Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

By mid-morning, everything was set, and by the afternoon, Andre headed back home.

Before he arrived, the house was bustling, with everyone circled around Andre's son in the living room. "Mia, what's got our little munchkin all cranky and pouting again?"

Mia looked down at the chubby, discontented face of her son. "When I was changing his diaper, I gave his little bum a wash, and look at him-he's so grumpy. He's going to be as temperamental as his dad," she said playfully. The little guy turned his face away, no longer wanting to look at mommy.

Grandpa Hansen, as if his grandson could understand every word, gave him a serious talk, "Henry, my boy, we need to be a sweetie pie, not a stinky bug."

Leo chimed in, "Grandpa, do you really think he understands a word you're saying?"

Hansen, quick as a whip, picked up his cane, ready to playfully strike his eldest grandson. But Leo, adept at dodging, rolled to the side with practiced ease.

Anya, used to her brother Chad's sharp tongue, was unfazed by the occasional scolding he received. In her mind, as long as Uncle Hansen didn't scold him, there was nothing to worry about.

His mother, Naomi, could hardly stand the sight of her son Leo, puzzled as to why her brother-in-law insisted on keeping him around. "Leo could skip a meal, but he can never hold his tongue," she griped. Hansen wholeheartedly agreed, "That mouth of his is the only problem."

The lively living room fell silent at the sound of a car engine shutting off in the driveway. All eyes turned to Mia, knowing well that the sound heralded the arrival of her husband.

His car's engine shutting off was a sound she knew better than anyone in the house.

She, too, quieted down.

Then, as one, the family rose from the couch, even Hansen, leaning on his cane, moved to the window to see how many checks the returning man would bring today. "Huh, he brought a whole pack of checks?" Hansen wondered aloud.

Although curious, Mia, the person concerned, maintained her composure, cradling her son on the couch, waiting for her husband to come inside.

Soon, Andre pushed the living room door open with one hand, and after changing his shoes at the entryway, he turned to see his entire family staring... at his hands. "What's up?"

Hearing his father's voice, the little guy immediately turned his head, searching for his beloved dad. He hated mommy's cleaning sessions, but dad coming home was the highlight of his day.

In Mia's arms, he began to make adorable noises to catch his father's attention.

in a dark trench coat, looked sharp and

his son's calls and seeing his wife's silhouette, he couldn't help but smile. He took off

his wife, watching their son struggling to find him, then leaned in and scooped the soft bundle

turned his pink, cherubic face toward his father, lying contentedly

a red envelope

let's see what he's got for you," Hansen, ever

the window returned to the couch, their eyes fixed

a check,

"It's not

like a check. Under her family's watchful eyes, she opened the red envelope. She kneeled on the floor, placed the envelope on the coffee table, and tilted her head to see what was inside. Money? Multicolored bills? Even a one-dollar bill and

back at her husband, "What's this,

Andre: "...Not quite."

"Mia, what is it? Let dad have a

the money, a mix of loose bills and coins spread

true that men understand each other best. Leo, looking at the assortment of money, knew there had to be a

looked at his

sorted through the cash as she counted like a seasoned

for a moment, then had

confused, began tallying on her

a mirror image of her son's pout,

Andre nodded awkwardly, "Yes."

picked up the dime, "If it weren't for you, I'd barely even recognize what

Andre: "..."

and curious, asked his son, "Andre, why not just give a straightforward million-plus? Why this odd amount with a dime at the end? Are you short

at her husband with curiosity,

had his reasons, "A million is too much for a red envelope; it wouldn't fit, and we'd have to use a safe. Who gives a safe as a New Year's gift?" So he chose an odd amount that still fit the tradition of the red envelope. "Honey, who would ever complain about too much money? I'd

miscalculation, "...Next year,