Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 507

Later, Chad changed his phone wallpaper to a cool-toned glamour shot of Jade. She hadn't let the winter chill stop her from lying in a field in a gown for a sultry photoshoot, teeth chattering but determined to capture the perfect image.

No matter what Chad said, she wouldn't listen. "Beauty requires a little sacrifice," she'd retort, shrugging off the cold. Grandma Aubree watched from the doorway in her festive red quilted jacket, shivering just looking at her granddaughter out there posing in the frosty air. Eventually, Chad took a few snaps, and even he, a grown man, couldn't stand the cold. After the final shot, he scooped up his sister and carried her back to the warmth of home.

Inside, Chad scolded her, their mom lectured her, and even the grandparents chimed in as they walked by, calling her a silly goose for wearing a dress in the winter cold just for some pictures.

Mia received the photos from her bestie. "Just tell me, aren't they stunning? Bet Andre never took ones this good of you!"

"Who took them?"

"My Chad," Molly boasted, pride swelling in her voice.

Mia felt a pang of envy and showed the photos to her husband. "Look at these pictures Chad took of Molly. Even the filters are top-notch. Now look at what you've snapped. They're so bad, I can hardly recognize myself." Andre, the ever-patient cop, wasn't offended. "I'm usually at crime scenes taking evidence photos. What's there to be jealous about?" he said with a shrug.

Mia rolled her eyes and relayed his words to Molly, "Don't get too cocky. Andre says cops hone their photography skills snapping shots of grime."

Jade sent a skull emoji and quipped, "Mia, if Andre wasn't such a big shot, I'd cut ties with him in a heartbeat."

"And let's be honest, if he wasn't loaded, we wouldn't be putting up with him," Mia replied, their banter a secret shared between sisters. Andre caught a glimpse of their chat and glanced at his wife's silhouette with a mischievous smirk, planning a playful revenge. The Cedillo family threw a lavish christening party that was the talk of the town. Chad, scheduled for a day shift, managed to wrangle a couple of days off after persistent coaxing from Jade, who wouldn't take no for an answer. He was determined to join her for the celebration.

Mia, always the sly one, teased Molly, "You know, even if you hadn't sweet-talked him, Chad would've shown up to the christening."

"So..."

Mia declared her deduction, "Chad just wanted to hear you play the darling."

Molly gave her a knowing smile. "Mia, ever since you had your baby, I swear I've been sharing your pregnancy brain."

On the day of the christening, Andre and his family were up early to join the Cedillos. Mia cradled her baby, accompanying her husband to the family altar to light incense in memory of his mother.

Henry's name was now inscribed in the Cedillo family tree. Mia's dress for the event was crimson with hidden fastenings added just in case. Her son Henry was so used to breastfeeding he turned his nose up at formula, even though Mia had prepared milk bags in advance. She had this feeling that he wouldn't take anything but the real deal, so the dress was designed with easy access in mind.

Her shoulders were draped with a short, cape-like overlay that concealed her chest and the hidden clasps, adding a touch of elegance. The hem of the overlay was embroidered with gold threads in a pattern symbolizing good fortune, with a fringe of diamonds adding weight and texture. Every yellow detail on the dress was spun from gold, every white fill was silver, and the diamonds were an expensive, international purchase by Andre, all to adorn his beloved wife.

Molly joked, "If I ever hit rock bottom, I'll just nip a diamond from Mia's dress."

Mia's dresses were not extravagant in design but were a fortune in craftsmanship and materials-one gown could be worth millions.

The little guy was bundled up in a snug tiger costume, his chubby cheeks and tender lips only fussing when discomforted.

Anya's dress, also a Cedillo custom, was a pink princess tulle, perfectly matching her personality. But the best part? It was Leo, the man's man, who had personally chosen Anya's dress.

The Gordons arrived early, and seeing their daughter mingling with the Cedillo clan, they felt a sense of pride mixed with an odd sense of displacement.

The Cedillos had been cooking since dawn, and the house was now filled with a crowd of relatives and friends. Mia descended the stairs with Henry in her arms, and the room full of elders surged forward. "Henry's growing up to look just like Andre as a boy, and he's so chubby now. Look at him, sleeping soundly even with all these people around. Let your great-aunt have a cuddle."

Mia hesitated to hand over her son to the aging relatives. But then, Hansen spoke up, "Mia, let your great-aunt hold Henry." Trusting Hansen's judgment, Mia passed her sleeping child to the elder. No matter how much they teased Hansen in private, when it came to presenting a united front, Hansen's word was law in the Cedillo household. His word was never contested publicly.

The Cedillo unity needed no declaration. A circle of octogenarians took turns holding the baby, each one eager to touch the little milk bundle, charmed beyond measure. Before the round was complete, the infant was roused by the handling and began to cry. No one could soothe him until Mia stepped in and picked him up, the comfort of his mother's arms immediately calming him down.

Andre had scarcely settled at home before he was off to Crescent Park to welcome guests. Crescent Park, a crown jewel of the Cedillo Group, stood as the pinnacle of luxury in Havenbrook. The top-floor ballroom of Crescent Park was reserved exclusively for the celebration today-it was his little one's christening party, a grand tradition in these parts.

The chefs, all culinary wizards from the renowned Majestic Dining Enclave, had been prepping since the night before. Their reputation for exquisite flavors promised a feast fit for royalty.

As the appointed hour approached, a convoy of eight cars pulled up to the Cedillo family home, the clan ready to make their grand entrance at the hotel. Tucked away backstage, the hotel had two lounges for resting. Upon arrival, Mia, cradling her baby, made a beeline for one of the lounges to freshen up.

Guests began to trickle in, then flooded the venue in droves. Even the usually unkempt Leo donned a suit to stand by his uncle's side, greeting the arrivals with an air of uncharacteristic solemnity. Those who had jovially declared themselves "godfathers" were also in attendance, all prominent figures within their circle, each a household name in their respective fields.

The event drew a who's who of society: entrepreneurs and magnates from afar, international business tycoons, and blue-blooded aristocrats. Andre had spared no expense for his son's christening, orchestrating an affair that would send ripples across the social elite.