Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

The floor, freshly mopped in the morning, was getting another round of attention from Leo in the afternoon.

"Here I am, a grown man, fussing over this place like I'm about to meet the in-laws for the first time," he muttered to himself as he cleaned up.

When the couple finally arrived downstairs, Leo hurried down in his slippers to greet them.

"Hey there! Uncle, Aunt, welcome! Please, come on up."

He glanced at their "little brother-in-law," who was barely taller than a toddler, scooped him up, and carried him upstairs.

In the elevator, Leo made small talk with the couple.

Mr. Calder took in his surroundings, even checking out the elevator brand. "Ah, this is a good one, been around for a century."

Alone with his future father-in-law, Leo felt a bit of nerves creeping in. He swallowed hard before saying, "Yeah, this neighborhood's great. It's got separate paths for people and cars, so it's both peaceful and lively, with all the necessary amenities. Plus, it's close to Ms. Anya's school; I often drive her."

Mrs. Calder nudged her husband, who had been chatting away with the security guard earlier, asking about the neighborhood's safety and fire measures, including emergency shelters.

As they entered the house, Mrs. Calder immediately noticed the decor matched her daughter's taste perfectly, just like those toy houses her daughter loved as a child.

Mr. Calder, more focused on cleanliness, was pleased to see everything was tidy and well-kept.

"Make yourselves at home, Uncle and Aunt. Anya's just out getting familiar with her bridesmaid duties. She's on her way back now," Leo said, balancing the child in one arm while pouring water with the other. Mrs. Calder quickly took her son from him.

Mr. Calder was surprised. "She's really a bridesmaid?"

He thought his daughter might've been fibbing.

Leo nodded. "Yep, stepping in for another bridesmaid at my aunt's wedding. Anya's close with them, so she agreed to help." Noticing Mr. Calder's skepticism, Leo added, "Anya's very straightforward; she wouldn't lie. Just the other day, she sneaked over to my aunt's to cuddle Wayne. When I found out and asked her about it, she just stayed quiet rather than lie." Anya stood there, hands behind her back, silently protesting Leo's teasing.

Mrs. Calder gave her husband a knowing look, appreciating Leo's defense of their daughter.

Leo then opened a drawer, grabbed some snacks, and handed them to Arthur. "Anya always stocks up on baby snacks at the supermarket, just in case Henry drops by and needs something to munch on."

The couple exchanged glances, recognizing this as their daughter's doing.

Before long, Anya burst through the door. "Dad, Mom, why didn't you tell me you were coming?" she exclaimed, finding out only when they arrived.

Leo stepped in. "Why the rush? You've got me here."

"They wanted to surprise you," he added with a grin.

Anya pouted, taking her brother back. "You liars."

With Anya home, Leo felt more relaxed. He started thinking about where to take his future father-in-law for dinner. It had to be somewhere classy, with great food, and new to both him and Anya.noveldrama

As Anya showed her parents around, Leo discreetly texted his aunt for suggestions. Everyone knew Aunt Jade loved exploring new restaurants with her Chad.