Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Molly and Mia emerged from the back, helping Hansen as they walked ahead.

Leo, cradling Henry, ambled towards the dining room, calling over a servant, "Go fetch Anya for dinner."

Before long, Anya entered the dining room, her head bowed, her long hair hiding half her face.

Leo glanced at her and then nudged the little bundle in his arms towards her. "Want to play with Henry? Just saved him for you."

Henry, with his chubby little hand, was ready to cause trouble, reaching for Anya's hair. But his brother grabbed his hand, "Hey, are you looking for trouble?"

"Ah ah babble babble," Henry babbled.

Leo, unfazed, teased, "What's all this babbling about? Can't talk properly but still loves to chatter."

Mia and Molly exchanged a knowing look, silently admiring Leo's calm demeanor and acting skills.

When Henry tried to approach Anya again, she dodged, and this time Leo noticed. "Anya, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice full of concern.

Anya shook her head.

Leo was about to lift Anya's hair to check her face when Andre, from across the table, grabbed Henry's booster seat. "Henry, come here, sit with Dad." Andre walked over, taking his beloved son from Leo's arms. Noticing a hair tie on Mia's wrist, Leo called out, "Mia, let Anya use your hair tie. It's hard to eat with hair all over the place."

Mia untied it and handed it to Leo. "This hair tie was just to entertain my son. Here you go."

Leo stood up, leaned across the table to take it, then handed it to the downcast Anya. "Put it on."

"Mm, Chad, I don't want to~"

lifted her hair. "Did Henry bully you? Did he bite

"No-"

puzzled by the sudden mood swings

whole family was seated, with Henry's

just us, no big

joked, "Oh, so I'm the star today. You guys could have shown more sincerity! A gift or something would have

light-hearted Jade was at a loss for words, staying quiet

"A meal is enough. We're family after all. About to stand on your own two feet, and you still want gifts like a child.

at his wife, who was intermittently feeding their son, and his smile slowly faded.

continued to feed her son bite by bite. "He's still small. Let's feed him first, then

the socializing to come, you'll need to work on it," Chad said

looking at his nephew, praised, "He can hold

has been through years of drinking." He glanced at Anya, who was still looking down, his

follow in your uncle's footsteps, learn everything

about to respond, a small voice interrupted the

you

looked at Hansen. "Grandpa, Chad doesn't like this job." She glanced around the table, tears welling up. Her voice breaking, she continued, "He loves computers, dreams of working

Leo sternly interrupted, grabbing her

planning to stop. Hearing the whole family celebrating, pretending to be happy, she felt choked up with discomfort. "At night, he wasn't playing games; he was

Anya's

to the underside of the table, her tearful eyes looking at Leo, her voice breaking, "Chad, I heard everything you said to

Leo's movement paused, realizing...

me. I want you to do what you love. You can't be

in three, five, ten years? What if you meet someone you like more? What if I meet