Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Leo's question threw Anya for a loop. She stared at him, puzzled, feeling like she might have guessed what he was hinting at, but doubting her own intuition. "Chad..."

Leo cut her off, "It's getting late, and we have classes tomorrow. Better hit the sack."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing there.

Anya slowly climbed the stairs, lost in thought. Back in her bedroom, sleep eluded her. She sat by the window, resting her face in her hands, gazing at the bright moonlight outside.

A warm breeze drifted through, carrying the sweet scent of blooming lilacs from the yard. The night was ink-black, wrapped in a cloak of tranquility and ease. Apart from a few lights glowing in the yard, her room was swathed in dimness. It was the perfect season for a good night's sleep.

Yet, Leo lay in his bed, wide awake. He remembered that day vividly. He hadn't really fought with his uncle, just had an unpleasant encounter.

Initially, Uncle Andre had been slowly turning up the heat, assigning Leo a fixed amount of work daily to get him used to the job while observing him from the shadows. After a while, Leo's work met every standard. Andre planned to increase the pressure, intending to entrust his nephew with more significant responsibilities, grooming him for the role of Secretary-General and personally mentoring him.

Unexpectedly, Uncle Andre's first attempt to push Leo into the role failed. The "frog" he'd been slowly boiling was still very much alive and kicking.

"Uncle, I don't want to take over as Secretary-General. I don't think I'm cut out for it."

Andre frowned. "This is a company directive. You must comply."

"Then I resign."

Andre's cold gaze bore down on his nephew, "Say that again." He knew Leo's courage better than Leo's own parents did.

Leo, intimidated by his uncle's aura, swallowed the words he was about to say, still unsure of himself.

"Be a man and take your responsibilities seriously." Andre had no patience for irresponsibility, "Spending all your time with Mia and Molly, have you forgotten you're a man? Do you think you're the same as them? Mia has me, Molly has her parents, and do you really expect the Cedillo family to support you forever?"

Leo remained unfazed. "Then I'll continue with this job."

Anya?"

mention of Anya's name,

of the Gordon family. You know her better than anyone." She had been too well protected, too naive and gentle for the complexities of Calder Corporation. "Anya has two choices: to marry a capable man who comes knocking, or to find a strong

hit close to home. Despite his low status in the family,

to become a strong tree able to provide shelter, he would have to accept the life path his uncle laid out for him. Taking over as Secretary-General, familiarizing himself

that's just your

Calder

to lies, Leo knew. If it came

want an answer

can't give

It wasn't until Mia intervened, sensing something was wrong, that she quickly pulled

his mind was a tangled mess, knotted tightly,

woke and went

and moved away, her uncle had returned to his family, and even the baby wasn't home. Now, even Chad was missing. The Cedillo family

company, "Come on, my girl, let's play

Hansen, distracted. "Grandpa, do you know

"Why bother with him? As long as he's not lost, it's

Chad is

we'll have your uncle look for him. Let's just play

waited for a game to download, but then she couldn't figure out how

do

does

"Grandpa, this..."

than he was, Hansen asked, "You don't know

nodded honestly, "I've never played