Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 620

Night had fallen, and the chill in the air was something Tom could handle on his own, but the child cradled in his arms wasn't as resilient. Just the night before, the little one had been safe and warm in his mother's embrace... Tom couldn't bear to think further. The phone buzzed again; it was Wesley calling for the umpteenth time. Tom swiftly declined the call and dialed Jillian, who was also abroad.

"Hey, Jillian, interested in a $2.5 billion deal?"

Jillian was instantly alert, "What do you mean?" This was way beyond the money she made from her clandestine operations smuggling drugs internationally, a fortune she never dreamt possible.

Tom spelled it out: "Raising a child, till they're grown."

...

The skyline was inked in darkness, but Cedillo Inc.'s lights were still ablaze. Another vibration on Andre's desk caught Conner's immediate attention. Picking up the phone, Andre read the incoming text.

"Who?" Conner inquired, curiosity peaking.

"Just someone digging their own grave!"

Andre shut off the phone, reflecting on an incident 17 years prior, a mess stirred up by Brian Marshal and Finley, with Jillian, then a student, caught in the crossfire. Although Jillian was a thorn in many a side, Andre had seen no reason to end her. In his takedown of the Marshal Group, Brian was the only target, leaving Jillian to flee the country, a move Andre had paid no mind to until now. Life had been too comfortable, nearly erasing the memory of her existence. She had been given a second chance, a chance she chose not to cherish. Now, conspiring with traitors, she had exhausted Andre's mercy.

Soon after, word came that Tom was spotted heading to the airport, a move he couldn't afford to make.

"Keep on him," Andre commanded after a brief silence, despite knowing full well the identity of the intermediary.

"Why let Tom go?" Conner wondered aloud, unaware of the reasoning behind Andre's decision.

"No one else," Andre finally spoke, the glow of his phone screen illuminating a picture of a vibrant young woman clutching a chubby little kid. "Just Jillian."

Tom wasn't as notorious abroad as Jillian was. After all, the Marshal Group had once piggybacked on the Cedillo Group's influence to rise to power. The Cedillo Group's backing had been a badge of honor for Brian, often flaunted to secure partnerships. Hence, the old timers in the market knew the Marshal Group as an offshoot of the Cedillo conglomerate, a relationship soured by an unforgivable betrayal.

Jillian's confession to Old Walker, coupled with her identity, was proof enough of her vendetta against the Cedillo family, earning her immediate trust.

Conner pieced it together. "No wonder Old Walker trusted Tom so quickly. Jillian introduced them, and since she fled the country with Tom's help, the dots connect."

"Fatherhood's made him soft," Conner mused, staring out at the night.

It was past ten, yet the little one was still a bundle of energy, babbling and shouting incoherently. Bath time was a battlefield, with tears at the slightest touch of water. A true night owl.

Mia, resigned to the chaos, left the child to his devices, choosing instead to catch up with Molly over video call.

"Mia, did you hear about Holly?" Molly began, her tone somber, "She's gone."

Mia was speechless.

"

As Molly proceeded with her skincare routine on live, she shared, "When Chad told me, I was shocked. I half-expected Andre had a hand in it, but then Chad suggested Tom was more likely. Holly, chasing after Finley, a man past his prime... In the end, she was on the run, a wanted fugitive, and now, dead." Mia propped her head up, "I remember Andre mentioning that without Tom, there'd be a fortune with no heir. Holly might've seen a golden ticket in bearing his child, securing a future. But now, who knows?"

Molly, not missing a beat, continued her routine while venting, "We really need to choose our partners wisely. Chad's been driving me nuts, comparing himself to jailbird Finley, making me feel lucky to have him. Honestly, do all men get this annoying?" Unbeknownst to Molly, Chad had quietly entered the room, listening in with a smirk, unnoticed by Molly but spotted by Mia, who chose to keep silent, amusement twinkling in her eyes.

"Mia, is it just me, or do all men have a screw loose? I had to escape just to get a moment's peace. Does Andre ever drive you up the wall like this?"

After wrapping up her nightly skincare routine, Molly set down her hands, her gaze shifting to her phone's screen.

Behind her...

"Hope you have a pleasant and wonderful evening, best of luck and goodnight."

Molly and Leo always teased Mia about having a "curfew" at eight, and now, it was Mia's turn to enjoy some juicy gossip from her friends.

She couldn't help but smile as she ended the call.

Turning over to check on her little one, Mia was in for a shock. "Buddy, when did you manage to roll over?"

The little guy had been so quiet, Mia almost thought he had fallen asleep. But there he was, silently achieving milestones and surprising her. He looked up at his mom, a sly grin spreading across his face. Andre's phone pinged with a new video - a proud moment of their son's achievement.

The Byrne family.

Molly looked up to see Chad approaching silently, a ghost of a smile on his face. "You know, I was actually fibbing to Mia earlier. Do you believe that?"

Chad rested his hands on Molly's shoulders, leaning down, his face close to hers. From behind, he gently turned her face towards him, locking eyes.

Molly's nerves shot up, "Chad, why would I ever bad-mouth you, right? You're a cop, you'd have figured it out in a second."

Chad inched closer, his gaze fixed on Molly's lips, his intention clear. "But from what I heard, you seemed quite thrilled to vent."

"No, not at all...umm"

Chad didn't hesitate to close the gap, sealing Molly's lips with his. The frustration was evident; despite being officially married, they still acted like siblings at home.

He had suggested multiple times that Molly move back into his room, but that would certainly scare their cheeky roommate, Jade, half to death.