Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre loved that Mia had this effortless confidence and radiant energy about her. He reached over to ruffle the back of her hair. "So, are we good now?"

Mia stuck out her lower lip in a pout, and Andre didn't miss a beat-he leaned right in and kissed her. Years as her husband had taught him exactly what every little look meant.

Mia huffed, “Last time I said I love you, you didn't say it back."

Andre blinked. "Wait, when was that?"

Mia, ever the one to keep score, reminded him, "That day you caught me with The Silent Ring and I asked you to move the car. I told you I loved you, and you just walked off."

It took him a second, but then he remembered. He must've still been annoyed back then and just let it slide. "Mia, I love you too."

With the restaurant all to themselves, the two fell into a kiss-wrapped up in each other and nothing else.

Well, almost nothing else. Their son Henry was there too, clinging to his water bottle and doing his best to pretend he hadn't just witnessed his parents' makeout session. He took a swig, as if it could wash away the embarrassment.

His mom had just "traumatized" him with a bit too much affection.

That afternoon, Andre headed back to work.

He chatted with Mia for a while before leaving, feeling lighter than he had in days. Noah, his right-hand man, immediately picked up on the good mood. When Andre was happy, the company's budget always seemed to stretch a little further. "Unlimited backing for Patrick, CEO of Renard Group. Let's take down Sommers Corp and grab their market share."

Noah raised his brows. "Unlimited, really?"

Andre nodded. "You heard me."

Noah grinned. "Looks like the boss is ready for a new battlefield."noveldrama

All Andre had to do now was wait for the contract to expire.

Later, Hansen, who'd been keeping a low profile, finally came home.

Naomi, looking a little guilty, slipped in soon after.

"Mia, sweetheart, can I ask you something?"

Mia was lounging on the couch, snacking and scrolling through her practice questions. "Shoot, Dad."

Hansen, sounding nervous, asked, “Uh... that rice in the pot, it's all gone, right?”

Mia glanced over at him. "Yeah, I made it for Andre. Did you want some, Dad? I can cook up another batch if you want."

"No, no, no, tate way too much out already couldn't fit another bite Hansen said quickly, settling into a chai Then he asked, "So, you and

dre worked things out?"

"We did. He bought me a mountain of ice cream.”

"Ice cream?" Hansen's eyes lit up with hope.

Mia nodded, already having had her fill. She called out, "Henry, bring Grandpa some ice cream!" She paused, "Henry? Where'd you run off to now?"

As the evening set in, Andre drove home with the sky painted a fiery orange behind him.

The older folks saw the sunset and sighed, already dreading tomorrow's heat. The younger ones pulled out their phones to snap a quick pic. But the littlest kid in the house didn't care Henry was more interested in sitting on the porch, eating his ice cream, and waiting for his dad to come home.

Andre parked and stepped out, smiling at the sight of his little boy on the steps, bare-bellied in shorts holding a creamy ice cream bar, His mouth was ringed in white, but he was all smiles, eyes bright ashe waited for him.

"Daddy, you're home!"

Andre scooped up his sun-warmed son and kissed his chubby cheek. "Were you waiting for me?"

Henry offered up his ice cream for a taste. "Everyone else is gone! I'm all alone. And Mia yelled at me again."

"Oh, did you get in trouble with Mia?" Andre teased, playing along as Henry pouted hard, looking for sympathy.

"Yeah, it hurt," Henry whined, trying to milk it.

Andre pinched his son's nose affectionately and carried him inside, grabbing a napkin from the hallway to wipe the sticky ice cream off Henry's face.