Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 786

At the dinner table, the four of them sat quietly, but the three who received extra servings from Anya knew exactly whom she was trying to impress.

Mr. Calder broke the silence, "Anya, after dinner, could you head upstairs and pack your bags?"

Before Anya could protest, Mrs. Calder jumped in, "I'll help you, honey."

Just as Anya was about to refuse again, Leo added, "You do have a lot of stuff; it really needs organizing."

"Alright then," Anya conceded.

After dinner, Anya couldn't shake off her worry about her father. After all, Chad had nearly given up on his computer science dreams to take over the family business because of him.

Mrs. Calder led her daughter to her spotless, princess-themed bedroom, which was bigger than two rooms at the Cedillo family's place. Even the door to her walk-in closet was an elegant, creamy white with an arched design.

Anya knew her father wanted to get her out of the way so he could have a chat with Leo.

Sitting on the bed, Mrs. Calder sighed, "It's hard to keep a grown daughter at home."

"I can stay. But, Mom, Chad has been really good to me."

Downstairs, after lunch, Mr. Calder stood up, "Leo, let's take a walk."

Despite the summer heat, the Calder family had a shaded corridor lined with towering trees. "Anya used to envy the shaded avenues in other towns. She'd walk there and never want to come home. So, her mother and I spent three years creating this corridor for her, with tall trees on both sides, to keep her from envying those elsewhere. We even brought her a forest full of squirrels and allowed her to build treehouses since chopping down trees randomly is illegal here. When no one else could play with her, we would. She used to struggle climbing trees because she was a bit chubby. No matter, I would lift her up on my shoulders to the top; I'd do anything to support my daughter in reaching wherever she wants to go."

As they strolled and chatted, they eventually left the shaded path.

Mr. Calder and Leo sat down in a gazebo. Leo understood; Anya was their beloved daughter, pampered from a young age, with every wish fulfilled, given the best of everything.

"I did mention Anya's future to your uncle. Her mother and I are realistic; we don't expect her to stay unmarried forever. We want her happiness. That's why we've set our expectations with Andre, hoping Anya's carefree and innocent nature continues even after marriage. I don't want my daughter, whether in love or married, to have a lesser life than when she was single. Do you understand the meaning behind my words today as a father?"

Leo nodded, "Mr. Calder, I understand everything you've said, and I've thought about it too. If I ever fail, I'd feel I've let Anya down the most. Although I appear casual, every time Anya shows kindness, I fear for her."

"Leo, setting aside our families' relationship, I truly admire you. I'm not an old-fashioned father forcing a union. I came today to ask about your plans for the future and what you're working on. I know your field is tough; how do you plan to stand out in such a competitive market?"

Their conversation lasted over an hour. Inside, Anya anxiously asked her mother, "Mom, what is Dad asking Chad about?"

Mrs. Calder, calmly sitting on the sofa flipping through a magazine while pretending to help her daughter pack, which was actually done by the servants, said, "Anya, do you think this dress looks nice?"

Anya, not in the mood for dresses and unable to see Leo from the window, sat beside Mrs. Calder, feeling gloomy.

In a corner of the Calder residence, Leo shared a broad plan but didn't go into details. Mr. Calder, still seeing potential in Leo, asked, "If I were to give you a failing company and a million dollars in startup capital, could you turn it around?"

Leo declined politely, "Mr. Calder, thank you for your generosity, but I've promised my uncle I wouldn't accept help from family or friends. I appreciate your offer, but I want to see what I'm capable of on my own."

Mr. Calder, looking at Leo's determined gaze, wished him luck, "Then, I wish you the best of luck and look forward to hearing about your success."

After a while longer, they returned inside.

An anxious Anya ran downstairs, prompting Mrs. Calder to shake her head, "This child."

"Dad, aren't you hot? Chad, what did you guys talk about?"

Leo laughed, "About how you used to eat so much you were chubby."

Anya pouted, "I lost weight later."

Mr. Calder laughed, "It's getting late, and Leo has work tomorrow, plus a long drive. You should head back before it gets too dark; it's safer."

Anya hadn't had enough time with Leo, but she knew he had to go, "Alright then, Chad, let me walk you out."

Leo cautioned, "It's hot outside; no need. Just remember, don't go ice skating alone. Even if you're skilled, accidents can happen if others aren't. Mia is brave but fears ice skating for a reason. And don't forget your computer science studies; exams are coming up." Anya obediently nodded, then suddenly asked Leo, "Hey Chad, why are the documents and Excel files you sent me different from the teacher's? They can replace icons on the toolbar that I don't have."

Leo paused, surprised by her question. Then, realizing something, he asked, "What operating system is your computer running?"

Anya replied with innocent charm, "I don't know~"

Her parents were dumbfounded by her naivety, even Mr. Calder felt a computer genius had met his match in computer illiteracy.

Leo was at a loss for words with his girlfriend's request. "Pass me your laptop, and I'll fix it before I leave."

Anya jogged upstairs and came back down cradling her notebook. "Chad, my computer has been really slow lately. Can you take a look at it too?"

Leo glanced at the screen, cluttered with junk software, then looked at his girlfriend, who was blissfully unaware of the situation. He opened the disk drive and massaged his forehead in frustration. With that single gesture, Mr. Calder understood; it was the universal sign of a man feeling overwhelmed.

"Anya, do you realize your computer is infected with seven high-risk viruses?" he asked.

Anya shook her head. "I had no idea, Chad. How can you tell? I don't see anything."

"It's normal for you not to notice," Leo said, settling down in the living room to work on Anya's laptop. "Why didn't you tell me about this before?"