Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 568

Two minutes later, Molly couldn't help herself and dialed Andre. "Hey Andre, I'm really home this time. Your little guy is perched right above me, giving me the stink eye."

As she spoke, her eyes met with her nephew's. Extending her arm, she handed her phone to the little munchkin, "C'mon, give your dad a 'ga-ga' or something. You can make those sounds, can't you? Help your auntie out here." The little guy blinked, staring at his aunt like she was from another planet.

Molly gave up and brought the phone back to her ear, "Your son won't give me the time of day. Your wife's right here with me."

Mia poured her a glass of water and handed it over, "Weren't you supposed to be running off to see Chad? How'd you get back so fast?"

After hanging up, Molly confessed, "Andre didn't think it was a good idea for me to go."

Mia frowned, "Have you lost your marbles? Why didn't you just sneak out?"

Molly glanced at the call duration on her phone, "Have you lost yours? I didn't end the call."

The awkward silence followed.

In the CEO's office at Cedillo Inc., Andre leaned back in his chair, a smirk playing on his lips as he listened to his little wife's chatter. Having finished her water and feeling a bit more like herself, Molly sat up straight on the couch.

Henry, her nephew, tracked every move she made.

Only when he was sure his aunt was back to normal did the little guy flop back down on the couch, succumbing to boredom once again.

Mia was at her wit's end.

Molly, with a less-than-gentle touch, scooped up the chubby bundle of joy from the couch and showered his face with kisses. "My dear nephew is simply the cutest little guy in the world. Auntie's going to give you another smooch." Defenseless Henry could only accept his fate.

"Mia, I've made up my mind. I'm going to marry Chad."

"Weren't you already set on that?" Mia replied, eyeing Molly's phone, "Did you hang up this time?"

Molly nodded, "Fear not, I hung up. Freedom of speech." Then she confided to her dearest friend, "I want to get hitched to Chad sooner rather than later."

The little tot, propped up in his aunt's arms, seemed less than thrilled, pouting because he couldn't join in the grown-up conversation.

"Why the rush?" Mia asked as she gratefully passed the baby to someone else and grabbed a fruit platter, finally able to indulge with both hands free.

Molly was smitten with her nephew's doughy cheeks and the sweet scent of baby that clung to him. "Chad did some math for me, and it kind of makes sense."

She reiterated the figures Chad had crunched for her, "I mean, what Chad suggested pretty much checks out."

Mia, always the one to temper her words with a bit of sass, replied, "Well, then there's no issue. It's not like you'd notice if there was."

"What do you mean?"

Mia playfully countered, "Who gets their wedding photos back in two months? You could use that time to house-hunt, book a venue... all that can go on simultaneously. Plus, with the right budget, you could whip up a wedding in a week. What's Chad implying, that the Cedillos are broke, or that your family doesn't have the funds?"

Molly sought wisdom from one who had already walked down the aisle, "Is getting married really that simple?"

Mia reminisced about her own wedding, "Well, it was pretty straightforward for Andre and me."

Molly began to see the light.

Holding the chubby baby, she gently patted his back, "But that doesn't make sense either. If I don't get married, I can't move forward with other plans."

Mia gave her son a meaningful look before turning back to her friend.

Molly, too, glanced at the child in her arms, then locked eyes with Mia. In an instant, she understood the married woman's gaze. She hastened to clarify, "Mia, when I said 'moving forward,' I didn't mean... you know, the whole married couple thing, having babies." Mia blinked innocently, "Sure, explain away. I'm all ears."

That afternoon, when Andre came home from work, followed by Leo, they found Mia cradling their son at the door, a bundle of joy that lit up at the sight of his father.

"Look at you! Daddy's home and you're all smiles," Andre said, taking his son into his arms. "Has your mom been teaching you any mischief?"

Mia feigned innocence, "Whatever do you mean, darling?"

Andre drew his wife close with his free hand, his voice filled with affection, "This afternoon, who was encouraging Molly to sneak off to see Chad?" Caught without an excuse, Mia quickly changed the subject, "Honey, your son's stopped trying to hold his head up again."

Andre glanced at his little guy, "You and your mom, I'll deal with you both."

The baby snuggled contently into Andre's neck, his soft skin brushing against his father's, feeling entirely at ease.

With the Byrne family set to formally ask for Molly's hand in marriage in a couple of days, Jade decided to come clean at dinner.

"Dad, Andre, Chad said he's coming over the day after tomorrow."

Hansen, Molly's father, grumbled, "I won't be home that day."

Molly knew her old man was trying to dodge the bullet, "You've taken the dowry, and now you're going to hide when they come calling? That's just shameful."

Hansen retorted, "I could still give it back."

Molly accused, "That's dishonest, and even your darling daughter would despise you for it."

At that, Hansen slammed down his fork, and Molly quickly murmured an apology.

Hansen understood the ritual. He knew exactly why Chad was coming.

"I've already agreed. What's his hurry?"

Molly muttered under her breath, "It's not him in a hurry. It's me."

Every time it crossed his mind, Hansen wondered why he was cursed with such a headstrong daughter. If it weren't for his old age, his walking stick would surely find its way to Molly's backside.

Trying to keep his temper, Hansen asked, "And what are you rushing for?"

word."

Molly answered with a hint of defiance, "Once I'm married, I'll be the queen of my castle, like Mia. Free in status and finance. Chad says when it's my house, I'll control the money and the power. I can spend as much as I like, sleep in, go out, and no one but him can say a Mia, somewhat surprised, found herself the object of envy.

"Molly, sometimes being under your husband's thumb can be fatal," she shared her experience as a seasoned wife.

Molly looked at Andre, who was still cuddling their son, and said with confidence, "Chad won't be like that."

Leo chimed in from the side, "Jade, you sleep in, go out, and spend freely in our house, and no one's ever said a word to you."

Molly had an epiphany. That's right, she only seemed to have rules and restrictions when she was with the Byrne clan. No sleeping in, curfews set by Chad, and her spending was always under the eagle eye of her mother.

But why on earth would she want to marry back into the strict world of the Byrnes?

Wasn't being the pampered princess of the Cedillo household much more comfortable?

The question struck Molly hard.

So, after dinner, Jade decided to go and pick a fight with Chad.

Chad had just gotten home from work, and with a grin, he continued to spin his tale. "Molly, you're looking at this all wrong. You got married to dodge taking over the family business, not because of sleeping in or spending money." "Oh yeah, you're absolutely right!" Molly exclaimed, her voice dripping with sarcasm.