Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

A short while later, the call finally connected.

Noah's voice came through. "Boss, I figured it out it was your sister who told

Mrs. Byrne."

Andre rubbed his temples. "...Who?"

"Yep, the eldest Miss Byrne."

The Byrne family.

As soon as Jade got the news, she immediately shared it with her sister. "Mia, are you joining this year?"

Before, it was always something-pregnancy, having the baby, grad school-Mia was held up by it all. Now she was finally free and determined to go after her dreams again. There was no way she'd miss this chance.

Leo knew better than to say too much-sometimes, the less you say, the better. So when he saw the announcement, he just quietly deleted it.

Andre thought about his headache of a sister. "Molly never does anything right." Fifteen years of searching, and this is the sister he found.

Noah hesitated. "Boss, maybe... we should postpone the competition?"

Andre shook his head. "No way. If we postpone, Mia's going to start wondering if I'm the one behind The Silent Ring."

Little Henry's ears perked up at that.

That night, back in the bedroom, while Andre was in the shower, Mia called her son over. She pulled out a pack of snacks. "Come tell Mom what Daddy was talking about in secret today. This whole bag is yours if you spill."

Henry's eyes tracked the snacks as Mia waved them in the air. "Daddy's mad."

"Daddy's mad, huh? Did he mention The Silent Ring?"

Henry kept his eyes glued to the treats and launched into a long string of babble.

"What?"

He babbled again, even faster.

Mia sighed. "Sweetie, can you use your words?"

"Daddy's—"

Andre came out of the bathroom, towel around his neck. "What about Daddy?"

Henry turned his head away. "Mess is Daddy's."

Mia frowned, confused. What does that even mean?

Andre's heart jumped as he glanced at his still-perplexed wife. "Henry, bath time- let's go."

Henry clamped his mouth shut, glancing back at the snacks in Mia's hand. While Mia was distracted, he tiptoed over, snatched the snacks, and made a run for it.

Mia stared at her now-empty hand, completely thrown. "Hey! Henry, you little thief!"

A moment later, both parents caught him. Each gave his bottom a gentle smack—

one for stealing snacks, one for... well, everything else.

Later that night, Andre went to the kids' room to tuck Henry into bed. "Hey, who does The Silent Ring belong to?"

"Daddy," Henry replied.

Andre gave his little butt a light tap. "Whose is it, really?"

Henry stuck out his lower lip and turned away, refusing to answer.

Andre gently turned him back. "Just like your mom-get mad, and you won't even look at me. C'mon, who does The Silent Ring belong to?"

Henry puffed his cheeks. "Hmph. It's mine."

the cod. "That's right, it'snoveldrama

it's

yours. If your mom asks, you tell her

"He dropped a quiet

s little scapegoat's hea

The next morning, before work, Andre locked both the study and the gym.

Mother and son-one at the gym door, one at the study door-both sulking in silence.

Hansen, meanwhile, was totally absorbed in his phone, lost in some group chat.

Mia took Henry's hand and headed downstairs with a sigh. Both looked like hearts just weren't in

it locked out by their favorit

man.

That afternoon, Jade came by with her baby and spotted the gloomy pair sitting

on the steps. "What's up with you two?"

After hearing the whole story, Jade, always one for wild ideas, grinned. "Mia, let's just break the locks open."

Andre got home, spotted his sister, and didn't bother hiding his annoyance. "What're you doing here?"