Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 600

In Eldoria, Molly was always the busiest bee, buzzing about with more tasks than a library had books. Sometimes, the chaos got to her, and she'd dream about just throwing in the towel and taking it easy. One day, she darted off to replace her mom, Coleen. "Mom, let me get a job, will you? I'll work for free for a month. You handle the worrying; let me handle my own wedding, okay?" Coleen rolled her eyes and said, "Get outta here. Take your complaints to Chad, not me."

So, every evening, Officer Chad would get an earful for a solid hour.

Chad was used to it. As Molly ranted, he'd peel apples, segment oranges, and pit cherries, all without missing a beat, popping them into the mouth of the non-stop chatterbox.

Even the Byrne family matriarch admired her granddaughter's gift of gab, "That girl can talk. She could narrate an entire TV episode without breaking a sweat."

***

After the holidays, Chad's work was smooth sailing, no major cases on the horizon. He teamed up with the PR department to kick off an anti-scam campaign.

Chad revisited the neighborhoods he'd educated before, ending up in a community with a senior majority, where he struck up a conversation with the local community leader.

A bunch of enthusiastic elders tugged at Chad and boasted about their vigilance, "Whenever my phone flashes 'scam,' I don't even pick up."

"Officer Chad, I hear you got promoted! Married yet? Got a sweetheart? Listen, my granddaughter..."

Chad shared with a smile, "Mrs. Lee, I'm getting hitched this March, and we've already got the license. Don't you worry about me. After the wedding, I'll bring you all some wedding candy."

Some had met Molly the year before, impressed by the striking young woman. Another elder nudged her companion, "Lee, you're getting muddled. We met Officer Chad's girlfriend last year, a real beauty."

Mrs. Lee leaned on her cane and asked Chad, "Is it that same girl from last year?"

Chad beamed with joy, "Who else could it be but her?"

Afterward, he sent out his young, single colleagues to sweet-talk the seniors. Who knows, if they played their cards right, they might just replace their happily-ever-after.

Chad then went to chat privately with the community leader.

Knowing Molly was Chad's sister, the leader joked, "Officer Chad, that's quite the gag you're pulling with your sister this year. Last year she's your girlfriend, this year you're walking down the aisle. What's next year? Daddy Chad?" Chad couldn't hide his happiness, "No joke this time. I'm really getting married, and she's the one."

"You're not..." the leader was taken aback.

Chad clarified with a smile, radiating pre-wedding bliss.

...

Over at Havenbrook University, Anya was like a robot on overdrive, accompanying her aunt on shopping sprees and snagging seats for her aunt-in-law.

When it came to the lunchtime rush, no one was more on their game than Anya.

Sometimes Mia would join for a campus lunch. As soon as she stepped out of class, Anya's message would ping on her phone, "Auntie, I've snagged our spot at b12. What do you want to eat? The lines are short now; I'll go grab it." Mia began to suspect Anya had invisible wings, darting to the cafeteria right after class.

"Anya, did you skip the last period to snag seats?" Mia teased.

Mouth full of casserole, Anya shook her head, "Nope, I sprinted from class. Nobody could catch me!" She was rather proud of her speed.

"You sprinted across campus?" Mia was bemused. "Kid, you're a top contender for campus beauty queen. Once your aunt ties the knot, you'll be in the spotlight. Can't you act a bit more like the idol you're supposed to be?" Anya swallowed her bite and took a swig of her drink, "Chad said being the campus beauty is bad luck. He doesn't want me standing out like that."

Mia played her trump card, "Leo's the campus heartthrob. Are you okay with another girl taking the beauty crown?"

Anya froze, then blurted out, "Auntie, do you have makeup with you?"

Mia nearly choked on her casserole.

Anya quickly handed her a drink to help her recover.

The next day, as Leo drove Anya to school, she emerged with a light touch of makeup, her smile sweeter and softer.

Leo scrutinized her face, asking, "What's that shimmer on your eyelids?"

"Eyeshadow."

He tilted her chin, inspecting her cheeks, "And what about those dark patches?"

"Contour... did I not blend it well?" Anya rummaged through her bag, now filled with compact powders and lipsticks, a portable beauty kit.

Leo frowned, "Who are you dolling up for at school?"

Blinking innocently, Anya said, "Chad, I want to be the campus beauty."

"Drop it." Leo pulled her into the bathroom. "Clean your face. You look like you're about to cast spells. School's for learning, not for enchanting."

Naomi passed by, admiring Anya's look, "I think Anya looks lovely. It's nice for girls to dress up and make a good impression."

Leo retorted, "Lovely? She looks like she's about to perform a séance."

Anya was speechless.

Naomi glared at her son, "If I were Anya, I'd tear your mouth apart."

After washing off her makeup, Anya sat sulking in Leo's sports car, now looking more to his liking.

"Why be the campus beauty?"

"Because you're the heartthrob."

Leo replied, "Then I'll quit."

Curious, Anya turned to him, "Why?"

Leo glanced at her, "I don't want you to be the campus beauty, that's why."

"But Chad, you never stopped Auntie or Mom from being it."

Leo casually glanced out the window, his mind drifting. He could almost predict the frenzy that would ensue once Anya was crowned the "Homecoming Queen" - everyone would be after her. The poor kid was the epitome of innocence, soft-spoken, not nearly as tough as Mia or as sharp-tongued as Jade. Guys always had a thing for naive girls like Anya, thinking they could sweet-talk their way into their hearts. With senior year looming over him and his thesis begging to be written, graduation wasn't far off. He wouldn't be around to watch over her, and the thought of some smooth-talker spinning her around his finger made him uneasy.

Lost in his worries, Leo didn't hear Anya's question until she repeated it, "Why do you always look out for me and not for Auntie and Uncle's wives?"

Leo finally responded, "You think I, as a nephew, have the say over my aunts? Come on."

Anya paused, then mumbled, "Yeah, guess you can't."