Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Andre pulled out his phone and called Patrick, the Vice President at Hernandez Group.

After a few rings, Patrick picked up. "Hey, Andre?"

In the bathroom, Mia was giving Henry a bath. The little guy just couldn't stop talking, filling her in on every detail of his day.

"Who gave you that red envelope, sweetheart?"

"My godfather did." Henry stretched out his tiny feet so Mia could scrub them, then let her bundle him up in a towel and carry him out.

Mia tossed his dirty clothes into the laundry basket, slipped the red envelope into her pocket, and cradled Henry as they left the bathroom. "So, besides chatting away, what else did you do today?"

"I got cuddles~"

Mia teased him, "Oh yeah? Who was doing all the cuddling?"

"Oh, godfather did-again and again. But Daddy didn't~" Henry stuck out his lip, looking tragically wronged that his dad hadn't hugged him today.

Mia got the hint, carried him to his bedroom, and dabbed his cheeks with his favorite lotion. “So all your godfathers showered you with cuddles, but Andre— such a big meanie-didn't hug my sweet boy?"

"Mom, Daddy didn't cuddle me," Henry insisted, his voice all soft and pouty.

Mia translated, playing along, "You even reached out your arms and he still didn't hug you? When he finishes working, I'll have a word with him. How could he not cuddle my little guy? Isn't he still our precious baby?"

She finished up with Henry's lotion, dabbed a bit of lip balm on his mouth, helped him into fresh clothes, and took his hand to lead him out to the yard.

She needed a break from studying; time with her son was the perfect antidote to her monotonous day.

Meanwhile, in the study-

"The western project stays with Hernandez Group," Andre said into the phone. "For the energy project, we'll switch from Cedillo Group to Mr. Nettleton."

He paused, then added, "Heard you're heading back to the family that once turned their backs on you?"

Patrick chuckled. "I should've known you'd be keeping tabs, Andre. Yeah, I'm going back."

There was a bond only dads could understand. Andre asked, "Your kid's not even

a year old. You okay leaving your wife and baby behind?"

"If I don't go now, I'll never get another shot," Patrick said.

Andre cut to the chase. “Let's be blunt. I know why you're going back. I won't hide my ambitions, either. You need funding. I need someone sharp by my side. How about new partnership?"

Patrick didn't hesitate. "With your backing, Andre, I couldn't ask for more."

They'd just ended one deal, but now their goals lined up, and a new collaboration

was already taking shape.

Andre expected to finish work in a

couple of hours, but the evening

slipped away and he was still in the

study when dinner me rolled around.

Mia couldn't wait any longer. She knocked on the door. "Babe, dinner's ready if you don't come soon yours Son's going to eat everythingons sight."

Andre smiled, shut his laptop, and finally emerged.

"What's got you so tied up?" Mia asked as they walked to the dining room.

Andre kept it mysterious. "I've been stuck on a decision for ages, but now I've got a better option."

Mia didn't get it, but she just made a face and moved on.noveldrama

In the dining room, Henry was standing on his chair, fussing with his chopsticks and finally giving up to grab food with his hands.

"Henry! I look away for one minute and your clothes are a mess again!" Mia scolded, but she couldn't help smiling.

Andre swooped in, picked up his son-mess and all-and gave him a big kiss.

Henry, with a half-eaten shrimp in his hand, reached up to feed his dad. "Daddy, try this~"

"No thanks, buddy. That's all yours."

Later that evening, Mia was back to studying while Andre took over with Henry.

Out on the lawn, Andre paced around on the phone, handling work while keeping an eye on his son playing in the grass.

When Mia needed a break, she settled onto the swing out front. "Henry, come here-let mommy get a cuddle."