Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Hansen glanced at his daughter Molly, who was looking up at Chad's profile, "Since when did you become friends with that old timer behind my back?" His wife's concerns always revolved around his social circle. "Just an old man who filed a report. Felt pretty bad for him. Got swindled out of his money and came to me for help. Cherry picking season is here, fancy a trip?"

"Did he get his money back, though?"

Chad nodded, wrapping his arm around Molly, looking down at her. He was close enough to kiss her but restrained himself in front of the Cedillo family, "When I'm on it, you bet it'll be sorted."

Molly smiled, "Then I'm in." It'd be awkward to go cherry picking on their dime if the money wasn't retrieved.

Anya, too, was interested but directed her words at Leo, "Chad, I want some fresh cherries."

"Aren't the ones you buy fresh enough?"

"Those are picked by others, not fresh. I want to pluck them straight from the tree and pop them in my mouth right there."

Leo, ever so cheeky, "Why don't you just hug the tree and nibble on it? Skip the middleman, that'll be fresher."

Anya, upset, stood up, abandoning her spot next to Leo and sat next to Mia instead.

Naomi, fuming, pointed at her son, "If Anya was my daughter, you'd never be good enough to be my son-in-law."

Leo sheepishly scratched his nose.

Soon after, Chad got up to leave, "Dad, I'll come by to pick you and Molly up tomorrow."

had a nap

you

curious eyes darted between his daughter and son-in-law, wondering if they had made

room fell into a brief silence, everyone

from Molly, her sister-in-arms knew despite their quarrels, it was time

stood up, smoothing things over, "Chad, why don't you stay? We're heading out together tomorrow anyway." She handed her child to Chad, "Henry, go to your uncle. He's not leaving tonight; you're sleeping with your aunt and uncle tonight." "No way, I'm a sleep champion,

teased, "Consider it

they decided to hold back any snide

a smile, reassuring the little one in his arms, "No

potential to exhaust Chad,

Mia dragged Molly out for a chat, she teased, "What's going on? Just because

be pulling a night shift at the station. He barely comes home when I'm not around." Concerned for Chad's health, she had no choice

I thought you realized you

"That doesn't need realizing."

was with all the cold shoulder you've

countered with a question, "Haven't you noticed how free I've been living without a man this past

Mia was speechless.

about setting boundaries. Chad wanted everything from me, and I felt oppressed. It's about showing him I won't be pushed around. Otherwise, what's next? Being pressured into saying 'I

They want commitment, assurance, and if they can bully their way into love, what's stopping them from dictating everything

you got to stand your ground. Since I've been back, Chad's been

carefully, "You pushed back, then