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!"

she muttered, "For

was thrilled. All his affection for

the one footing the bill, he

it had always been Chad lounging on a couch while she tried on a variety of dresses. This time, the roles reversed. Now she watched him try on clothes, giving approving nods or decisive headshakes. Fortunately, since Molly had once shopped with her friend Coleen for Chad's clothes, she didn't

nearby salesperson complimented them. "Are

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

"Oh, fiancés! Congratulations!"

the store got even

identity shift, Chad took a day to announce his

Chad, aren't you siblings?" everyone

name's Sullivan, hers is Jiang. We were like

it took to try on a few outfits, her wedding date

claiming fatigue from shopping, Molly persuaded Chad to

clothes, three thousand

still over

taking this marriage too lightly? I have zero reaction, almost like 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,

joined her friend's rant against the Cedillo

weird, I feel nothing. Could it

marrying into it feels like going back home. Maybe the wedding's just a formality to you?" The thought of questioning her affection for Chad now, right before their wedding,

call off the

cross-legged on her bed, utterly

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

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

took the little guy, and

deepened, the baby became fussier, only quieting down

mama's boy, sometimes he needed his daddy

midnight to find only his mother and no father, the little

why her son had suddenly become

blanketed in a

the snow at the doorstep