Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre glanced at the main culprit. "Sent him to his grandma's."

Leo, realizing he was being dodged, plopped down in front of Andre. "Uncle, I apologize. Can you please give me back my McLaren?"

Leaning back in his chair, Andre eyed his suddenly remorseful nephew. "No way. You've made my son cry a few times. You're banned from touching any car in the garage for months."

Leo had somehow forgotten how crafty his uncle could be when it came to discipline; he'd even dared to scare his little cousin.

"Uncle, I'm sorry. Can we switch the punishment? That car is just too flashy. Even Anya wouldn't get in it this morning," Leo pleaded.

Andre replied, "That's the lesson for not thinking about the consequences. You won't get the car. Either you go without, or you drive that pink one."

"Uncle... I'm your blood nephew."

"If you weren't, you wouldn't even be here now."

Failing to get his car back, Leo left, half-heartedly focusing on his work while figuring out how to solve his transportation issues. He could buy a new car, but his uncle could just as easily restrict access to those too. Unless he used his own money, his uncle wouldn't interfere.

Sitting back, Leo lamented, "Should've achieved financial independence sooner."

At lunch, Anya and Mia sat opposite each other, usually spending an hour over their meals, chatting and eating. Today, each was absorbed in their phones, Anya chatting with her dad and Mia discussing photo samples with a photographer. Once they finished, both put down their phones.

Mia told Anya, "Warn Leo for me tonight. If he makes my son cry again, he'll answer to me. Also, remind him. He'll have a son one day! He should think about his future son. I won't be lenient just because of you."

Anya puffed her cheeks, "Okay." She too thought Chad was overdoing it; how could he make such a cute baby cry?

Then she asked, "Aunt Mia, what did you mean by the last part?"

Mia simply said, "Leo will understand."

returned to her

afternoon, Leo picked up Anya in a taxi. Once inside, Anya

Leo frowned, "Why there?"

giggled, "I'm buying

silent, turning to Anya with a smile. He swallowed hard, "Don't buy me a car." Anya pouted, "It's for me, in my name. But you'll have to drive

Leo wouldn't accept a car as a gift, she concocted a reason to have it in her name, secretly asking her dad

driver's seat. "We're not going to the car

Leo. I want

buy it for you," Leo said, raising his voice slightly, then corrected the route

car. But that car was clearly a

felt a mix of emotions. As a man, he couldn't let a woman, especially not his girlfriend, take

no amount of sweet talk will work on me," Leo warned

a while, chimed in, "Young man, your girlfriend is just trying to be considerate. She hates to see you struggling with

the driver's assumption, simply replying, "What kind of man would I

"You've got a point. But you gotta understand how she feels

word, but her longing and care were evident, making Leo finally understand. He took the textbooks from Anya's lap and gently held her wrist.

she meant by the last part? Aunt Mia

he swallowed, silent for a moment

quickly offered, "I

driver, one curious, the other

your kids. She won't be lenient if someone bullies your

turned to Leo. But Leo remained calm, as if he'd known all along. "We're not boyfriend

at them through

cheeks flushed, whispered,

stayed silent for the rest