Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Leo couldn't wrap his head around her logic. "You're about to head home. Instead of spending time with your boyfriend, you're hanging out with that little chatterbox who does nothing but babble."

At this moment, the so-called chatterbox was sitting in their cozy suburban living room, which stretched over a few hundred square feet. He had been playing with a floating ball, pulling at rubber ducks, and sharing his toys with his sister, Anya, chattering away happily. "I'll come pick you up," Leo texted her.

Life has a funny way of twisting our plans. The meetings we anticipate often go awry, while the real, meaningful encounters happen out of the blue.

Andre left work early, his mind buzzing with upcoming tasks.

Leo's car was parked near Maplewood Estates. He called Anya, "Come out, I'm waiting at the door."

Andre spotted the familiar license plate from a distance, slowing down as he approached.

Unintentionally, Leo saw the approaching car in his rearview mirror, his palms starting to sweat.

Soon, Andre's car pulled up beside Leo's.

It had been over a month since the uncle and nephew had last seen each other. Andre had initially hoped to bump into him at his wife's school, but to no avail. Upon returning to the Cedillo residence, the house staff confirmed his nephew hadn't been home. Unexpectedly, today, he ran into him right outside his own door.

Andre's presence instantly made Leo feel a wave of intimidation, rendering him nervous.

Separated by just a car seat, Leo's door was blocked by Andre's passenger side door, trapping him inside. "Uncle, you're off work?"

"Found a job yet?" Andre's gaze was fixed ahead, his voice cold and detached.

Leo fell silent for a few seconds before nodding, "Assistant engineer, I thought="

Andre cut him off, his gaze still fixed forward, not sparing him a glance. "The path you choose, remember your words."

With a meek nod from Leo, Andre stepped on the gas, speeding past Leo's car. "The dark web is still looking for you."

With those final words, Andre's car distanced itself from Leo's, pulling up to the house where the security quickly opened the gate.

Just then, Anya, with her backpack in tow, spotted Andre. "Uncle?"

After calling out, she immediately rushed outside to Leo's car, thinking of Chad.

Mia, surprised to see her husband home early, asked, "What brought you back so soon?"

boy for

to sleep in

Andre: "..."

son, speechless. "Keep pretending, but

sweat from the run, jumped into Leo's car. "Chad, did you see

around to leave, Anya asked nervously, "Did

"So, what did you

job confirmed, that's

lifted, and she excitedly

as if the desire to celebrate had diminished. "The salary barely covers the car payments and living expenses. I'm thinking of renting a place." Without the car payments, Leo's life would

naively suggested, "Can we sell the car, Chad?" That way, Leo's burden

"You're not the freshman Anya anymore; you'll be a sophomore when school starts.

her lips, not

ask, she remained

what? Walk you home on

to the topic of her leaving, and she kept

Decide when you're leaving so I can have

continued to play

was sulking again, but

do you want to

"Nothing."

do you

tinged with a playful

face his girlfriend who was turned away from him. "Now you're

to leave

you so

don't even feel like we're in a relationship, how can I be

and

turned red

of me like a mother. I'm older than you; it's my job to take care of you. Don't always think about sacrificing for me or moving out with me. I said I would pick you up from the Cedillo family, so just wait

twenty? I'm still older. Since I'm older, you have

couldn't argue back about her age, silenced