Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

"Got any plans for the future?" Leo finally spoke up about his ambitions for the first time.

To his surprise, Mia and Molly, who usually would have teased him endlessly, paused to seriously consider the feasibility of his newfound interest in cybersecurity.

"This is the first time we're hearing about it," they both admitted.

Leo explained, "I know you two might not know, but my uncle and my aunt's husband are quite knowledgeable about the industry."

A lightbulb went off in Mia's head. "Leo, you've got to be honest with me and Molly. That hacker friend, Anya..."

"Yeah... that's me."

The sisters were in shock!

Unable to hold back, Aunt Jade landed a playful punch on Leo's back. "So, you were making fun of me that day?" She had tried to tease Leo with Anya's admirer, who was also a hacker. No wonder he seemed so unbothered at dinner. It turns out, he was the hacker! Rubbing his back, Leo glanced at his aunt. "You're married now. Be a bit gentler, will you?"

Mia quickly asked, "Does my husband know it's you?"

Leo nodded impatiently. "He guessed it." He wasn't sure at first, but after buying a car, it became clear his uncle knew everything but chose to keep it under wraps.

"And my Chad?" Molly hurriedly asked.

"He doesn't know yet. Anya helped me keep it a secret."

The sisters were stunned to learn that their childhood playmate was actually a renowned hacker.

Shocked, Molly downed two bottles of hard cider alone.

On the way home, Chad had to stop the car for Molly who, losing all composure, urgently needed a restroom break.

"How much did you drink?"

"Leo didn't let us drink alcohol, so I had two bottles of cider," Molly confessed.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Chad asked, "How did the talk go?"

"We shared our thoughts with Leo. It's up to him now."

"And what exactly does Leo want to do?" Chad prodded further.

Molly remained tight-lipped. "It's Leo's secret. I can't tell you."

Andre also inquired with his wife. "Mia, what's Leo planning?" He genuinely cared for his nephew, reluctant to push him but secretly hoping Leo would follow the path he had laid out for him. Mia, knowing her friend's secret, struggled. "Honey, maybe we should let Leo tell you himself. But I have an idea."

Andre was puzzled, needing advice from his wife?

Mia whispered into her husband's ear.

Andre reminded her, "Mia, it's just us two in the bedroom, no one else can hear."

Mia pointed at a stuffed animal in the bed. "Who says? We have a little eavesdropper here."

Their son Henry, attempting to sit up under his father's watchful eye, eventually tumbled onto the bed, bursting into tears.

Mia quickly scooped up her son, soothing him. "Oh, don't cry, sweetie. It's okay to fall. Mommy and Daddy aren't laughing at you." After a moment of being cradled by his parents, Henry's tears dried, and he fell asleep to the cool breeze from an opened window. Andre, looking at his son's chubby cheeks, felt a wave of affection.

He then asked Mia, "You're off this weekend, right?"

Mia corrected him. "No, it's not my weekend off."

Andre realized his mistake; it was indeed the weekend.

And so, they headed out with their son, leaving behind the Byrne family routine.

Molly, who had grown accustomed to a sedentary lifestyle, found herself unable to resist Chad's trained physique.

As she tried to fend him off, Chad easily overpowered her defenses.

She recalled the days before their marriage, when Chad would shy away from her slightest glance. Now, the truth of their relationship was laid bare in the intimacy of their bedroom. Caught in the heat of the moment, Molly's resolve melted away under Chad's touch, regretting her earlier defiance but unable to deny the connection between them.

As they navigated their complex feelings and desires, Molly vowed to herself, "Tomorrow, I'm joining Mia for some boxing lessons. I have to!"

In the quiet of the night, many rested, but the intricacies of their lives continued to unfold, weaving a tapestry of love, secrets, and personal growth.

In the darkness of a room with the lights off, it's not always a given that someone is asleep. Conversely, a lit room doesn't necessarily mean someone is awake.

Anya was lying in bed with the lights on, her head propped against the pillow, a book she had borrowed from the library with Leo last week tossed aside. She didn't remember how many pages she had managed to read. She had planned to read a little and then wait up for Chad. But as she read, drowsiness overcame her, and before she knew it, she had drifted off to sleep.

Leo, passing by Anya's bedroom, noticed the light seeping out from under the door.

He knocked softly. "Anya, you asleep yet?"

No response.

He knocked again, a bit louder this time. "Fast asleep?"

Still, silence.

Worried, Leo gently pushed the door open just a crack to peek inside, making sure the bathroom was empty before pushing the door open wider and stepping in.

Moving past the ensuite, he took a couple of steps further into the room, only to find Anya, propped up against her headboard, fast asleep in the most peculiar position. "What kind of magical sleeping pose is this?" he wondered aloud, amused by the sight.