Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Henry's version of a "kiss" is quite the experience. He wraps his tiny hands around his dad's head and goes to town with his little milk teeth, nibbling away. If anyone dares to cut his "kissing" spree short, he'd grab a handful of their hair and insist on continuing. Poor Mia has been caught in this adorable trap several times. She'd end up pressing her face against his, letting him nibble away until he was satisfied.

Henry's enthusiasm wasn't limited to Mia alone; his dad wasn't spared either. This little bundle of joy would grab his dad's hair, drool everywhere, and finally let go, looking at his dad with those big eyes and cheekily sticking out his tongue, going, "Ah ba~ ba ba." Andre found himself helpless in the face of his son's fiery enthusiasm and his inherited assertiveness. Resistance was futile.

Come noon, Mia was feeling drowsy, so she took Henry to the rest area hoping for a nap. But Henry had other plans. The moment he was laid down, he'd sit up. Hold him close, and he'd wiggle like a little worm. Eventually, Mia was too exhausted, and since Henry had learned to roll over, he was at risk of tumbling off the bed.

Andre stepped in, scooped up the little milk monster, and sat him on his lap while he worked. Henry, clutching his bottle, would gaze at the computer screen like he was the one running the show. After his fill of formula, he'd yawn, his eyelids drooping, and lay his head on the desk like a sleepy kitten. Mia loved to rub his round little head, and Andre, having picked up the habit, gave it a gentle rub too. Holding the sleepy child, he patted his little bottom and coaxed him to dreamland.

Soon, Andre carried Henry to the rest area, placed him in the middle of the bed, shed his coat, and slipped under the covers. The family of three took a well-deserved nap in the office.

Meanwhile, Molly's day wasn't as smooth. As soon as she got to the company, she dashed into her mom's office. "Mom, what's going on at the warehouse?"

Coleen, multitasking on the phone, instructed, "First, make sure no one's hurt in there. Clear the road so the fire trucks can get through. I'll head over soon."

As they hurried along, she explained, "There's a fire at the factory, and it's pretty serious. Hand over your car keys, and you get back to work."

"No way, I'm going with you," Molly insisted.

Coleen had been in the middle of a scramble for a car when the emergency hit. That's why Molly had skipped dropping off her friends and beelined it to Chade Inc. Once there, Coleen didn't want her daughter in harm's way and tried to keep her back. But Molly wasn't having it. "I'm coming with you to the factory."

"The fire's too intense. Go back," Coleen urged.

Molly was right on her heels as they exited the elevator and jumped into the car. "Wherever you go, I'm going. You want me to take over the company, but if you're scared of this little danger and won't let me come, you might as well just hand over the reins and watch me run it into the ground."

Coleen relented with a sigh, "Alright, you win. Buckle up. I'm driving."

Once behind the wheel, Coleen was a force to reckon with, speeding and weaving through traffic with a grace that left Molly watching in awe, wishing she had even a fraction of her mom's skills.

When they reached the factory, the blaze was still raging, but the firefighters were already at work. The manager quickly introduced Coleen to the team leader, "This is our boss, Coleen."

In the heat of the moment, Coleen didn't mince words, "There are seven pieces of equipment in there, worth over thirty million. But if it's too risky, prioritize the firefighters' safety!" Her straightforward concern warmed the team leader's heart. "We'll do our best. You two, step back."

Coleen and Molly moved back to the safety line.

Soon, the police arrived, as one would expect with such a large fire. Easton and Annie approached to meet with Coleen and the manager.

The meeting was full of surprises-Easton was shocked, Annie was caught off guard, and Molly was just confused, while Coleen was deep in conversation with the police.

"Molly, is this your family's factory?" Easton asked, pointing.

Coleen turned to her daughter, curious, "Do you know them?"

Molly nodded, looking a bit sheepish, "Yeah, I've been around a lot. This is my colleague from Chade, Mr. Xu."

Coleen didn't remember at first, but when Molly mentioned someone, she recalled, "Vivian Magez tried to frame me, and it was Mr. Xu who helped."

With that, Coleen had her bearings. "Easton, I'm Chad's mom. The details should come from the duty officer; I just got here."

The duty officer came over, and Easton and Annie started inquiring about the incident.

"We were on lunch break, so the factory was mostly empty. I was taking a nap when I noticed black smoke. I rushed in and found thick smoke and two unconscious workers. I got them out and called emergency services." Annie frowned, "There were people inside?"

"Yes, some live far away and don't want to go home in the midday heat. They sleep here because there's air conditioning."

Annie took notes, while Easton asked, "When did the fire get out of hand?"

"When I went to check the source, the fire suddenly escalated, so I called for help right away."

Annie pondered, "Could unattended equipment catch fire?"

Nobody had a definitive answer, so Easton asked Annie, "What are you thinking?"

Annie shrugged it off, "Just curious," as they ruled out arson.

Coleen and Molly stood aside as another fire truck arrived. Molly found herself next to Annie.

"Officer Chapman, do we know if the fire was deliberate or just a freak accident?" Molly asked.

Annie, aware Molly had figured things out, didn't expect her to initiate the conversation. "It's too soon to tell. The heatwave doesn't rule out a natural fire. We'll need to investigate once it's safe. I'll keep you posted." Molly thanked her, "Thanks a lot."

Annie nodded, feeling a bit awkward.

By afternoon, the fire was under control, with five out of seven pieces of equipment saved-a bit of luck in the chaos.

News from the hospital confirmed that the unconscious worker had woken up.

All around, people were filming on their smartphones. In today's world, every incident, big or small, gets captured and shared, spreading news like wildfire.

Hansen stumbled upon a video, "Hey, isn't that my daughter?"

He hadn't recognized the Byrne family's factory at first, but seeing his mother-in-law among the crowd didn't worry him. But then he spotted his daughter there, and he sat up in bed, "The place is on fire; what on earth is she doing there?"