Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Anya shook her head, the bed a testament to a night's restlessness - one side crumpled where she'd lain, the other pristine and untouched.

"Naomi, check the guest rooms," Mia suggested, her tone filled with the trust built over a decade of friendship.

Leo's manners were ingrained in him, part of his very nature.

Naomi hurriedly checked each guest room until, finally, she found her son Leo, bundled up in blankets, fast asleep.

With a swift smack, Naomi woke him, "Leo, get up now!"

Leo jolted awake, his hair a wild mess, his eyes bloodshot from a night of vigilance.

The dark corners of the internet were a tangled web, and Leo had no idea how many players were in the game or how deep the waters he was wading into were. Choosing caution, he struck when defenses were lowest - at night. Anya had seen the light in his room the night before and knocked on his door to check on him.

At home, Leo didn't hide anything from Anya. After all, she always had his back.

When she learned he was pulling an all-nighter, Anya went downstairs, whipped up some pasta, and sliced some fruit to keep him company.

"Anya, who said I have a crush on you?" Leo asked abruptly as he ate.

An innocent Anya, nibbling on an orange slice, replied, "I didn't say that." She had already forgotten the conversation from the afternoon.

Setting his fork down, Leo wasn't letting it go, "This afternoon, you told your uncle that a hacker has a crush on you, and that you'd agree to anything they said. Since when am I so easy-going?"

Anya took another bite of her orange, then it clicked, "Oh, that. I only said it to save you. Any other excuse would've made my uncle suspicious. He wouldn't pry into his niece's love life."

twinkle in her eye, she picked

pasta, "So that's how

Anya, "Eat less fruit; you're finishing what you cut

you after finishing these," she continued

word, Anya cut more fruit later on, sitting beside Leo,

had seen plenty of people glued to their computers before - either unattractive, overweight, or slouched - none as handsome as her Chad, with his good looks and charming demeanor.

go to bed," Leo finally

Anya stayed, determined to pull an all-nighter

she put on headphones and watched a movie to keep him

bored by the movie, she fell asleep with her head

her asleep, he stopped what he was doing

awkwardly attempted the princess carry, his first time doing so with a girl. He had only ever held two females in his life:

"Didn't expect you to

removed her headphones, turned off her phone, and went

Leo prepared to crash on his bed but stopped short upon remembering Anya was there. He scratched his head, remembering her presence the night before, covered her with a blanket, and left his room for the guest

none of

furious, "You kept Anya up all night gaming. It's bad enough you're picking up bad habits, but now

quickly interjected, "No, no, Aunt Naomi, it was my idea. Chad

was unimpressed, "Don't make excuses for

the guest room, Andre had finished his morning run and showered. Finding his little one awake and crying, he dressed the child haphazardly and

maid pointed Mr.

room. The

filled in on