Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Jade couldn't help but wonder, Did Andre find out I was picking the lock earlier? "Andre, I just came back to talk to you all about Sweetie's first birthday party."

Andre shot her a look. "You couldn't just say that over the phone? Had to come all the way back?" Clearly, her family wasn't exactly thrilled.

Molly was convinced now-Andre definitely knew about her lock-picking stunt. No way he'd be this annoyed otherwise.

"Andre, I wasn't the only one picking the lock, you know! Your wife, your son, your nephew they were all there too. Why are you just mad at me?"

Mrs. Cedillo froze with her fork halfway to her mouth. She looked left at her husband glaring, then right at her best friend who'd just ratted her out. "Molly, I'm lighting a candle right now, praying I never meet you in the next life."

Hansen ended his call and put his phone down. "Huh. What's with the weird vibe in here?"noveldrama

Molly looked over at her dad. "Dad, is your 'internet romance' finally over?"

Hansen had been glued to his phone all day, and the kids were already teasing him about his so-called 'online romance.'

"Molly! Get back to the Byrnes' house right now!"

Chad was working the night shift at the station when his father-in-law called. "Come get your wife."

Four words he hadn't heard in ages, but that sounded way too familiar.

That night, Hansen was pacing with a stopwatch, standing next to his daughters as they did their punishment time. "I was just chatting with Seth. I don't even talk to other women, let alone have some online fling. Can't you girls just focus? At least Mia has something in that brain of hers-Molly's head is full of nonsense." Jade piped up, "Hey, everyone says daughters take after their dads."

Hansen nearly reset the timer, looking ready to double their punishment. Mia jumped in, “Dad, you and Seth always have so much to say-why not invite him over? Bring Ms. Aimee too!"

"... You know what? That's a good idea."

He put the timer down and started plotting.

With just the sisters left, Molly nudged Mia. "So, who's this Ms. Aimee you mentioned?"

Mia grinned. "She's a total badass. If she's having a rough day, she'll get in her car and ram it just to make a point."

"Love it. Is she the one you told me about?

Starried her own brother, always getting pushed arounder

finds time to throw a punch?"

Mia laughed. "She's way more powerful than you think. If her husband acts up, she's not afraid to swing at him."

Molly teased, "So she's braver than you. Even when she's busy, she stands up for herself. Meanwhile, you've got all those martial arts skills and still end up doing O punishment drills." '

Mia groaned, "Whose fault is that, though? My husband wouldn't have known if someone hadn't blabbed."

Molly shrugged. "Hey, your husband's scary! I panic and spill everything."

The two kept chatting through their punishment.

Behind them stood a man, hands tucked behind his back, listening in silence to their back-and-forth.

"Mia, we should ask Ms. Aimee to teach us how to throw a proper punch. I'd love to try it on Chad, but I'm too scared."

Mia nodded. "Same. I'd love to take a swing at my husband, but I'm not ready for the payback."

Hansen strolled by with his phone, calling out, "Andre, why are you standing behind those two girls?"

The sisters snapped ramrod straight, backs even stiffer than before.

They slowly turned, just catching a glimpse of a pair of polished shoes behind them-the silent man who'd apparently been there for who knows how long. Instantly, they whipped their heads forward standing so straight they could've been in a military parade