Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray, "All cleaned up."

After hanging up the phone, Conner glanced at the clock, "All done for the day. So, what's next?"

Andre stood up, grabbing his suit jacket from the back of his chair, "Heading home. It's getting late, Mia and the kids are waiting. My boy just rolled over for the first time today." Conner stood up too, stretching his neck and feeling quite pleased with himself for the day's outcomes, "Mind if I hitch a ride? I'll come over tomorrow to see the little champ."

At some ungodly hour, when the moon shyly hid behind clouds and the earth was silent, Andre arrived home.

He quietly pushed open the bedroom door to find a warm, yellow nightlight left on for him, his wife and child snuggled together in bed. The little one, usually buzzing until midnight, had dozed off with tiny feet poking out from under the covers. Mia, too, was asleep, one arm wrapped around their son, a picture of maternal warmth.

Seeing them, Andre smiled. He quietly undressed and headed for a shower, inadvertently waking his waiting wife.

Rubbing her eyes, Mia adjusted their son into a more comfortable position and then followed Andre to the bathroom. "Did I wake you?" Andre asked, seeing his wife's sleepy awakening, endearing in her grogginess.

Mia yawned, "Honey, why are you home so late tonight?"

"Just swamped at work," Andre replied.

As Mia went to pick up her husband's dirty clothes, she noticed the strong scent of smoke on them. She didn't press the issue, though, instead checking his pockets before tossing the clothes into the laundry hamper.

While Andre showered, Mia chatted, "Our son rolled over today. Waited up for you till midnight, but his little eyes couldn't stay open any longer and he fell asleep in my arms."

After his shower, Andre joined his family in bed, lying beside his son, "Mia, I have to go abroad for work tomorrow. While I'm gone, stay here, don't go back to our place."

and empty without you. It scares me at

breaths evened out in sleep, their son snugly nestled between them,

day, Conner came over, fussing over the little one and

a report of a burnt car and a charred body found

a

had been beaten up, bones broken all over,

the

the morgue, as the medical examiner shared his findings, a new intern was overwhelmed by the sight and smell,

sneered at the

brief visit. "Just passing by," he said, but soon

mocked his pretense, knowing Chad had seen

call Andre, and

the afternoon, as Andre prepared to "leave on business," Mia and their son saw him off, waving goodbye and promising to take care of their little

airport, despite nursing an

tried to reach Tom

son, Wesley, that all was calm, but the unease

custody of a baby girl from a couple, fulfilling a secretive

safety and the potential fortune that awaited if the child was well cared-for. The letter hinted at a tangled web of deceit and danger, linking Jillian and Tom's

you lied to me!" Jillian slammed her fist onto the

her cell phone and tried to call Tom, but

as she was about to try again, a call