Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Honestly, my husband puts his heart into raising Leo. Because he's always seen Leo as the heir to the family, he never spoiled him or let him run wild. Whenever Leo got into trouble, he'd step in right away and set him straight. So, to everyone else, it just looked like my husband was always scolding or roughing Leo up.

Now, seeing Andre dote on his son so much, part of it is because he regrets how he treated Leo. He wants to make up for it but isn't sure how. He was so strict back then that Leo grew up scared of him, never daring to tell him what he really thought.noveldrama

My husband might seem all stern and scary, but it's just that he's got a lot on his plate. He's the one in charge, carrying all the weight, so everyone just thinks he's tough and never gentle.

But truth is, he sits alone in his study at night, thinking it all over. Once he realized he'd been too hard on Leo, all that love and softness he couldn't show Leo got poured into their youngest son.

Now, if Henry gets into trouble, his dad just gives him a couple of light smacks— honestly, they don't hurt at all. The worst is a ten-minute time-out, but even then, before the time's up, he's standing behind Henry, already feeling sorry for him.

Anya was moved. "Auntie, how do you know all this?"

"That thing at the hospital-Naomi told me about it. The rest? Well, when you share a bed and a life with someone for years, you notice things," she said with a smile.

Molly, looking a little guilty, said, "Anya, tell Leo I'm not going to give him a hard time tomorrow." She remembered how, when she was little, she always stole attention from her nephew. Thinking back, she actually felt a bit sorry for him.

Mia added, "I'm still going to give him a little talking-to, though."

Aimee listened with a smile in her eyes. "Your family is so lively and happy. I was an only child. Patrick's adopted, and before Jared came along, it was just my grandma raising the two of us. Every school break, I just wanted to go to my aunt's house and hang out with my cousins. It was always so fun and noisy. My own house was so quiet-if I wasn't making a ruckus, it felt empty. Now we have Jared, and I swear, my grandpa seems younger. I just want to have a bunch of kids, fill the house with laughter, so every time I come home, it's nothing but kids' voices everywhere."

She finished, then the corners of her mouth turned up with a helpless smile. "But I'm known for being the flakiest mom around. I'm afraid if I have a bunch of kids, I won't be able to keep up with them."

Mrs. Cedillo laughed, "Oh, they'll live-you just might put them through the wringer first."

Annie, yawning, eyes half-closed, said, "Right now, all I want is to find my sister and know she's safe. And Conner, too."

Anya, slouched over her beer bottle

with droopy eyes, mumbled, "I just want Chad to chase his dreams, for

3.cle to finally accept him, and for

him to be happy."

"Anya, you're totally love-struck," someone teased.

"My Chad's worth it," Anya replied, eyes shutting.

They'd been chatting for ages. Mia's arm was numb from Henry sleeping on it, so she shifted him gently "Let's get some sleep. We'll talk more in the morning."

The house had four bedrooms, each with its own bathroom-plenty for the five of them.

Mia said, "Anya, you're with Auntie tonight. Henry's a wild sleeper, so I need you on the other side to stop him from rolling off."

Anya nodded sweetly. "Okay, Auntie. I want to sleep with you anyway."

Annie offered, "Or I could stay with you. Anya's got class tomorrow, after all."