Sweet Mischief’s Rollercoaster Romance

Eventually, his uncle caught on. Andre knew that once kids hit their rebellious phase—especially in a fancy private school-they started comparing themselves to everyone else. That meant showing off, and Andre was determined to put a stop to it.

So, Leo spent three months in a $10 T-shirt, three more in a pair of $8 jeans. When fall rolled around, he wore a $15 hoodie. Winter meant a puffer jacket for under $30. No matter the season, Leo's closet was filled with budget clothes and shoes.

He'd wash his outfits at night, wear them the next day, until the colors faded and the fabric turned thin and tired.

Mia and Molly couldn't help but worry. "Leo, is everything okay at home?" Mia asked, concern painted on her face.

Leo looked pretty down on his luck. Mia even slipped her big piece of fried chicken onto his lunch tray. "You eat up. Gotta keep growing, you know?"

Leo didn't waste a second-he picked it up and took a big bite. "Home's fine. I'm the problem. My uncle won't let me buy anything over a hundred bucks."

Mia rolled her eyes. "Tell your uncle to meet me outside I'll give him a piece of my mind."

Leo just shook his head and smirked. "Nah, if you beat him up, he'll come home and take it out on me."

Molly even tried sneaking some of her brother Chad's clothes to give to Leo, but she barely made it to the door before Chad caught her. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

After that year, everyone at school knew Leo's family was "totally broke." That's when Andre finally eased up on his nephew.

But that was the year Leo lost his need to save face. No matter how anyone tried to mess with him after that, Leo just shrugged it off.

But that evening, Leo didn't show up first-unusual, since his dad was always obsessed with clean shoes.

Bruce never thought he'd get jealous over something so silly at his age.

Staring at his cool-as-ever son, Bruce narrowed his eyes. "Leo, you and Mia and Molly are pretty close. Did they tell you where they hid that night?" If they did, maybe Leo knew where his mom was, too.

"Tch." Leo's annoyance was obvious. "Those two ran off with my kid sister again. I tracked them down myself."

"So, you know where your mom is?"

Leo nodded. "I do."

Bruce got ready to go get her. "Where?"

"At my place," Leo answered.

Bruce looked surprised. "Your place?"

Leo nodded again. "My sister's with her. I came here first to check things out."

Bruce wanted Leo to take his side-what had he even done wrong?

But Leo couldn't say. If it were him, he'd have told Ms. Anya everything, every last detail.

Bruce was still at work when Leo headed out.

At least now, his dad wouldn't have to worry about his mom.

Leo hurried over to school and found Mia and Molly sipping big bowls of pork rib soup. "Good stuff?" he asked.

"Chad, come try this!" Molly called out. "The soup is amazing!"noveldrama

Leo sat down, grabbed Anya's spoon, and started eating straight from her bowl.

Around six, Leo walked the girls home.

Chad finished work, headed home to pick up his wife and son, and bumped into Andre at the door "Hey,

Andre I saw Leo today. All he said was the girls are safe."

Andre nodded. "Mia's got a good head on her shoulders-she'd never take the kids anywhere sketchy she was by herself, that'd beo different."

Chad grinned. “So we're just letting this one slide?"

Standing outside, Andre thought it over, then turned to Chad. "I bet my wife's been saving up and bought a place behind my back Who knows when she did it

Chad just shook his head. "Guess giving them more money isn't always the best idea."