entered

Daddy's

attention, the little one continued to cry, all eyes fixed on the man embracing the