Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly slouched on the couch, her voice tinged with frustration, "I tried studying with my phone, but I keep zoning out. On the laptop, I can actually focus."

Chad picked up the stack of notes Molly had meticulously crafted. It seemed the last time she caught flak from Mom, she took it to heart. Her notes were now even more detailed than her actual study sessions. He scanned the dense handwriting, worried she'd wear herself out going at it alone. "After New Year's, I'll take a few days off from the squad and help you out."

"Can you actually get the time off?" Molly vaguely remembered her 18th birthday-the one where she wanted her big brother to take a road trip with her, and he kept saying he couldn't get leave.

It made Molly feel like the whole town of Havenbrook might just stop spinning without her brother around.

Chad replied with a smirk, "Wedding leave. The bosses get it."

The Cedillos had more guests over, and upon seeing the snowman at the door, they chuckled, "Who built this? Even gave it a makeover. Quite the crafty hands."

Naomi smiled as she explained, "We've got a lot of kids in the family, all playful. On New Year's Eve, we built it together, and Molly did the makeup."

As each guest arrived, they also caught wind of Molly's upcoming wedding, spreading the news far and wide among relatives.

When asked about the future son-in-law of the Cedillo family, they only mentioned Chad's name, which prompted an intrigued response, "The Officer Chad from the police department?" Chad's name was a quiet legend in Havenbrook's elite circles. He wasn't a regular face among them, but when he did show up, someone was bound to be in for it.

"This young man is quite the catch; our Molly really lucked out," someone remarked.

The 'lucky' Molly could only offer a blank stare in response.

Meanwhile, little Henry's pockets were bulging with more shiny red envelopes.

Every night, Mia whispered to her oblivious son, "Sweetheart, Mommy's saving these for you. No need to thank me; it's what a mom should do."

Henry glanced at his nonchalant mother and looked away, the spitting image of his dad in his disdainful little expression.

At dusk, while counting the money, Mia gasped, "Honey, our son's New Year envelopes could make a down payment on a house!"

...

Mia and her child went back to her parents' house to stay

every day, proudly showing off the family gem to

after the holidays. Leo had some ideas, but the Gordon parents seemed set on

"Uncle, I need to ask

long considered Leo like a son, felt a mix

his request, which remained known only to the two of

send off their daughter. The heads of

tempered with restraint. She wanted to hug him but held back, standing on tiptoe and trying to

he took her hand

arrival, they gained another

less than

Molly nodded in affirmation.

sentiment: "I'm shocked

past the shock, Jade, not one to dwell on formalities, started delegating tasks

after New Year's. He requested an extended leave from his superior, "Jose, I'm getting married. Can't have Molly running around worrying about wedding arrangements all by herself." As a

a good sister, helping her brother with

But this time, she's busy with her

ears

are getting married in

that news, Chad left a

his cases and announced,

appointed stand-in, was bewildered, "Boss, what are

simply stated,

confusion set in, "Wait, you've only

little 'emperor',"

out in disbelief, "No

him,

Chad, who never meddled in his