Scott hurried over and found five brand-new hundred-dollar bills stashed under the cutting board.

"Officer Chad, for just a few cherries, this is way too much."

Chad hadn't planned this with Molly. It was all her, sneaking over, grabbing his wallet, and leaving the money there.

"Molly really gets me, huh?"

Molly grinned, "Of course, only I truly understand you."

Looking for a lunch spot, Molly found a riverside picnic club on her phone.

Molly nibbled on her thumb, "Chad-"

"Henry's too young."

"He won't eat much anyway."

"The smoke will be strong."

Molly stopped pleading and got down to business, "Chad, if you take me to the picnic, I'll stay over at the Byrne family's house tonight."

Officer Chad, always ready to compromise, asked, "Where's it at?"

A half-hour drive later, they arrived at the bustling riverside, vehicles parked all around. It was a busy weekend. Walking down the slope, Andre carried his son and held his wife's hand, surrounded by dirt paths and the smoke from woodland barbecues. Kids played by the river, and a few high school students in uniforms were there too.

He always had a soft spot for the younger generation's

carload of stuff came in handy, and Leo joked about Anya's blind

didn't bring supplies, nearby vendors

food's freshness like a

went off to chat, Anya and Leo fetched things, and Molly found a spot to clear some stones. Mia, the mom, wandered around with her child, feeling the heat and Henry's fussiness from lack of

stove and charcoal on the ground,

husband?" Mia asked, patting her

child to play on," the young man said, setting down

after, Andre arrived with a new cushion, unwrapping it and laying it on the ground, "Mia, let's put the child down to

the drowsy Henry, "He's not settled yet. I'll

young man returned, both carrying skewers

called? The current's pretty strong, and I've never heard of it before." He used to be a politician in Havenbrook,

cushion for her son to lie on. Anya, wielding insect

it Scholar's River. Legend has it that in ancient times, a scholar passing through here caught a fish. His wife cooked it, and after eating, he went to his exams and topped them. On his way back, he remembered the fish and ate it again. Since then, it's said that eating fish from this river brings exam success. Gradually, it became known as Scholar's River. Every year around April and May, students and their parents

who had paused her spraying to listen, turned to the young man,

what locals believe. Most visitors these past few weeks

glanced at Chad, who was sitting

noticed Anya's change in demeanor, as Mia remarked, "That explains all the high school students

of the neighboring county but was incorporated into Havenbrook

"This place is nice, with mountains, water, beautiful scenery,

fish when he's taking his college entrance exams in 18 years." Henry, cradled by his dad, cried a

dad's arms, instinctively clutching his dad's finger, miraculously calming into a

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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