Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly blinked in disbelief, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "So the only reason you married me was to sleep with me?" "Yep."

Usually thick-skinned, Molly found herself outmatched by Chad, of all people. How did he manage to outdo her in audacity?

"Oh, please! Dream on, buddy," Molly retorted, her cheeks flushing a telltale crimson. Lately, she didn't know what was up with her. Every time she faced Chad, her verbal sparring took a nosedive, as if she'd met her match. After their spat, Molly, unashamed, asked, "So, Chad, when do you get off work?"

"Why?"

"Well, it's almost Christmas, and I haven't gotten a new dress yet," she hinted.

Chad flushed with embarrassment. "Didn't you just...?"

Catching the disapproving glare from Molly's sparkling eyes, he quickly corrected himself. "I'm off at six, just wait for me on the couch."

Just the other day, Molly had splurged on new clothes, and here she was, craving a Christmas outfit already.

The enigma of a woman's desire to shop was something Chad still found baffling.

Come afternoon, Chad took Molly's hand as they left the station.

Behind them, Donnie started his teasing, "There she goes, there she goes, off with the captain's credit card."

Old Cody chuckled. "Donnie, give up the badge, man. The local comedy club is hiring. You've got talent; maybe it's time for a career switch."

Donnie packed up his desk, ready to call it a day, and joked, "If I switch, my old man would kill me."

Chad thought Molly would go for another dress or the latest designer bag, but at the mall, she dragged him straight to the men's section.

He looked at her in surprise. "Who's this for?"

"For the dog."

Molly's waist got another playful slap from Chad as he teased, "Say that again!"

muttered,

All his affection for Molly

he was the one footing the bill, he was charmed by her all the

dresses. This time, the roles reversed. Now she watched him try on clothes, giving approving nods

complimented

had heard Molly switch between calling him "Chad" and "bro," she naturally assumed they were brother and sister. Chad clarified while

"Oh, fiancés! Congratulations!"

impression of the store got even

took a day to announce his

siblings?" everyone gasped in

Jiang. We were like siblings before, but

in the time it took to try on a few outfits,

Molly persuaded Chad to take her

clothes, three thousand

still over

it isn't even happening to me. How did you feel before you got married?" Mia replied, "You're asking me? Before I got married, I dragged you

had indeed joined her friend's rant against

I feel nothing. Could it

curbed her friend's dangerous thoughts. "Stop it. Don't start doubting your feelings. Maybe you're just too familiar with the Byrne family, and marrying into it feels like going back home. Maybe the wedding's just a formality to you?" The thought of questioning her affection for

to call off the engagement, Chad would have none of

cross-legged on her bed, utterly

before a knocking came at her door, followed by the sounds of a little one crying

opened the door to find her husband with their bundle-of-joy son in

took the little guy, and

the night deepened, the baby became fussier,

he was a mama's boy, sometimes

find only his mother and no

son had suddenly become so

season was upon Havenbrook, blanketed in a

Fortune" signs were up, the