Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 512

Vivian couldn't take the intense stare any longer and blurted out, "What are you looking at?"

Jade, towering over her with an air of dominance, retorted, "Next time you come over, make sure to swipe a couple more of my brother's designer clothes. The cops won't bother with cheap stuff!" Molly felt a surge of anger when she heard Vivian's misleading words, clearly meant to cause confusion.

But as she studied Vivian's conniving, petty face, she reminded herself she knew Chad well. He wouldn't give Vivian the time of day, let alone spend a night at her place. He'd probably need a shower just from looking at her. Calming down, Molly's mind raced. Vivian showing up all of a sudden didn't add up. If she had Chad's clothes, why not just bring them along? It was clear she was here to make trouble, either for Chad or Molly herself. Molly scoffed at Vivian's explanation. "Talk about sky-high arrogance meeting rock-bottom stupidity."

Vivian didn't catch the insult and frowned, glaring at Molly. "What do you mean by that?"

Molly smirked. "I'm saying you have no shame."

She eyed Vivian critically. "When have you ever seen my brother's uniform at our place? Everyone in the Byrne family knows Chad washes his own uniforms. The best you've got is probably a plain white shirt."

As another cab rolled up, Molly hailed it. "You know, if you're so desperate to cling to something of my brother's, keep the shirt."

She was about to get into the taxi when Vivian interjected, "I don't think you have the final say. It's just a shirt, but that one? Chad will definitely come for it."

Vivian leaned in close and whispered, "That shirt has Chad's initials embroidered on it. And a little heart-shaped strawberry."

Molly shot Vivian a look, slammed the car door shut, and told the driver to take off.

Back at the Byrne residence, Molly went straight to Chad's room and rummaged through his wardrobe. "Where the heck is it?" Coleen appeared, "Molly, isn't your own room enough for you to mess up? What are you looking for in your brother's room?" "Mum, didn't Chad have that shirt with the heart-shaped strawberry? He never wore it, just kept it hanging in his closet. It's gone." Before her daughter could say who gave it, Coleen bluntly asked, "When did you give your brother a shirt with a strawberry?"

"Oh, back in junior high, Mia and I were supposed to be studying. She was secretly knitting scarves, and I took up embroidery. Mia made scarves for Cooper and Leo, and I embroidered strawberries and coal pieces for my brother and Leo." After finishing her embroidery, her fingers were sore, and she fancied herself "Lady Ziwei," much to Chad's concern.

That was Molly's debut, proof of her crafty hands and virtuous spirit. Even if she struggled to thread a needle now, she once had her shining moment.

"Darn it, Vivian must've stolen it!" Molly cursed after a fruitless search.

Coleen surveyed the chaos in her son's closet. "Just wait until Chad comes home to settle this with you."

Molly stormed back to her room, pulled out her phone, and dialed Vivian's number from the blacklist. "Where are you?"

A dingy motel.

Molly stood at the threshold, taking in the disheveled surroundings and the rundown motel before stepping inside.

She ignored the room's condition, her eyes scanning for the one thing she came for.

"So, you actually showed up," Vivian smirked triumphantly.

Molly cut to the chase, "Quite the thief, aren't you? Figured out that shirt's significance to my brother, stole it, and now you're using it to bait him into a late-night rendezvous? Planning to play the temptress?" While the family was mostly at the hospital, they hadn't expected Vivian to stoop so low as to sneak into Chad's room.

That shirt, embroidered by Molly, was something Chad treasured too much to wear, always hanging in his closet. Even though it was a mere thirty-dollar college purchase, it was priceless to him. "And now you've taken it," Molly realized.

"At first, that was the plan," Vivian admitted.

Molly looked at her. "With a mug like that, painted up like a demon, you'd probably scare my brother half to death."

Vivian didn't seem offended. Instead, she prodded, "Tell me, who would gift such a personal item to Chad, and why does he treasure it so?"

Molly replied, "Obviously, someone he cherishes."

Vivian couldn't fathom Molly's lack of jealousy. "Isn't a normal woman supposed to be green with envy knowing her man holds another in his heart?" Could it be that Molly didn't care for Chad? Or...

"It was you who gave it to him!"

Molly grinned with pride, "Seems everyone knows I'm the apple of my brother's eye."

Vivian was stunned; she hadn't expected the embroidery to be Molly's handiwork.

Clutching her fist, her eyes darkened with emotion, Vivian blurted, "Even so, you and Chad will never be together. Our aunts and uncles, grandparents, they'll never agree. Are you trying to kill Coleen with grief?" Mentioning Coleen, why was Vivian so sure Molly and Chad couldn't be together?

Molly's temper flared anew. "Vivian, I see you're just like your stepmother, always sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. With that filthy mouth, people might think a sewage truck passed by and you licked the road clean. Keep those long arms and longer tongue to yourself, or you'll end up neither human nor fitting with beasts. Maybe go see how your parents are doing for a change!"

Molly leaned back on her chair, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth as she locked eyes with Vivian. "Who you are to say whether we're together or not isn't your call, sweetheart. Imagine, if I threw a tantrum back home, insisting on marrying my dear Chad, do you really think my brother would say no? I'm Molly, what have I got to fear? I haven't done anything wrong or broken any laws!

My bond with my mom is unbreakable, and my old man, the head of the Byrne family, adores me. Chad is the one who spoils me the most in this entire world, and my grandparents watched me grow up. Do you really think they could stand to deny me anything if I really put up a fuss?

Vivian, let's not pretend here. Everyone in my family knows about your little crush on my brother. You think we dislike you because of who your parents are? Wrong. It's because you're so sly and manipulative that you've got us all on edge.

So back off, Vivian. Push me too far, and I might just stir up a storm back home and insist on marrying my brother."

"You..." Vivian stammered, taken aback by Molly's brazen words, her face a canvas of shock and disbelief.