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

instantly pretended to sleep in his

Andre: "..."

looked down at her son, speechless. "Keep pretending, but it's

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

turned around to leave, Anya asked nervously, "Did

lip. "So, what did you and

the job confirmed,

lifted, and she excitedly grabbed Leo's

"The salary barely covers the car payments and living expenses. I'm thinking

Leo's burden would be much lighter,

anymore; you'll be a sophomore

pursed her lips, not understanding her

to ask,

car, and then what? Walk you

again to the topic of her leaving, and she

start the job next week. Decide when you're leaving so I can have peace of mind

continued to

knew Anya was sulking again, but he

do you

"Nothing."

you want to

tinged

side, turning to face his girlfriend who was turned away from him. "Now you're giving

leave you, that's all," Anya

teased, "Why are you so obsessed

don't even feel like we're

and I still

red with

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 patiently. Communicating with an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl is so hard." Anya: "Chad, don't

what if you're twenty? I'm still older. Since I'm older, you have to

back about her age, silenced by