Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

In Eldoria, Molly was always the busiest bee, buzzing about with more tasks than a library had books. Sometimes, the chaos got to her, and she'd dream about just throwing in the towel and taking it easy. One day, she darted off to find her mom, Coleen. "Mom, let me get a job, will you? I'll work for free for a month. You handle the worrying; let me handle my own wedding, okay?" Coleen rolled her eyes and said, "Get outta here. Take your complaints to Chad, not me."

So, every evening, Officer Chad would get an earful for a solid hour.

Chad was used to it. As Molly ranted, he'd peel apples, segment oranges, and pit cherries, all without missing a beat, popping them into the mouth of the non-stop chatterbox.

Even the Byrne family matriarch admired her granddaughter's gift of gab, "That girl can talk. She could narrate an entire TV episode without breaking a sweat."

***

After the holidays, Chad's work was smooth sailing, no major cases on the horizon. He teamed up with the PR department to kick off an anti-scam campaign.

Chad revisited the neighborhoods he'd educated before, ending up in a community with a senior majority, where he struck up a conversation with the local community leader.

A bunch of enthusiastic elders tugged at Chad and boasted about their vigilance, "Whenever my phone flashes 'scam,' I don't even pick up."

"Officer Chad, I hear you got promoted! Married yet? Got a sweetheart? Listen, my granddaughter..."

Chad shared with a smile, "Mrs. Lee, I'm getting hitched this March, and we've already got the license. Don't you worry about me. After the wedding, I'll bring you all some wedding candy."

Some had met Molly the year before, impressed by the striking young woman. Another elder nudged her companion, "Lee, you're getting muddled. We met Officer Chad's girlfriend last year, a real beauty."

Mrs. Lee leaned on her cane and asked Chad, "Is it that same girl from last year?"

Chad beamed with joy, "Who else could it be but her?"

Afterward, he sent out his young, single colleagues to sweet-talk the seniors. Who knows, if they played their cards right, they might just find their happily-ever-after.

to chat privately

sister, the leader joked, "Officer Chad, that's quite the gag you're pulling with your sister this year. Last year she's your girlfriend, this year you're

not..." the leader

clarified with a smile, radiating

...

University, Anya was like a robot on overdrive, accompanying her aunt on shopping sprees and snagging

lunchtime rush, no one was

snagged our spot at b12. What do you want to eat? The lines are short now; I'll go grab it."

last period to snag seats?" Mia

sprinted from class.

a top contender for campus beauty queen. Once your aunt ties the knot, you'll be in the spotlight. Can't you act a bit more like the idol you're supposed to

campus heartthrob. Are you okay with another girl taking the

blurted out, "Auntie, do you

choked on

handed her a drink

emerged with a light touch

face, asking, "What's that shimmer on your

"Eyeshadow."

chin, inspecting her cheeks, "And

bag, now filled

"Who are you

innocently, Anya said, "Chad, I want to be the campus

face. You look like you're about to cast spells. School's for

"I think Anya looks lovely. It's nice for girls