Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Henry sprawled out right in the middle, blissfully unaware of anything but his dreams, sleeping like the happiest kid in the world.

"He doesn't smell bad at all! I give him a bath every day-he's always fresh, all milky and sweet," Mia insisted.

Andre leaned over and sniffed their son's tiny hand. "You're right, he really does."

Mia, now in a better mood, grabbed her son's little paw and took a whiff too. "Alright, I'm done with you. Let's go to sleep."

Andre grinned in the dark, closing his eyes.

Morning.

Jade was still deep in sleep when Captain Su's voice cut through: "Coleen's back from her trip. You need to be at the office today."

Jade shot up, wide awake in an instant.

"Chad, hurry up, we're going to be late!"

She jumped out of bed, rushed through her morning routine, and skipped breakfast. When she went to the kids' room to get her son, she swung the door open-"Huh? Where are the boys?"

Her own son was missing, and so were the other two! All three had vanished.

Right then, Naomi appeared, carrying Wayne out the front door.

With his mom racing against the clock, Wayne's morning routine happened right in the car. He sipped his bottle calmly as Naomi wrangled him out of his pajamas, wiped him down, and got him into clean clothes. Molly followed with a wet wipe, cleaning his cheeks and smoothing down a few wild hairs. "There, now you're presentable."

At Chade Inc., Molly clocked in, then charged into the office, son in tow.

"Mom, I missed you so much!" she called out with dramatic flair.

Coleen was at her desk, reviewing her daughter's attendance: absences, missed days, early departures-the works.

"Taking care of a kid is hard work! Look at Wayne-he's chubby and happy, isn't he?" Molly protested, plopping Wayne on the desk.

Wayne finished his bottle and settled among Grandma's paperwork. Coleen, still youthful and elegant, had a touch of steel but plenty of warmth.

"Molly, no paycheck for you this month," Coleen said flatly.

Jade pouted. "Oh, Mom, at least hug Wayne?"

Coleen shook her head. "And no more living allowance either."

She added, "And I'm cutting off Chad's card too."

She knew full well her son's card had been in Molly's purse this whole time.

Molly eyed her mom's computer screen, realizing this was for real. "Okay, but Wayne still needs diapers. Grandma, can you help with that, just a little?"

"No," Coleen replied, not budging.

Wayne looked from his mom to his grandma, worried his next set of diapers might be in jeopardy.

Molly stood there, taking her punishment with exaggerated seriousness.

Back at the Cedillo house, Henry woke up and immediately went searching for Wayne. After looking everywhere and coming up empty, he traited after his mom. “Where's Dragon? He's gone!" (Wayne had earned the nickname "Dragon" because of Henry's favorite superhero.)

Mia was bustling around in the kitchen. "Dragon went to the office with your aunt. He's not lost."

"Lost! Can't find him!" Henry insisted.

Mia glanced at her phone, following a recipe. "Sweetie, go play for a bit. Mommy's making breakfast."

Henry tilted his head, thinking. “Eat?"

Mia gave him a look. "You're a brave one, aren't you?"

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She cracked some eggs, but the shells slipped into the bowl. She tried fishing them out with her chopsticks, finally giving up and picking them out with her fingers.

Henry watched, fascinated, itching to try it himself. Mia shooed him away.

Not even three minutes later, he was back. "Where's breakfast? I'm here!"

Mia tossed tomatoes into the pan, smashing them with her spatula, trying to get the juices flowing.

The kitchen sizzled and popped, the sound echoing through the house.

When the oil started to spit, Mia quickly pulled Henry behind her, shielding him.

He hugged her leg, peeking out with his tiger-cub face, eyes wide with curiosity. To him, the kitchen was even wilder—and maybe more dangerous-than any of his own adventures.