Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 687

Leo watched over his little brother, who was struggling to replace peace in his sleep. The moment Leo took him into his arms, the little guy, sensing he was no longer in his mother's embrace, burst into tears, his tearful eyes searching for Mom.

"It's okay, I've got him. He's not feeling well and only wants me right now," Mia reassured as she took her son back. Switching him from one arm to the other to ease the ache, and sometimes, she'd stand him up so his little face could nestle against her neck. Somehow, he knew it was his mom holding him, and that was enough to calm him down. "You should get some rest," she told Leo. "Uncle has a big meeting at headquarters tomorrow, and you need to be there. I'll get this little munchkin to sleep and head to bed myself."

Leo seemed to have grown overnight. He came down with a blanket, wrapping it around the little guy like a cocoon, reminiscent of his first days in the world.

"I'm not tired anymore. Let me take him so you can get some sleep," he insisted, taking the baby back into his arms.

"Don't be silly. I can sneak in a nap during class tomorrow. You've got work. Can you sneak in a nap there?" Mia teased, taking her almost awake son back. Seeing Leo's concern, she went upstairs to her bedroom, reassuring him.

The little one finally settled into a peaceful sleep in the wee hours, giving Mia a firsthand understanding of the trials of motherhood.

Just as they were about to rest, Andre stirred awake. Mia silenced him with a shake of her head, carefully placing their son down before lying beside him.

Andre checked the time-3 AM - and gently placed his hand on their son, a gesture of security.

Mia drifted off swiftly, leaving Andre to comfort their child with gentle pats whenever he whimpered in his sleep.

The next day, Mia left her son with a trusted friend, Molly, and headed to school with Anya, while Andre and Leo went off to their respective duties.

Mia knew the importance of Andre's meetings. This one, involving not only the top brass of the Cedillo Group but also international division heads and even high-profile figures like Mr. Calder and Aiden Ashford, was crucial. Yet, the intricacies of such corporate maneuvers were beyond her grasp.

Once, she had asked Andre, out of sheer curiosity, why he'd spun off the most profitable parts of his empire to others, especially at a time when Cedillo Inc. was poised to become a global powerhouse. His reply was a cryptic invitation to observe not just their own company's lobby but those of other business empires as well.

Andre's strategy, as he later explained, was to ensure that these spun-off entities remained loyal branches of the Cedillo Group tree, ready to be reabsorbed or to assist whenever called upon. This network of alliances, according to him, was a modern reinterpretation of ancient empires' tributary systems - a concept Mia struggled to fully understand.

Her confusion only deepened when she tried comparing Andre's tactics to those of historical monarchs, who demanded tributes from lesser states for protection. In her eyes, Andre was investing in these "vassals" rather than exploiting them, a strategy that seemed both ingenious and perplexing.

Andre's affectionate chuckle at her attempts to decipher his plans only added to her determination to unlock the secrets of his success.

As they dropped Mia and Anya off at school, Andre's parting glance was one of a man fully in control, a king among modern-day corporate titans.

Mia, grappling with sleep deprivation and the complexities of her husband's business empire, couldn't help but marvel at the world she'd become a part of. Even as she worried over her son's wellbeing from the classroom, she knew she was playing her role in a much larger saga, one that intertwined the legacy of ancient empires with the cutthroat corporate strategies of today.

Before long, Bruce had made his way to the front lines, checking in with concern. "Is Henry all stuffed up? If the windows are all shut and it's chilly for the kiddo, why don't we crank up the central heating? I'll buzz our family doctor, have him swing by for a check-up." Molly quickly replied in the family group chat, "Big bro, the doc's already on his way. Dad called him a while back."

Watching the video, Mia felt a tug at her heartstrings. "Naomi, if he doesn't want to drink it, don't force him. Just give him some water. I've only got three or four classes this afternoon. I'll talk to my teachers, see if I can sit in with another class for the first two periods and try to get home earlier."