4

Hero arrived at his company in a gloomy mood. He walked into the building and all the workers trembled in fear. 

"Good morning sir," they greeted, but he ignored them, walking angrily to his office.

Immediately he sat on his chair, he put a call across to his P.A. "come to my office right away," he said, before hanging up the phone.

It didn't take up to a minute before a guy with blonde hair walked into his office.

"Good morning boss," he greeted.

Instead of answering him, Hero said. "Bryan, I want you to find out everything about Jules Verne."

"But boss, may I know who she is?"

Hero sneered. "If I knew who she was, I wouldn't be asking you to find out everything about her, besides why do you need to know that, ?" Hero barked, making Bryan tremble in fear.

"I...it not what I mean boss. I mean who is she to you, it might help me get the information faster," Bryan shuttered.

Hero scoffed. That gold digger cannot be anything to me, although she's married to my father, we share no relationship he thought before saying, "She is my father's new wife."

"What! I mean, okay boss, I'll do it right away."

Bryan was gobsmacked when Hero said that, he wanted to ask him when his dad got married that no one knew about it, but he didn't dare to, seeing the way Hero was glaring at him.

After Bryan left, Hero twirled on his, "Jules Verne," he mumbled, recalling the event that happened between the two of them, both last night, and this morning.  

He scowled deeply, drumming his nails on his desk. "I better get that gold digger out of my head, before she ruins the rest of my day.

...

Meanwhile, Jules and Harley, catwalked into the school premises, and when Harley saw that everyone was gawking at them, her lips curved into a smirk.

She waved her little hands at them and gave them different poses.

"Yes, you can take pictures, take pictures. Both haters, friends, and fans, gaze at our awesomeness because you will never find a mom that is as pretty as mine," Harley yelled in her tiny voice.

By now both the senior and junior students of the Crystal vile school all gathered around to take pictures and gossip.

"Isn't that Hardin's little sister? did she just call the beautiful lady beside her mom? where is Hardin, why didn't he show up with them?" they murmured.

Harley could hear the gossip and she scoffed. "Mommy, you have to give them a nice pose, something they would remember and talk about for the entire week."

Jules smiled and nodded, and also started to give them different poses.

"Madam, who are you to Harley?" someone yelled from among the crowd.

Jules's lip curled up into a smirk, then she said, "I am Mrs. Jules Verne Scott, Harley's mother."

Immediately Jules said that the whole crowd went into a state of uproar.

"OMG! Did she just say, she's Harley's mom? that means she's Hardin's mom too. Goodness! what a shocker, hashtag gossip of the week. Lord, look how beautiful and young she is, although she's dressed in casual clothes, she looks so elegant and classy. Yes and just look at the way both she and Harley look perfect together, hashtag perfect mother-daughter duo, I'm so jealous. I hope you are filming the, it's gonna go viral on the school's blog."

Harley's smile increased when she heard that, this is what she wanted everyone to know she's got a hot new mommy.

Jules also smiled when she heard their gossip, then she turned to Harley.

"Okay princess, I'll take my leave now, see you when you get back. I'll be sure to prepare a present and your favorite food for you," Jules muttered.

"Okay mommy, you are the best," Harley squealed.

Jules crouched down to her side, and kissed her forehead, before turning around to leave.

"Bye mommy," Harley yelled after her.

"Bye, princess," Jules replied, before getting into the SUV.

"Please can you take me to a children's boutique, and from there the city hospital," Jules told the chauffeur and he nodded before driving away. 

...

Jules arrived at a five-star boutique for children. "Ma'am what type of outfit, would you like to buy for your child?" 

Jules smiled, recalling what Harley had said to her. "I want the most beautiful princess dress you have, and it should be in the color pink."

"Okay Ma'am, I'll show you the ones we have, so you can choose from."

Minutes later, the sales girl returned with like about five beautiful dresses, all in the color pink.

Jules admired them all, but a particular one caught her attention. It was a short flair gown, with a big bow at the back.  

"I'll go with that one," she said, pointing at the dress with the bow. she also bought a crown, and a shoe to go with, before walking out of the boutique, and from there Jules went to the hospital to visit her mom, Emily Verne. 

Emily Verne has been in a coma for over two months due to a car accident, and besides Jules, she didn't have any other family members, because she lost her husband in that same car accident.

"Mom, I don't know if you can hear me, but I want to tell you that, I found a way to pay for your hospital bills and the other bills. I hope this news makes you happy, and you can wake up soon..."

Jules stayed with her mother for a while, before leaving the hospital.

...

Meanwhile, Harper Scott sat in the living room with his best friend and business associate, Aaron Rodgers discussing how he would get Hero and Jules closer.

Harper Scott filled Aaron up on everything he needed to know about his fake marriage and his reason for it.

"I must say, that was a great plan. but why didn't you just make your son, Hero marry her instead," Aaron inquired

"Well that's because it's not only Hero's character, I want to change but also Harris's and Hardin's. And if I had asked Hero to marry her, then he will refuse and you know I can't force him," Mr. Harper replied.

"You're right, but as you said, Hero and Hardin, hate her, how then is she going to change them?"

"That's why I called you here so that together, we can think of something."

Aaron thought for a while, before giving him a suggestion. Harper Scott smiled, then he said, "I think that is a great idea, I'll make sure, I convinced my son.

Jules returned home just when Aaron Rodgers was about to leave.

" Good day sir," Jules greeted with a bright smile.

Aaron, answered her greeting with a smile, then he turn to Harper Scott. "She must be Jules, I've to admit that she's a fine one, I hope your son Hero can see that too."

Harper Scott nodded before saying, "I hope he does." After saying that, a mischievous smile crossed his lips as he thought about something. 

Jules on the other hand, was oblivious to the way the older men were looking at her. she didn't know that they both of them had planned to make both her and Hero fall in love.

She made her way into the kitchen to prepare, Harley's favorite dish. The maids watched her like she had two heads.

" She's so young and beautiful, why would she marry an old man? Do you think she married him for money? Obviously, it has to be money or why else would a beautiful and young girl like her marry a man who is her father's age."

Jules could hear what they were saying about her, and she clenched her fist.

"I'm standing right here, and why I married him should be none of your business," she rasped.

"Sorry ma'am," they chorused, before going back to work.

...

Later that day, Harley and Hardin returned from school. 

A Happy Harley ran into the house yelling at the top of her voice. "Mommy, I'm home."

While Hardin, gnashed his teeth in anger, recalling what had happened earlier at his school.

Earlier, after Jules had dropped Harley off at school, Hardin also arrived.

"Hardin, tell us, is it true what Harley said about you having a new mom?"

"I don't have a new mom," he barked in anger.

"But Harley said it, and Jules also said it, so are you saying they were both lying?"

Hardin clenched his fist and scoffed. He wanted to tell them that, yes Harley and Jules had both lied, but he couldn't because he knew how much Harley had always wanted another mother. So instead, he said, "I don't think that's any of your business...

Jules heard Harley calling her so she immediately went downstairs to meet her. 

"Lily," she called, opening her arm, and Harley ran into her embrace.

"Welcome home princess," Jules muttered, then she turned to Hardin and said. "Welcome home Hardin."

"Thank you, mommy," Harley answered, while Hardin scoffed, and rolled his eyes.

"You should keep your welcome to yourself. Why did you have to go to my school and create a scene, now everyone knows I have a gold digger for a mom," he yelled at Jules.

Jules turn to the fifteen years old, and couldn't believe how insolent he was. Her mind immediately went to how she can teach him a lesson and make him mend his ways.

Harley saw that Jules was absent-minded, and she thought it was because of what Hardin had said. So she tried to console her.

"Mommy, you shouldn't mind Hardin's words, his a bad boy, and doesn't know how to speak to his elders."

"You are right Lily, only bad boys behave like that and what do we do to bad boys?" Jules muttered.

"We teach them a good lesson," Harley replied.

Hardin watched the two of them and scoffed.

"You deserve each other," he said, before walking away."

Soon after, Hero walked into the house. Once he spotted Jules and Harley, his mood immediately turn sour.

"Lord grumpy," Harley yelled, running toward him.

Hero's mood lightens up a bit, and he crouched down to Harley's size. 

"How are you chubby?" He asked. Just like Harris, Hero also called Harley chubby. Only Hardin was an exception because he was scared that she would shave his hair, just like she did before.

Harley frowned and pouted her mouth. "Don't call me that."

"And don't call me lord grumpy," Hero retorted.

Jules watched the brother and sister in amusement. Who would have thought Lord grumpy would be so calm with someone.

Just like Harley, Jules decided to start calling Lord grumpy, because she feels the name suits him well.

"Welcome home Lord Hero grumpy," she said in a mock tone.

Hero snapped his head in her direction, his eyes darkened as he stared at her dangerously. “What did you just call me?” he asked in a low threatening tone.