Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

He kissed her lips directly, knowing he had to figure out how to handle Ms. Anya, but he sure wasn't going to miss out on the perks.

When Anya's neck was about ready to give out from leaning back, Leo finally pulled away. "Alright, let's make a deal. Every time you kiss that little guy, we get ten minutes of our own kissing session." "Then, Chad, give me another ten-minute kiss," Anya teased, her lips curling into a guilty smile.

"Hmm?" Leo's single grunt carried a weight of playful intimidation.

Anya's heart raced. "Chad, don't do that, you're scaring me a bit."

Leo lifted his hand, playfully pinching Anya's cheeks, squishing her face together. "How am I supposed to keep that mouth of yours in check? No, wait, I need to keep *you* in check." Anya realized she'd slipped up somewhere, though she couldn't pinpoint where.

"Tell me, how should I keep you in line?" Leo asked.

Anya replied, "Just take me wherever you go."

Leo chuckled, "How about I hitch you to my belt?"

"Okay." she agreed, mischievously.

Leo was at a loss. "I can't even get mad at you."

Letting go of her cheeks, he directed, "Get in the car."

She grabbed her backpack and hopped in through the side.

Leo started the car and headed home.

Once inside, Anya obediently leaned against the door, eyes closed, and said, "Chad, kiss me."

Leo flicked her forehead lightly, "You've gotten cheeky, haven't you?"

Anya knew that if she kissed the baby, Chad would just get a little jealous and then kiss her more. Being boyfriend and girlfriend, a few extra kisses were no biggie. Anya wasn't worried.

Leo looked at her, cupping Anya's face with his hands, his teeth just barely showing as he grinned.

"Did you mean you could sneak a kiss with the little one later?" Leo asked, almost amused.

Anya blinked innocently.

"Do you realize that if kisses last too long, things could get... interesting?" Leo said, mock-seriously. Anya blinked again, nonplussed.

Leo, exasperated but charmed, said, "Alright, let's get to work on some tougher problems!"

"Chad, I've got them down."

"Then tackle even harder ones."

The Cedillo family.

After a school trip, the little celebrity of Havenbrook University was back home.

The pint-sized star stood there, hands patting the coffee table, adorably taking in the scene.

Hansen pointed at his daughter with his cane, "Molly, you, you, you better head back to your husband's place." Molly replied, "I need to stay home and be the doting daughter. I'm not leaving."

Hansen wouldn't dare punish his daughter, especially with her expecting. She was the family's queen bee. Frustrated, Hansen visited his wife's memorial in the afternoon to vent, still bewildered by his daughter's antics.

At home, Molly clung to her dad, "How far have you gotten in Candy Crush? Let me help you push through." "You mean it?"

"Absolutely."

Hansen handed over his phone, "Sweetie, Harry Rayner's ahead of me again. Can you beat him for me?" "Piece of cake." Molly took the phone, ready to play for her dad.

Hansen complained, "I'm stuck at home with the kids all day, no time to advance. Otherwise, I'd have beaten Harry Rayner ages ago." Henry, leaning on the coffee table, pulled down the fruit bowl, sending fruits rolling everywhere.

His dad didn't hesitate to give him a swift spanking.

He cried his heart out, filling the living room with his wails until he was sweaty from all the crying.

Deemed too messy by his mom, he was whisked off to the bathroom for a thorough scrub.

After dropping Anya off at home, just before she got out of the car, she looked at her boyfriend, "Goodnight, Chad."

Leo, through gritted teeth, warned, "Anya, if you kiss that chubby little guy again, I swear, I'm renting a big house, and you're moving out!" Anya lowered her eyes, staying quiet.

Leo thought she was finally scared.

"So, Chad, when can I move in with you? I don't have many requests, just a nice big kitchen so I can enjoy cooking every day. How about it?" Leo was taken aback, "Man, why are you so different from everyone else?"

Anya had no idea what had upset him again. As she got out of the car, her lips pouted so much they could hang an oil lantern.

Before driving off, Leo rolled down the window and said, "If I see you kissing Henry again, I'll deal with him myself. Now get inside!" Anya softly replied, "I'll watch you leave."

"I said get inside! Isn't it cold and dark out here?" Leo barked.

Only when Anya was safely inside the Cedillo family home did Leo drive off, feeling reassured.

He definitely needed to start looking

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for a new place. His current job wasn't going to last, having rubbed so many people the wrong way. He was sticking around for the December exams, wanting no distractions as he prepared. Plus, he hadn't secured another job yet.

He couldn't believe he was still jobless.

Leo frowned, knowing his uncle wouldn't blacklist him. So who was blocking his path?

Back home.

After a shower, Leo lay in bed, but sleep wouldn't come.

Anya, back at her place, sighed at the sight of the soft, cuddly Henry. She retreated to her room, calling her mom, "Mom, when are you going to have another baby?" Coleen replied, "Isn't your Uncle Andre's kid enough for you?"

"Chad won't allow it."

In his rented place, Leo, restless, checked his email again for job leads.

Not wanting his coworkers to eat up his time, he put work out of his mind and started studying instead.

If he didn't pass this year, he'd be disappointed in himself.

Leo got out of bed and settled at the computer desk.

Next to him were Anya's scattered exam papers. He tidied them up and carefully stored her half-eaten snacks in the mini-fridge to keep them fresh.

That night while everyone else was tucked in their beds, Henry slept with his belly exposed. His dad tossed a corner of the blanket over him, then Andre snuggled up to his wife and drifted back to sleep.

Molly turned over, Chad nestled up behind her, holding her close as they slept.

Anya hugged her teddy bear, while Hansen dreamt of surpassing Harry.

Only Leo stayed up, burning the midnight oil.

Before dawn, Andre woke up and noticed his son once again sleeping with his belly exposed. He tucked him into his wife's arms and headed off to the gym. Leo also rose early, donned his sports gear, and hit the community track for a run.

Studying without good health just wouldn't do.

After his run, he picked up breakfast, snapped a picture for his still-sleeping girlfriend, and returned to his apartment. After a refreshing shower, he headed to work.

At the office, chatter about Leo Lee and Ms. Quinn was everywhere. Folks were curious about why Vincent had brought his daughter to work.

"Hey Leo, did you hear?" someone asked.

Leo shook his head, settling at his desk, which was bereft of personal items, leaving only the starkness of official documents.

Soon enough, Ms. Quinn appeared at the office. As she passed Leo, she greeted him, "Good morning."

Leo nodded, "Morning," and continued tidying his desk.

During the morning meeting, Vincent

introduced his daughter to everyone. "This is Paige's first time here, though she was around yesterday Many of you might not have met her. This is my daughter, Paige. She's a senior in college and is here for an internship with us. Please, everyone, give her the guidance she needs."