Just once? And he conquered me?

Chapter 5. We have a new daddy now!

Stephen's expression paused momentarily, his tone casual. "Life was getting a bit monotonous. What's wrong with a few more kids to liven things up?"

"People these days still excited to play daddy? You don't have some hidden illness, do you?" Sam scoffed mockingly.

Stephen glanced at him dismissively, then his gaze settled on Hayley. "How did it feel last night?"

The memory of Stephen's powerful presence over her flashed uncontrollably through Hayley's mind, heating her cheeks. She steadied her racing heart, feigning composure. "Hmm, you were great."

"So, marrying me, you'll be very satisfied," he stated plainly.

Hayley's heart skipped again. She glanced at Sam, whose face was growing uglier by the second, and felt a dark cloud lift from her heart. "Yes, we will be very happy!"

Without further delay, Hayley packed her things, and she and Stephen left the villa.

Watching their car drive away, Sam's face twisted with displeasure. That man was driving a Bentley! Had Hayley really gone to marry him? He couldn't believe it. How could a woman with children, a fallen woman, find a man to want her? There must be something wrong with that man. Perhaps he was gay? Maybe this was just to appease his family's pressure to marry, using a woman as a facade! That had to be it; there was no other explanation. Comforting himself with these thoughts, Sam felt better.

In the car, Linda's milky voice asked, "Mommy, did Uncle Sam bully you again?"

"No, sweetheart, I wasn't bullied," Hayley replied with a smile.

"Good, with new daddy here, Uncle Sam won't ever bully Mommy again!" Lucy clenched her little fists.

Hayley glanced at Stephen in the driver's seat, grateful for his support back at the villa. "Thank you for earlier."

Stephen tapped the steering wheel lightly with his long fingers. "You really do have an eye for men!"

That was a jab at Hayley's poor choice in men.

Hayley chuckled. It wasn't that she had bad taste; it was that some men were good at pretending. "Every outstanding woman encounters a few jerks in her youth."

Stephen glanced at her. "Do you still have feelings for him?"

Hayley scoffed lightly. "Do I look like a fool?"

A contemptible scoundrel—how could she still harbor feelings for someone like that?

Stephen's gaze intensified. If she didn't like him, why had she asked Sam whom he loved more?

The car reached the civil affairs bureau, and the kids waited inside while Stephen and Hayley went in to queue for marriage registration. After completing the process, they held their red marriage books.

Hayley was still in disbelief. Just divorced, and now, so suddenly married again—and to a man she'd only met twice?

"How long are you going to stare at that?" Stephen's deep, magnetic voice brought her back to reality.

Hayley put away the marriage book. "I haven't asked you yet, why were you in room 1802 last night?"

Stephen's eyes flickered, and he lied smoothly. "The Howard Hotel is part of Howard Industries. I was accompanying my boss last night, and someone let him have that room. He had to leave early for an emergency, so I used the room instead."

That made sense to Hayley.

"You should thank me," Stephen's voice turned cold, "If it weren't for me last night, you'd have had a much worse experience."

A sting of reality hit Hayley. Indeed, she owed him her thanks.

As the children pressed their faces against the car window, Lucy giggled, "Heehee, Mommy and Uncle Zero are married, we have a new daddy now."

"We're not children without a daddy anymore," Linda added cheerfully.

"Brother, can we start calling Uncle Zero 'Daddy' now?" Lucy asked.

Willis frowned slightly, "Not yet."

"Why not?" Lucy pouted.

"Because Mommy hasn't fallen for him yet. What if she decides she doesn't like him and they split up?"

So for now, the title change would have to wait until their relationship was more stable.

"Uncle Zero is so handsome, how could Mommy not like him?" Lucy insisted.

"I like handsome Uncle Zero," Linda chimed in.

Willis felt it was impossible to discuss this with his starry-eyed sisters. "Mommy isn't as silly about looks as you two. Just remember, we can't start calling him 'Daddy' just yet."

The girls seemed disappointed but accepted their brother's command.

Soon, Stephen and Hayley returned to the car, and the vehicle slowly moved forward. The chatty sisters piped up again.

"Uncle Zero, are we going to your house now?"

"Uncle Zero, are we going to live together

from now on?"

Stephen's lips curled into a smile. "Yes, from now on, we'll all live together."

Not long after, they arrived at a high-end residential complex named Riverside Gardens. Stephen parked the car, and they took the elevator to the 17th floor.

After scanning his fingerprint to unlock the door, they entered a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment. The place was understated yet luxurious, clearly indicating a life of quality.

The children explored with curiosity while Hayley was visibly impressed. "Is this your place?"

This was a high-end area in the city, with great amenities and a price to match. How could an assistant afford such a place?

"I rent it," Stephen said nonchalantly, telling the simplest of his many lies. This was actually one of the more modest properties he owned, freshly prepared by his assistant for this new chapter.

That made more sense to Hayley.

"How much is the rent per month?" she inquired.

Stephen glanced at her. "Why do you ask?"

"Now that we're married, I should contribute to the rent," she asserted.

"You want to pay rent?" Stephen raised an eyebrow, playfully challenging. "It's over ten thousand a month; are you sure you want to share that expense?"

That was expensive! Hayley inhaled sharply, then ventured, "The rent's a bit steep; should we find somewhere cheaper?"

"To lower my standard of living as soon as we get married? That wasn't my intention," Stephen replied, clearly someone who enjoyed his comforts.

Hayley bit her lip. "Then I'll give you five thousand a month."

That was all she could afford, considering she had three children to care for.

Stephen gave her a more appraising look. "You'll give me five thousand a month? Do you have a job?"

He remembered her profile indicated that she hadn't finished college due to her pregnancy and had been unemployed since.

Hayley's eyes dropped, her lashes fluttering slightly. "I don't have a formal job, but I pick up freelance jewelry design work, which gives me some income every month."

She had studied design in college. If not for the incident four years ago, she would likely be working as a jewelry designer in a prestigious company now.