Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

The next morning, Mia woke up to find that Jamie and Denny had both posted their goodbyes on Facebook. They were already on their way home. In her comfy loungewear, Mia watched her son, Henry, who alternated between rolling around on the floor and wandering around the house. She poured warm water into his little tiger cup and called out, "Henry, come get some water."

Henry, being his cheeky self, was perched on the coffee table with his legs up, pretending the remote was a phone. "Beep beep-" he mimicked.

Mia walked over, handing him his cup, and then dialed her best friend, "What's up, Jade?"

Jade was spinning in her office chair, "Just the usual, slacking off. What's happening, Mrs. Cedillo?"

"Slacking at the office doesn't sound fun. Why don't you come over to Maplewood Estates?" Mia suggested.

Molly leaned back in her chair, "Can't do that, I'm stuck in the finance department. My mentor said I could only slack off after he was called away for a meeting by my mom. If I were in another department, I'd be long gone."

"Having free time all of a sudden feels strange. Let me see if Anya's around," Mia said, dialing Anya's number.

Leo, who was with Anya, was pointing excitedly at a book, "Ms. Anya, you've got to get this problem down. It's going to be really useful. Don't even think about skipping it. If you can't handle this, the bigger questions will be even tougher." "Hey, what's up?" Leo answered Anya's phone.

Mia teased, "You've already passed your exams, why are you still hanging with Anya?"

"Isn't it obvious? She's my girl. If she's not with me, should she be with you? What's up, she's studying right now."

"Tell Anya to come hang out with me," Mia insisted.

"Buzz off," Leo retorted with zero politeness.

Anya, soft-spoken and gentle, chimed in, "Chad, show some respect to your aunt. She can smack you without getting fined." Leo: "..."

Mia laughed on the other end, "Right, Leo, should I bring Henry over for a visit?"

Leo tapped Anya's head, "You forgot, didn't you? Remind her. Look at the formula I wrote for you; it's key for the junior accounting exam."

Still holding Anya's phone, Leo continued his chat with Mia, "Don't get too excited and forget, the day after tomorrow you start picking your thesis topic and advisor. Good luck."

This time, Mia couldn't laugh.

Best friends should share everything, even the not-so-happy stuff.

Mia called Molly, who was still spinning in her chair, "Molly, we've got to start working on our thesis."

Molly suddenly stopped, looking annoyed for a second before brushing it off, "Alright, let's get to it."

Mia knew that wasn't like her, and sure enough, Molly continued, "Mia, I owe you one."

"For what???"

"Your smart thinking from before is helping me so much now," Molly said, rubbing her belly, "Don't worry, I'll make sure your dream comes true. I'll put in the effort Henry didn't, I believe my little one can do it." Mia: "...Enough about that. I'm off to convince Andre to try for a second baby."

Molly continued spinning in her chair, rubbing her belly, "You really have impeccable timing."

That evening, Henry was put to bed early without any fuss, and Mia took the opportunity to snuggle up to her husband, Andre. Andre knew there was a catch but jumped in anyway.

Finally, Mia said, "Honey, it's time to start on the thesis."

When Chad got home, Molly greeted him at the door with a big smile, "Hard day at work, Chad? How about a shoulder rub to help you unwind?"

Chad stepped aside, suspicious of her intentions. "What are you plotting now?"

Molly shook her head, feigning innocence, "No way, I'd never spend your hard-earned money carelessly."

Coleen, observing from the living room, nudged Kendrick, "What's she up to this time?"

Coleen replied, "Who knows what's gotten into her. Just wait, Chad will figure it out."

Chad, holding Mia's hand, sat down at the

brought table as a servant

out a bowl of porridge

Molly quickly took over, insisting on serving Chad herself.

Chad leaned back, watching his wife with a faint smile that made Molly's heart flutter.

"Careful, Chad, it's hot," she warned.

"So, what are you after this time?" Chad asked.

Molly shook her head, "Nothing. Just looking after you."

Chad stirred his porridge, "Whatever you want me to do, it's not happening."

"Chad!"

He added, "This sounds challenging."

"You're in finance enforcement, and I'm studying economics. How hard can writing a thesis for me be?"

Chad raised an eyebrow.

Coleen put down her chopsticks, "Molly, what did you just say?"

Molly pouted, looking down, too embarrassed to repeat herself.

Chad smiled, patted her shoulder, and served her a bowl of porridge, "Let's eat first, talk later."

After dinner, Molly cozied up to Chad on the sofa, "Chad, I'm pregnant, exhausted from work, and then I have to face the computer at home."

"I'll give you a day off tomorrow," Coleen suggested.

Molly continued, "Chad, you know I'm not the brightest, you always outsmart me until I feel even dumber. I can't do it."

"I'll buy you brain supplements tomorrow to make you smarter," Coleen added.

Molly turned to her mother, "Coleen, you're the mother-in-law, don't meddle in your son and 'daughter-in-law's' life."

Coleen snorted, "I'm your mother, I'm involved in my daughter and 'son-in-law's' life."

Annoyed, Molly stood up and grabbed Chad's hand, "Come on, let's go to our room for a chat."

Chad smiled gently, letting his wife lead him away, ready to hear her sweet nothings.

Downstairs, Coleen pointed at the

departing figures, "Look at your

daughter, if she were my daughter-in-law, I'd have kicked

them out already."

Kendrick chuckled, "Don't worry, Chad can handle it. He's just playing along, waiting for Molly to sweet-talk him and give him a couple of kisses. Our son's smart. Just the other day, their boss said even the old-timers have to watch their words around

him; Chad's sharp like that"

Kendrick boasted proudly.NôvelDrama.Org owns this.

Every time their colleagues saw the father and son duo at meetings, they couldn't help but admire them, thinking, "Like father, like son."

In the bedroom, Molly tried everything to persuade Chad, "Chad, please?"

Officer Chad said, "I'd love to help, but I can't."

"What?" Molly asked. "Why not? Isn't this your field?"

Chad replied, "I'm a cop first, then an economic crimes investigator. Right now, I'm not even as capable as you."

"Really?" Molly was skeptical.