Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Just as Andre realized someone was about to jump into the river, he could have stopped them in a heartbeat. But he didn't.

Mia was puzzled. Why didn't he stop them when it was so easy? But then, Andre always had his own reasons, ones that no one else could guess.

"Mr. Calder was just a distraction," Andre muttered. "I need to find out who's really behind this!" It was time for a thorough cleanup.

Tom, that slippery guy, even if caught, would never rat out his buddies. Not out of loyalty, but to cause more trouble.

Hearing her father's name, Anya asked anxiously, "Uncle, what happened to Dad?"

""He's fine."

At the hospital, Anya stayed with Leo for his check-up.

Molly went with Mia to see the pediatrician for the little one.

Outside, Chad spoke softly to Andre, "You're not planning to let him fall into the hands of the police, are you?"

Standing in the hospital corridor, Andre's gaze was icy. "Too official, doesn't satisfy."

Chad picked up on Andre's anger. "If the cops find him first, I won't tell you where he is... but I hope you get to him first." "I will."

Andre then walked into the exam room, watching his little bundle of joy being poked and prodded by the doctor.

The little guy was lying on the mat, looking at his parents with a pout, on the verge of tears from the discomfort.

"It's alright, no need to fuss, the kid's healthy," the doctor said, finally putting everyone at ease.

The doctor, clearly smitten with the chubby little fellow, held onto him a bit longer before handing him back reluctantly. "Dress the little guy warmly; those chubby cheeks won't keep him warm," he joked. Mia smiled. "We usually do. Today was for a photoshoot, so he's in the studio's clothes."

The little one looked at Mia, wanting to be in her arms. Mia walked over and scooped up her soft, cuddly son, her heart still racing from the morning's scare. Realizing what was almost lost, Mia thought, was the most beautiful feeling in the world.

Leo, after getting his leg checked, was also forced by Anya to get a chest X-ray.

Thankfully, sharp-eyed Anya noticed Leo constantly rubbing his chest. The examination showed soft tissue damage, leaving Anya both angry and worried.

"Chad, why didn't you say anything earlier? It could've been a fractured rib!"

When Andre went to see his nephew, he found Leo being scolded by little Anya. He sat there, admitting his fault with a doting tone, "...Sorry, okay? I was wrong, don't cry, it's not serious." Anya, with tears in her eyes, was touched. "The doctor said it was serious, and you're not even worried."

Andre hugged the child, and Anya quickly wiped her tears. The little one, unexpectedly, wanted to cling to his brother. Leo, though willing, was unable due to his own upcoming treatment. "What happened?" Andre asked.

Leo downplayed it. "When Tom tried to snatch the kid, I held on tight, and he punched me. I thought it was nothing, but it turned out to be a minor injury, nothing serious."

He had kept quiet, not wanting his aunt and uncle to feel guilty.

Mia approached, grateful to the friend who got hurt protecting her son. "Leo, Anya, thank you for today."

"Cut it out, Mia. What's with the sudden politeness? I thought you were possessed or something," Leo said, unable to handle the sudden change in her tone.

Mia was truly thankful. Leo had driven straight into danger despite his pain, and Anya had rushed to retrieve the child despite her fear. Without them, Mia would have been lost.

The photo session was forgotten, and the group returned home.

The Cedillo family was on edge for a long while after hearing about the morning's ordeal.

The baby, having experienced a kidnapping in infancy, seemed to have suffered a great trauma. A slight cry, and the household was in disarray.

Hansen had been driven mad by his little grandson the night before, at one point refusing to acknowledge him. But upon hearing of the child's peril, Hansen immediately embraced him, calling him his precious. No one in the family cherished the child more. Due to his injury, Leo also received his grandfather's affection. "Go back and rest up. You're not to go to work until you're healed."

Leo replied, "...Okay!"

By the river, Tom dragged his fractured arm through the underbrush. His body was covered in bruises, his major misjudgment being underestimating Mia.

Had he not been so confident in his victory, he wouldn't have had to flee in disarray.

As he walked back to his dingy rental, every step deepened his resentment towards Andre.

With today's events, he knew he was in for another period of fleeing.

Upon reaching his rundown rental, seeing the sickly woman and the frail, yellowed baby girl, he realized even infants varied greatly. The child in front of him looked half the size of Andre's son.

Tom sat down, knowing he couldn't afford any liabilities. Looking at Holly, he picked up a thick rope and slowly approached her...

The next day, the mixed-rental complex was raided by police. "Seen this man?" they asked, showing Tom's photo around.

"That's the guy living at the end," came the reply.

Residents went about their business amidst the disorderly and gossip-filled atmosphere, a mix of individuals drawn by the low rent. This place was like a chaotic zone.

When the police entered, breaking down the door, they found a body. The room was filled with desolation and dampness. Soon, the coroner arrived with his kit.

By afternoon, the area was cordoned off.

At Cedillo Inc., Conner Nettleton lounged in Andre's office, legs crossed, arms spread out on the sofa. Wearing a red shirt and a carefree demeanor, he looked towards the calm man resting in the boss's chair.

"Why aren't you at home protecting my son, but here at the company?"

Conner, seeming full of mischief, had rushed to Havenbrook early in the morning to confront his son's biological father.

Andre fiddled with his wedding ring, trying to clear his thoughts.

Hearing this, Andre slowly responded, "Mia took the day off, she's at home with the kid."

"Hansen, people are pushing your son around, and you're just going to sit there? Ever since Andre got hitched, he's become more and more... uh," Conner coughed pointedly instead of finishing his sentence. He didn't want to end up with a bruised tailbone, especially since Mars Arrowood, the usual target, wasn't around to take the hits.

Andre's phone buzzed to life. He grabbed it, pressing it to his ear, "Talk to me!"

"Sir, Tom's making a run for it, heading east. He's heading towards Cornfield Hill."