Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 527

Easton was utterly baffled, "Are you for real? If you won't listen, there are plenty of others who will." Molly cornered Chad, "You promised. I come home with you, and you spill the beans about the case." True to his word, Chad filled her in, "The cops found a burnt lithium battery in the room where the fire started." Molly didn't grasp the significance.

She stared at Chad, clueless as a pumpkin in November, "Are we talking about batteries like in a remote control?"

"No, those are AA and AAA batteries." Chad sat down beside her, patiently explaining like he was coaxing a child. He pulled out his phone and showed her a picture, "This is a lithium battery. They can explode and catch fire... and it's a beast to put out." "Well, that sure wasn't me. I don't know squat about that stuff."

Chad's hand rested on Molly's shoulder reassuringly, "Don't worry. If we've found that battery, we're close to cracking this case."

Molly was still puzzled and couldn't focus on her reading that afternoon.

Chad got another call, and before heading out, he warned her, "You felt it at lunch. Nobody's buying your story. Don't bother making excuses. Just hit the books at the hotel. I'll be back tonight, and don't you think of going back to the Cedillo's either, with that hickey not fading any time soon."

Molly was cooped up in the hotel, restlessly sprawled across the desk, trying to make sense of the past couple of days' events.

Mia, the Cedillo's darling, got a text from her bestie, "How long do hickeys take to vanish?"

Mia: "?? Why's a single pringle asking this?"

Molly pressed on: "Remember that thing Andre left on your neck, how long did it take to go away? Urgent!"

Mia replied swiftly, knowing it was urgent: "Depends on how deep it is, no set time. I once wore turtlenecks for a week."

Molly inspected the mark on her neck in the mirror, guessing it would take about a week to fade. "Is it obvious with a Band-Aid?" "Totally. Molly, why are you asking all this?" Mia was puzzled.

Molly typed a long message, then deleted it, typed again, then erased it. "Just asking for a friend."

Mia tried to video call her, but Molly declined.

Mia texted, "Henry's awake, wanna see him?"

Molly replied, "Just send me his video."

Mia, holding her little one, wondered aloud, "What's up with your aunt, kiddo?"

In the evening, Andre got home, and Mia, in the bedroom, was nursing their son. "Hubby's back, come see your little foodie."

Andre chuckled as he approached, seeing his son suckling in his sleep. He playfully scooped up the milk-interrupted baby.

With his meal cut off, Henry's mouth went empty, his eyes wide open, staring blankly at his dastardly dad.

Then, the still-hungry tot began to wail.

Mia quickly resumed feeding to pacify him, "Honey, is Molly still at the hotel?"

Andre replied absentmindedly, "I guess so. She's been too scared to call me. Why the sudden interest?"

Mia eyed her husband, hesitated, then said, "Just crossed my mind, is all."

Andre sat beside her, his fingers playing with her loose strands of hair and slipping down her shoulder, his eyes darkening with desire, "Mia, tonight how about..." Before Andre could finish, Mia, clutching the baby, bolted away from her dangerously charming husband.

Andre watched her petite figure scamper off, loosened his tie, and tapped his fingers idly on the sofa armrest. He commanded, "Send the kid to someone else tonight."

Back at the hotel, Chad had returned with dinner and fruit.

Molly sat cross-legged on the chair, leaning against the backrest, gazing up at the ceiling.

Her slender neck seemed to Chad like a delectable dish.

He approached, eyeing the marks he'd left at noon. He gently brushed the dark purple blotch on her neck.

Her clear collarbone looked like a winter plum blossom in its full glory.

Shopping bags littered the floor. Chad inspected the new clothes and then focused on Molly, sulking after her solo retail therapy - notably, not on his dime this time. His phone had been silent of shopping notifications all day. "Let's eat," he said.

"Did mom and dad call?" Molly inquired.

Chad shook his head, "You don't need to worry about that."

"How can I not worry? You're dragging me into marrying you. Plus..." Molly paused, "how do I explain this to the Cedillos? They'll have your head."

Chad stated firmly, "I'm prepared."

Molly's gaze locked onto him, "Chad, you planned all this, didn't you?"

Chad was forthright, having achieved his aim with Molly, "Last night, after seeing the photo you sent to Vivian, I improvised.

I don't believe you're one to blur the lines with guys. Even if I were your brother, would you dare kiss me near the mouth? Would you kiss Andre or them on the face?

You wouldn't! Because you know I'm not your blood, and deep down, you don't see me as your brother.

Last night's mix-up seemed like an opportunity."

He looked at her familiar face, "Molly, I promise you, marrying me will bring you more happiness than with anyone else. And I won't let you marry anyone else." "Pfft," Molly scoffed, turning her face away.

Chad's fingers traced the hickey on her neck, his inner demons known only to him. He stood up, "Come on, dinner's ready."

After dinner, Molly snatched back her room key and kicked Chad out.

That night, she lay awake in bed, restless.

Leo had marked up her study materials for last-minute cramming due to her insomnia.

It wasn't until 4 AM that she finally collapsed into sleep.

Early morning, Chad dropped Molly off at school, leaving her with Leo, "I'll come get you after the exam."

Anya had made three sandwiches that morning. She and Leo had theirs in the car, leaving the last for Molly, "Auntie, I added two eggs to your sandwich. Here's to acing our exams."

Anya had a pre-exam ritual that traced back to her childhood. The night before any big test, her parents would make her a hearty breakfast of two sunny-side-up eggs, which, in her mind, became a superstitious charm for acing her exams.

This quirky tradition followed her into adulthood, where she equated eggs with top scores. On the morning of an important test, she refused the home-cooked breakfast and instead, nibbled on a breakfast sandwich in the passenger seat of Leo's car.

As she was taking a bite, Mia strolled by and quipped, "Anya, even I, your awesome aunt, wouldn't dare eat in Leo's car."

Everyone has their quirks, and Leo cherished his car like a sacred temple on wheels. No one was allowed to eat inside it.

Yet there was Anya, unabashedly taking a big chomp of her sandwich in the co-pilot's seat.

Anya peered down at the sandwich in her hands, her cheeks puffed out with food, "Aunt Mia, what do I do..." She didn't dare chew the mouthful she had taken. Moments later, Leo approached.