Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 519

Andre scooped up the little munchkin, his voice playfully stern, "Daddy's off to work. Make sure you get some sleep at home, and no staying up all night like a little night owl, got it?" The little guy was already defying him, snuggling into Andre's chest, his yawns becoming more frequent as sleepiness took over.

Andre stroked his son's cheek, indulging him with a soft smile, "You can sleep in a bit in the morning."

The morning buzzed by, and Cooper's face popped up on a video call, "Where's my favorite little man?"

"Out like a light," Mia replied with a smirk.

Cooper signed off with a quick, "Later."

It wasn't long before Anya chimed in with a video invite, and an exhausted Jade called her BFF. Mia's status update followed soon after: 'The little one's asleep.'

With that, the calls mercifully ceased.

Come midday, Chad was notably absent from the team lunch.

Donnie knocked on the door, "Boss, I'm ordering takeout. What's your poison?"

"I'm heading back to the hotel. Molly's waiting for me there."

Donnie's response was a silent nod.

With only minutes to spare, Chad rushed back to the hotel to grab a quick bite with the girl.

He'd gone to bed late the night before, so he took the chance for a power nap at the hotel.

When he woke up, he found Jade curled up beside him, fast asleep.

As Chad left the room, he gently tucked her back into the covers, adjusting her position with the utmost care before slipping out quietly.

He made a beeline for Easton's office at the precinct. "Got any leads?"

Easton was ruffling his hair in frustration, "You're the sixth person to ask that."

Chad squinted, "Who else came by?"

"Your dad, your mom, Jiang City's finest, Andre, Hansen, and now you!"

Chad's face was unreadable.

Seeing his colleague's dilemma, Chad decided to lend a hand.

Easton warned, "Captain, you should stay out of this. Everyone knows Molly's your sister. With her as a suspect, you can't be involved."

Chad hinted at a technicality, "Legally, I'm not family yet."

Easton relented and handed over the evidence. "The guesthouse is old; the wiring's a mess. Could've been an electrical fire. Plus, there were new kitchen gadgets for Coleen - all being examined. We're still waiting on the forensics for some fragments." Chad asked about the victim's condition.

Easton confirmed they were awake, but door-to-door inquiries had turned up zilch. They were waiting on the lab.

Chad requested a peek at the surveillance footage.

Easton, feeling the pressure from above, gave in. After all, Andre could do more than just apply pressure. He could "close a case" in ways Easton didn't want to imagine.

That afternoon, Chad spent two hours in Easton's office, then called Andre from his personal phone.

...

By nightfall, Chad was still swamped with work at the precinct, making it late before he could return to the hotel.

As the darkness deepened, Molly's calls grew more frantic. "Bro, you coming back tonight? I'm scared alone."

Chad consoled her, "I'll be there. Lights on, doors locked. I've got my key."

"Please hurry."

"I will. Try to get some sleep."

"Nope, I'll wait for you," Molly insisted.

Chad's smile was just a whisper, "Okay."

The other officers couldn't help but notice the change in Officer Chad at the sound of a familiar voice on the phone - the affection in his eyes said it all.

The case wrapping up, Chad swung by Easton's office one last time before heading out.

The coroner dropped by with a strong cup of joe for Easton. "Don't be too hard on Chad. Molly's his world. Anyone would be on edge."

Easton took a sip, "I get it. We've all watched over Molly like she was our little sister. But worry doesn't speed things up; results do."

As the coroner left, Easton realized she never visited without reason, but she just wanted an update on Molly's case.

...

At ten, Chad was back at the hotel.

He entered his room, now commandeered by Molly.

Fresh from the shower, she lay in the hotel robe, waiting.

Hearing the door, she called out, "Bro, is that you?"

"Who else?" he replied, swapping his shoes for slippers and stepping inside.

First thing he saw was a scatter of her clothes across the bed, her leggings kicked off in haste.

Chad eyed the girl in the robe - freshly showered, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling, hair wrapped in a towel, snacking on fruit.

"You missed the beauty fresh out of the shower by ten minutes," Molly teased him with a pout.

Chad sat beside her, bemused, "You don't even see me as a guy, do you?"

"Bro, not even basic skincare here," she complained, "Look at my face, it's parched."

Chad pinched her soft cheek, "You could've gone home, but no, you had to come and then complain."

Molly puffed her cheeks, "It's not that bad."

Chad laughed softly, and began to tidy up the mess of clothes - this was family, after all.

Picking up the pair of jeans from the floor, he then reached for the quilted jacket, the sweater, the scarf, and then...

Chad picked up Molly's light blue bra.

The room fell into a sudden silence.

Then, with no regard for appearances, Molly scrambled out of the covers, kneeling on the bed, and made a beeline towards the foot of the bed where Chad was standing. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, she quickly snatched her bra from Chad's grasp. Heat coursed through Chad's palm.

Moments later, his eyes burned even hotter.