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 there, he was

are you off to?

if they had made up. Was

into a brief silence, everyone

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

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

it practice for

back any snide remarks,

at his wife on the couch, broke into a smile, reassuring the little one in his arms,

muttered under her breath, aware of Henry's potential to exhaust Chad, "Ignorance is bliss. You have no

on? Just because Chad's taking you to the orchard, you suddenly let him

he'd 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

"And here I thought

"That doesn't need realizing."

the

noticed how free I've

Mia was speechless.

in her speech. "Coming back was about setting boundaries. Chad wanted everything from me, and I felt oppressed. It's about showing him I

are limitless. They want commitment, assurance, and if they can bully their way

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

thought, listened carefully, "You pushed back,