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, "For

his affection for Molly wasn't

one footing the bill, he was

she watched him try on clothes, giving approving nods or decisive headshakes.

keen eye, a nearby salesperson complimented

naturally assumed they were

"Oh, fiancés! Congratulations!"

the store got

day to announce his upcoming marriage to Molly to everyone

aren't you siblings?" everyone gasped

clarified, "My last name's Sullivan, hers is Jiang. We were like

in the time it took to try on a few outfits, her wedding date had become common

shopping, Molly persuaded Chad to take her

clothes,

still over the

too lightly? I have zero reaction, almost like it isn't even happening to me. How did you feel before you got

joined her friend's

nothing. Could it be that I

too familiar with the Byrne family, and marrying into it feels like going back home.

if Molly dared to call off the engagement,

sat cross-legged on her bed,

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

find her husband with their bundle-of-joy son in

little guy, and his cries

night deepened, the baby became fussier, only

was a mama's boy,

only his mother and no father, the

fathom why her son

upon Havenbrook, blanketed in a fresh layer of

were up, the snow at the

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