Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Leo's place was a converted garage-still half-finished, but the rent was rock- bottom and the space was massive. The owner used to lease it out as a warehouse. Downside? It was a pain to live in: freezing in the winter, boiling in the summer. Still, when you weighed the pros and cons, this was the spot.

"If you don't tough it out when you're young, you'll regret it when you're old," Chunky muttered, trying to pep himself up.

Leo laughed. "Where I'm from, everyone says you've got to grind when you're young so you can kick back later. But abroad? Kids get pampered, everyone lives in the moment. Guess it depends on how you grow up."

"So which do you think is better?" Chunky asked.

Leo shrugged, grinning. "Honestly? I'm old-school—a straight-up traditionalist. I still think your youth is for hustling. Otherwise, how does anything get better?"

They both cracked up.

Just then, the two women walked in, each with a toddler tucked under an arm. Henry and Wayne, the little guys, gawked at the noise and sparks from the construction inside. A welder in a big mask sent sparks everywhere—those two were mesmerized.

The second Henry spotted Leo, he hollered, "Bro!”

Wayne piped up right behind him, "Hey!"

Leo paused mid-conversation and turned around. "Well, well, look who showed up

all four little rascals!" He broke into a smile, genuinely happy.

He strode over, scooping up the "dragon" kid in one arm and the "tiger" in the other.

The sisters wandered off to check out the place.

Chunky finally got a look at Leo's family. He took in the women's style and blurted out, “Wow, they're gorgeous! Way better than any Instagram filter. Leo, either of them single?"

Leo juggled the two squirmy kids. "Why not ask whose kids these are?"

Chunky blinked. "So, whose are they?"

Henry piped up, "Daddy's!"

Leo grinned, "No, dummy, who's your mom?"

Henry got confused. "Where?"

Leo tried again, "Point to where your mom is."

Henry's chubby finger shot out, pointing at Mia, who was poking around nearby. He shouted, "Over there! Come give your baby a hug!"

Mia, busy exploring, called back, "Hang on, let me look around. Let your brother hug you for now!"

Chunky looked stunned. Leo glanced at Wayne, who still hadn't managed to say much, and teased, "You want the other one to explain?"

Chunky shook his head, then sighed. "Figures the pretty ones always get snatched up by the rich guys.

Nothing left for me. But why do you call yourself their brother?

Leo pointed at Mia. "That's my aunt."

Then at Molly. "That's my godmother."

"All family."

Chunky looked from Mia to the

ridiculously cute Henry and suddenly remembered the stories Leo had

sweet wife and his well net?

told him. "So, that's your uncle'snoveldrama

son, right?" Chunky recalled Leo's uncle was about their age and living the dream.

Looking at them now, it was obvious they really were happy. Gorgeous wife, adorable kid... Chunky felt a pang of envy.

Leo swallowed hard. “Chunky, you don't have to remember everything I say so well, you know."

After all, the truth would come out soon enough.

Ten minutes later-

"Hey, sweetie, come here. There's a stack of boards over there—if they fall, you'll

get hurt." Leo let go of Wayne's hand and hurried to grab Henry.

Henry tried to squirm away, pouting and protesting.

Mia strode over, clapped her hands twice, and Henry instantly straightened up and stopped fighting.

Mia went back to her "duel" with Molly-each of them swinging a long stick, play- fencing like kids, stopping every so often to check on the little ones.

Wayne, set down on the ground, started toddling all over the place. Leo quickly abandoned Henry and hurried after him. "Wayne, not that way! That's an electrical cord-you're stiff wobbly, you'll trip!"