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."

nap there, he

you off to? Dinner's

between his daughter and son-in-law, wondering if they had made up. Was his

into a brief silence, everyone momentarily forgetting

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

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, and your son's a night owl. If I sleep, your son's up,

it practice

exchanging looks again, they decided to hold back

couch, broke into a smile, reassuring the little one in his arms, "No worries, your uncle had a good rest today. I'll keep Henry company

Henry's potential to exhaust Chad, "Ignorance is bliss. You have no idea what

as Mia dragged Molly out for a chat, she teased, "What's going on? Just because Chad's taking you to the orchard, you suddenly let him off the

didn't keep Chad tonight, he'd be pulling a night shift at the station. He barely comes home when I'm not around."

"And here I thought

"That doesn't need realizing."

with all the cold

noticed how free I've been

Mia was speechless.

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 love you,' then what,

want commitment, assurance, and if they can

you got to stand your ground. Since I've been back, Chad's been all polite, even trying to cuddle

carefully, "You pushed back, then