Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance
Chapter 585

Andre understood the jargon instantly.

The Dark Web was a shadowy underworld where anonymity was king. Identities were hidden behind layers of secrecy, making it nearly impossible for anyone to track you down, no matter how persistent. This place was a haven for the world's most sinister characters, including hitmen. Freelancers, however, like the guy Andre was talking to, had talent but stayed away from the bloody business of contract killing. They made their dirty money without getting their hands dirty. Betraying an employer here was a surefire way to invite retaliation from unseen forces.

"When did they contact you?" Andre asked.

"After that trending fiasco. No one could find a trace of you online. That night, the Walker family reached out to me privately, offering big money to dig into your family history."

"Do you know a guy named Tom?" Andre pressed further.

The man replied, "Heard of him, never met him. We only connect through secure channels. I've worked with the Walkers before, so they trust me. This time, they wanted me to find Tom here, but the guy's a ghost." A complicated expression crossed Andre's face. He was past the point of keeping secrets. "Take him to the hospital."

"Yes, sir."

Stepping outside, the cold wind began to wash away the stench of smoke and blood from his clothes.

Andre got into his car, handed off the wrap-up tasks to his team, and then detoured to a hotel halfway home.

After taking a shower at the hotel, with his hair still damp, Andre drove back home.

"Where have you been gallivanting, Andre? Getting all cleaned up before coming home, but still in the same clothes?" Jenny, his little spitfire, cradled their chubby baby at the doorway, her tone dripping with mock jealousy. Andre took the baby from her arms. "Had a smoke. Didn't want you or the baby to catch the smell, so I took a detour for a shower."

"And the business from this afternoon?"

"Handled."

"Did you catch the guy?"

"Yes."

"Did he talk?"

"Yes."

Jenny, growing impatient, said, "Andre, do you have any other words in your vocabulary besides 'yes'?"

Andre replied, "... Yes."

Soon after, their harmonious marriage hit a playful rough patch as Jenny jokingly accused him of "domestic tyranny."

Back at his place, Leo was sharing his day as a junior assistant with Anya, even showing her photos on his phone. "Here's Aunt Molly's wedding dress pics. I didn't want you to miss out, so I snapped some shots for you." Leo, unimpressed, grumbled, "Why would I want to see those?"

Anya, puzzled, asked, "Then whose would you like to see?"

Leo, ever the provocateur, said, "Your uncle's."

"Chad, you can look at anyone's. Uncle Andre doesn't have wedding photos, and to get those, he'd have to pose for them with Aunt Jenny right now."

Anya knew her limits. She wasn't about to suggest such a brazen idea to them.

"Leo, come up here," called the man from upstairs.

Both Leo and Anya looked up as Uncle Chad cradled the little one at the top of the staircase.

"Chad, he probably didn't hear you from that distance," Anya worried, hoping Chad wouldn't end up in trouble again.

Leo blinked rapidly, a sign of his guilt, before saying, "Oh, I'm on my way."

He stood up, assuring Anya in a whisper, "Don't worry, he didn't hear."

Then Leo followed Andre to his study.

Once there, Leo stood at attention before Andre, who held the baby dressed in a onesie, its tiny feet kicking playfully against his arm.

"You know Anya's hacker friend, right?"

Leo tensed up, "I don't."

Andre's penetrating gaze didn't waver.

Feeling the pressure, Leo admitted, "But Anya mentioned them."

Leaning back in his chair, Andre said, "You and Anya are close. Through her, get in touch with her hacker friend for a favor."

Leo swallowed nervously, "Is there anything you can't handle yourself?" His tone was full of disbelief.

The Cedillo family had a remarkable gene, passed from aunt to nephew.

Despite being terrified of Andre, Molly and Leo spoke with unexpected boldness in his presence.

Andre's gaze sharpened. "You want me to get involved?"

Leo shook his head quickly, "No, sir. What do you need from Anya's... friend?"

"The Dark Web-heard of it?"

Leo got excited, "Of course, I mean, I've heard bits and pieces."

Andre instructed, "You know the situation with the Walker family. Use the Dark Web to locate their hidden accounts and find their transaction history along with the latest movements."

Leo frowned, "Uncle, this isn't child's play."

"If he can't do it, I'll find someone else."

"Alright, I'll give it a shot. I mean, I'll talk to Anya and try to persuade her friend."

Andre nodded. "Go ahead, it's in your hands now."

Leo hesitated, "Any more tasks, uncle?"

Andre pondered, "Your aunt Jenny is starting school soon, and she's been busy. You won't need to go to the office; stay home and help her out with the kids."

The baby in Andre's arms cooed, its large eyes blinking innocently.

"Oh..." Leo looked at the little one, and as it happened, he wasn't too keen on going to the office anyway. This was the perfect out.

Leaving the study, Leo passed the bustling household staff, his menopausal mother, his father who adored Henry, the idle old man, the busy butler, and the ever-bored Anya. Any of them could nanny better than him.

He pondered the closed study door, "Isn't it a waste to keep him at home just to babysit?"

Descending the stairs with these thoughts, Anya waited to ensure Leo's safe emergence. She breathed a sigh of relief, "Good, you weren't hit."

"Anya, come here. I've got something to discuss with you."

"Sure thing." Anya clung to Leo as they left together.

The next day, Leo stayed at home, but he didn't look after the kid.

Anya was out helping her aunt, while Mia sat at the kitchen table with a stack of thank-you cards, jotting down notes about the birthday checks and gift cards her son had received. She was planning to set up a savings account for him to deposit the money. Naomi asked her, "What made you decide to set up an account for the little guy all of a sudden?"

Mia took a sip of her coffee and shrugged, "I just thought it was time to be a responsible mom for once. I'm going to save all the money he gets for his birthdays and holidays in the bank. By the time he's old enough, if he wants to start his own business or something, he'll have some seed money to get going."