Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance novel Chapter 544

Leo only discovered the true reason behind the Byrne family's visit from Anya and Jade later on.

“They didn’t come to propose.”

Leo explained, “No one proposes with such meager gifts, and certainly not without giving us a heads-up first.”

Anya gazed at Leo with admiration, “Chad, how do you know all this?”

Jade quipped, “He’s just doing his homework for when he has to woo his sweetheart.”

“Woo who?” a clueless Anya asked again.

A brief, tense silence fell over the room.

Anya seemed to catch on, disbelief mixing with realization. She looked at Leo, who was already looking back at her.

Anya felt like her heart could stop right then and there!

Leo’s intense gaze briefly met hers before he turned to Molly, “You’re all talk, Jade. Why did you clam up when Chad was supposed to pop the question?”

Jade found her outlet for frustration, “Like it was easy to hold back? I had a ton to say, but Mia’s hubby gave me one look, and I couldn’t even whisper a punctuation mark.”

All eyes shifted to Mia, who was cradling her baby.

“Don’t look at me. I handle the finances at home, but all the big decisions are in my baby’s dad’s hands.”

The baby, now well-fed, joined the conversation with a “goo and gah.”

“See, even my one-month-old gets it,” Mia said, gesturing with her bundle of joy.

Leo, with mock disgust, “Mia, you’re always so tough. How come you roll over when my uncle’s around?”

Mia shot back, “And you’re supposed to be tough as nails. How come you bolt when your uncle lifts a finger?”

Leo: “…”

Anya watched the three bicker, chide, advise, and solve each other’s problems, a sense of envy in her smile.

“Auntie Jade, Auntie Molly, Chad, you guys have such a great bond.”

Many fear trios of friends because someone usually ends up the third wheel. But Anya felt no such exclusion with them. She had experienced the warmth and affection of her fiery-tempered aunt and the protective nature of her eloquent aunt.

Now, as the three argued, no one seemed truly angry—it was all in good fun.

“…If you ask me, getting Grandpa’s approval is the most important thing,” Leo said matter-of-factly.

Mia pondered, “How do you handle our stubborn old man? Got any tricks?”

Molly looked at everyone and asked, “What do you think is our two old men’s Achilles’ heel?”

Again, the room fell silent.

Night had fallen on the Cedillo family estate, the lights dimly shining.

In Hansen’s bedroom, he had lost interest in online shopping and gaming, preoccupied with thoughts of his daughter being courted. It irked him.

Just as the Byrne family had left that day, his group of young troops showed up at night.

Hansen counted them, “You four think I've lived too long, coming here with more mischief?”

Hansen was straightforward.

In unison, they replied, “We’re here to bond!”

Hansen was skeptical: a trap!

…

In Andre’s bedroom, he had just taken a shower and returned to find his son gazing around the room, his wife nowhere in sight.

Andre approached the little burrito wrapped up on the bed.

“Did your mom leave you with dad again?”

Hansen: “…You’re twisting it, you win.”

The sisters exchanged looks with Leo and Anya.

“Grandpa, I want to marry Anya, but her parents seem against it. They won’t let her stay with us next year. What do I do?”

Hansen froze, “What?!”

Anya chimed in, “Grandpa, my dad won’t let me marry Chad. He thinks Chad isn’t good enough for me.”

Hansen was flustered, “What do you mean ‘good enough’? How is Leo not good enough? What exactly do your parents have against him?”

Anya glanced at Leo, “Everything.”

Hansen insisted, “There has to be a reason.” He had his heart set on this granddaughter-in-law. His dreams of future great-grandchildren hinged on her—Henry was, well, less dependable.

Anya didn’t miss a beat, “They don’t like that Chad loves me, wants to marry me. My dad wants me to stay single forever, to stay with him and mom.”

Hansen: “…”

Oh, he got it.

It was all a ruse!

Mia spoke up, “Girls shouldn’t get married. Look at your aunt, she’s already found a nunnery. You two can keep each other company, not so lonely living under the eternal light.”

Knowing it was a sham, Hansen couldn’t help but react. “Why go to a nunnery? There’s not even proper food there.”

Mia caught the flicker of emotion in Hansen’s eyes. “If we don’t go now, what happens when our folks pass on? We’ll have our own families, and she’ll be left all alone in this world. Remember how you rushed me to tie the knot with Andre? Wasn’t it because you were scared that after you’re long gone, he’d be left to fend for himself? Now, big bro has Naomi, Andre has me. But what about Molly?”

Hansen remained silent.

He set his fork and knife down with a clatter, stood up, and shooed the gaggle of kids out of his bedroom with a wave of his hand.

That night, Hansen couldn’t find sleep. The weight of Mia’s words hung heavy in the air, and the quiet hum of the house seemed to echo her concerns, leaving him to toss and turn in the solitude of his thoughts.