Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

When Andre got home and sat down for dinner, it didn't take him long to catch on to his brother-in-law's scheme. With a grin, he reached over to ruffle Mia's hair, watching her get all fired up again. "So, while I'm out, you're trying to run off with my two treasures?" Andre joked.

Cooper nodded without hesitation. "That's exactly my plan, brother-in-law."

Andre chuckled but fixed Cooper with a look. "You know, these two are trouble magnets—one mischief after another, each bigger than the last. When they're with me, I can handle it. But if they go with you, can you really keep up?"

Cooper was sharp enough to know he was being tested. "Come on, with a brother-in-law as legendary as you, even if my sister moved overseas, no one would dare mess with her. Your reputation's got her covered."

Andre couldn't help but laugh. Mia, meanwhile, was chewing her chopsticks, looking back and forth between them. "Babe, Cooper-why do I get the feeling you two are speaking in riddles?"

Henry, knowing full well this was grown-up talk, minded his own business, focusing on his food. Once he was finished, he quietly slipped away to play.

Ever since Henry's last raid on Andre's wine stash, Andre had installed a gate at the basement stairs in Maplewood Estates—just high enough to keep his mischievous son out. Conquering that gate had now become Henry's number one challenge.

Spring was in the air, the snow had melted, and everything was waking up again. Just as the world was turning green, exam results were posted.

Leo sat at his desk, nervously refreshing the page. Anya snuggled onto his lap. "Chad, did you make it in?"

Leo smiled. "Silly, this is just the scores. There's still an interview before anything's settled."

Anya pouted. "I know! Stop calling me silly-I'm not."

Leo just looked down at her, his gaze soft with affection, and hugged her closer as he kept checking.

Back at home, Andre wrapped his arms around his anxious wife. "Grad school's just another boring game, Mia. You're doing this for fun, not because you have to. Relax, okay?"

Mia sighed. "It sounds easy when you say it, but I'm still worried. Maybe I should just take the IELTS and study abroad?"

Andre kissed her on the forehead. "Don't stress, sweetheart. It's going to be fine."

Hearing the word "sweetheart," Henry thought his dad was calling for him. He rushed over. "Daddy?"

Andre gently pushed his son's head. "Not you, buddy. Go play."noveldrama

But Henry wasn't about to be left out of the action. He climbed right into Mia's lap, staring at the laptop screen. Then, with a sudden move, he slapped the laptop closed.

Both parents turned to stare at him, stunned.

Meanwhile, Cooper called his sister, practically buzzing with excitement. "Hey, piggy, did you—wait, is that my nephew crying in the background?"

Mia groaned. "I'm sitting here refreshing my results page, and Henry just closed my laptop!"

"So you don't know your score yet?" Cooper asked.

"Nope. Did you check?"

"You didn't make it. You'll never make it! That's what you get for picking on my nephew," Cooper teased, and then promptly hung up.

Mia was fuming, but before she could scold Henry, Leo called. Mia pounced on the phone. "Leo, what did I get?"

Leo paused. "... You don't know?"

Before Mia could answer, Leo replied, "You didn't make it."

Click. Another call ended.

Mia gritted her teeth. "Andre, I'm telling you, my results must be awesome! Otherwise, those two wouldn't dare mess with me like this."

She knew her brothers too well-if she'd bombed the test, they'd be lining up to comfort her, not cracking jokes. If they were teasing, it could only mean good

news.