Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

The neighbor, Mrs. Carter, dropped by again, this time carrying two steaming bowls of noodle soup. She set them on the table with a warm smile.

Maja looked at the food, her heart giving a little squeeze. Dean still remembered her, always thinking ahead.

She smiled softly, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating. “Thank you, Mrs. Carter."

"Oh, don't mention it. We're neighbors, after all. Dean's always helping us out," Mrs. Carter replied, sitting down to chat while Maja ate.

That evening, Dean came home with several shopping bags in his arms.

"Maja, look what I brought for you!" he called out as he came inside.

He saw her waiting, and noticed their patient had had another bad spell that afternoon, so Maja had to give him more medicine. As the man slept, Maja quietly explained his condition and the medicines to Dean. Dean checked on the patient, then grinned at her. "You know, you could probably run your own clinic by now."

He handed her another three days' worth of medicine, passed instructions to Mrs. Carter, and saw the neighbors out.

Once the house was quiet, Dean turned to Maja with an eager smile. "Come here, I want to show you something."

a pair of shoes. Maja unfolded

"I wanted to get this for you last time, but my ankle was still

dress. She stared at the dress, her eyes bright.

on. Try it on. Dresses

have a bunch of dresses,

wearing the same shoes forever. Didn't you say you had to wear them damp this morning

nudged her to sit. "Let's see if these fit. If

the box, and reached

"Hey, when you twisted your

she

already think we're

silent. A single man and woman sharing

cared about rumors; she hardly knew anyone

had to live here.

to ruin his reputation.