Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Leo stared down the empty road ahead, his eyes deep and contemplative. After a moment, he let out a breath and turned to his girlfriend with a grin. "Looks like we're in the clear. See? A little scare worked wonders; your hiccups are gone. Let's get you home." After dropping Anya off at the Cedillo family's doorstep, he reminded her before she got out, "I'll swing by to pick you up tomorrow morning."

"Chad, are you going to be in any danger?"

Leo chuckled, shaking his head. "You're giving those guys too much credit. Don't worry."

He watched Anya disappear into the house before driving away. Instead of heading home, he went to the Davis residence, where Vincent and his crew had been since going to the hospital earlier.

Paige was at home, causing quite a scene with her tears and shouting. By late night, the neighbors had retreated, leaving her alone with a lawyer, discussing divorce.

Leo gave the scene a cold glance before driving off again. He parked on a quiet street, popped open the trunk, and pulled out a laptop, choosing not to return home.

The next day at the office, Paige and Lee quickly pulled him aside. "Vincent wants a word with you."

Leo was ready and followed them to the hospital. Thanks to his quick temper, his uncle had made him learn martial arts, which had seriously boosted his strength. The kick he gave Vincent last night was fueled by anger, landing Vincent a hospital stay. When Leo arrived, Vincent furiously knocked his blanket to the floor, glaring at him as though he wanted to tear him to shreds. "You called the cops on Liao and Duan's men last night?"

Leo casually pulled out a resignation letter. "Meant to leave this on your desk, but forgot you were in the hospital. Looks like I can't stick around at the company anyway, so might as well resign and save you some cash."

"I've already notified the police," Vincent snapped.

Leo shrugged. "Alright."

Vincent's eyes burned with hatred. "Once the medical report is out, you're going to jail."

"Fine by me," Leo replied, unfazed.

Paige started pleading for him.

Lee chimed in, "Leo, just apologize to Vincent and let's put this behind us."

Vincent waved it off. "I don't want an apology."

Lee leaned in, "Leo, you're smart enough to know what Vincent values most. Take Sean's advice. You're young; whether it's a sentence or just a record, it could mess up your future. You're applying for grad school, right? This gets out, and which school would take you?" "You can find another girlfriend, but a career gone means your life's over. Look how devoted Jean is; she's been speaking up for you. Bring your girlfriend, let her 'apologize privately' to Vincent, and this can all be over."

Leo glanced at the man who set him up and the woman gazing at him, then back at Lee. "So, you all planned this show for me?"

"Leo, a man's future is what matters most. You can have any girl you want," Lee urged, emphasizing Vincent's genuine anger. Jean added, "Chad, I don't want you to go to jail."

Leo dialed the emergency number. "Hello, I'd like to report an assault. Yes, I hit the guy."

After hanging up, he looked at Vincent's abdomen, "When are you getting discharged?"

"What are you planning to do?"

"Maybe throw another punch."

He left the hospital.

Back at the office, Vincent, in a fit of rage, swept everything off his desk. "Get rid of him."

Paige watched Leo's retreating figure, then turned to her father. "Sean, how do we track down that girl?"

Anya had no classes that afternoon, feeling too distracted to focus, so she went early to Leo's place to wait for him.

Before she could enter the complex, someone called out, "Did you know Leo's going to jail?"

Anya stopped and turned to see the woman who'd pushed her last night.

Paige approached, looking at the young girl with a backpack, still innocent and cute. "He hit my dad last night because of you, and my dad's decided to press charges." Anya's face was still, but her palms were sweaty. "Where's Chad?"

"Probably picked up by the police," Paige said with a shrug. "Want to save him?"

Anya remained silent.

ét

"Come to the hospital tonight and talk to my dad. If he forgives you, he'll drop the charges, and Leo will be fine," Raige explained. "If you really love him, you need to think about his future. To a man, career is more important than a woman. You like him, I like him too."

Anya stared at her. "He doesn't like you."

"But I can offer him what you can't-career, status, resources. I'm the company's sole heir; if he's with me, he can get a company worth millions without lifting a finger. Can a student like you offer that?"

Anya blinked, remembering her childhood when her pocket money was in the millions.

"I have backing," Anya replied sweetly.

Paige laughed mockingly. "Your cop relative? My dad makes one call, and he's fired. What do you have? Do you even know what resources and connections are? Leo's applying for grad school; my dad could find him a tutor. Can your family do that? Can your little cop uncle?"

Anya stayed quiet, and Paige, thinking she'd intimidated her, continued, "You have love now, but when life's pressures hit, love fades. Be smart, use what you have while you can 'earn'. When your looks fade, shortcuts disappear,

Dropping the act, Paige got blunt. "Stay with my dad, and you'll get twenty thousand a month. Sound good?"

Anya asked, "Does your mom know you're out here finding mistresses for your dad?"

Paige was taken aback. "You!"

"Anyway, I've told you how to save Leo. If you're okay watching him go to jail for you, fine. But if you don't save him and he ends up in jail, it's on you."

With that, she hailed a taxi and left.

Anya watched her leave, then called Leo.

No answer. A sense of unease grew inside her.

She decided not to go to Leo's place. Instead, she turned around, flagged down a taxi, and said, "Take me to Cedillo Inc."