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

are you off

between his daughter and son-in-law, wondering if they

brief silence, everyone

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

with your aunt and uncle tonight." "No way, I'm a sleep champion, and your son's a night

"Consider it practice for

exchanging looks again, they decided to hold back

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

muttered under her breath, aware of Henry's potential to exhaust Chad, "Ignorance is

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

If I didn't keep Chad tonight, 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 choice but to

laughed, "And here I thought you realized you

"That doesn't need realizing."

the

"Haven't you noticed how free I've been living without a man

Mia was speechless.

best teacher, and I don't share it lightly." Molly was righteous in her speech. "Coming back was about setting boundaries. Chad wanted everything from me, and I felt oppressed. It's

ambitions are limitless. They want commitment, assurance, and if they can bully their way into love, what's stopping them from

Chad's been all polite, even trying to cuddle but got a

listened carefully, "You

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