chapter 6

A black Maybach drove past two rows of tall Chinese parasol trees and arrived at the Fudd’s mansion hidden among them.

Shrouded by the dark night, the Fudd’s mansion appeared more solemn and lofty than ever.

Heaton Fudd entered the house and saw John Fudd sitting on the sofa in the living room. He greeted politely, “Father.”

John Fudd’s hoary hand was clutching onto his crutch as he snorted coldly, “If you see me as your father, find yourself a wife quickly. Find Little Jelly Bean a mother! Don’t wait until I’m dead and you’re still not married!”

For the past three years, John’s biggest complaint about Heaton was none other than him failing to find girlfriend and getting married. Recently, the old man had been urging him to get married frequently.

Heaton dealt with the situation calmly. “I’m fine with the daughters from the Quinn, Zharko, Lewis, and Sullivan family. I don’t mind marrying anybody. However, you do know that Little Jelly Bean doesn’t like those ladies at all.”

Fueled by anger, the old man pounded the floor with his crutch. “Heaton Fudd, do you think I can’t see it? You’re using Little Jelly Bean as an excuse!”

Heaton put one hand in his pocket, He then nonchalantly said, “Father, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be upstairs to see Little Jelly Bean now.”

“Stand right there!”

The old man got up. Taking ahold of his crutch, he paced around the room. “If Little Jelly Bean doesn't like the ladies, look for her biological mother then! Do you think you can fool me? How could an unmarried man be a father to a three-year-old? People will know of Little Jelly Bean’s existence once she grows up. Do you want people to think that my granddaughter, also your daughter, is an illegitimate child?!”

Heaton stared at the stairs beneath him and his sharp eyes darkened.

“I will find you a suitable daughter-in-law this month.”

John Fudd caressed the handle of his crutch. “You better not disappoint me.”

…

Heaton proceeded upstairs and went into the baby room, which was the room nearest to his bedroom. A baby with fair skin and delicate features was sitting on the bed under the warm orange light. Her little hand was holding onto a drawing book. The coldness in his eyes faded away as they were replaced with a warm and doting expression. “ Jelly Bean, aren’t you asleep yet?”

Little Jelly Bean tossed her drawing book aside as soon as she heard her father’s voice. She flipped open her yellow blanket with Snoopy patterns and climbed out of the bed barefooted. Heaton strode over as he was worried that the little munchkin would fall down. He embraced the little munchkin who jumped into his arms. He held the baby in the crook of his arms.

Little Jelly Bean grinned, showing her white teeth. Eyes wide, the baby said cutely, “Daddy, Jelly Bean is waiting for you. I haven’t seen daddy in five days, don’t you miss me daddy?”

Heaton kissed his daughter’s fair cheeks, and said in a hoarse yet gentle tone, “Of course daddy missed you, but daddy has to work to earn money for the sake of raising you. Otherwise, how can I buy snacks and milk for you?”

The little munchkin pouted her fair and tender lips. Her eyebrows lightly frowned, she said, “Jelly Bean doesn't need rice, snacks or milk. Can daddy spend more time with me? All the kids in kindergarten are accompanied by their mom and dad, but grandpa is the one who sends me to school every day. I’m not happy.”

Carrying his daughter, Heaton sat on the bed and caressed the little munchkin’s head. “How can you grow if you don’t eat and don’t drink milk? Be a good girl, daddy will bring you to the zoo this weekend, alright?”

Little Jelly Bean’s bug black eyes narrowed into a lovely crescent moon. She hugged Heaton’s neck with her little arms excitedly, “Daddy, you cannot lie to me!”

The little munchkin’s tiny feet were bouncing about on Heaton’s lap. She stretched out her pinky finger and said, “Pinky swear!”

Heaton burst out laughing. He locked his finger with his daughter’s fleshy pinky. “Alright, daddy will be a dog if I go back on my words.”

The little munchkin’s pajamas were pushed up, revealing a red bruise on her arms. Heaton frowned and grabbed his daughter’s little hand. “Who bullied you, Little Jelly Bean?”

The smile on her face sank when her father talked about it. She pouted her pink lips and sat in Heaton’s embrace. She said unhappily, “Grandpa sends me to school every day. So, the kids in the kindergarten never saw my parents. Cherry said I am lying, she said I don’t have parents!”

Heaton’s brows loosened. “So, did you fight with Cherry?”

The little munchkin rubbed herself against her father’s chest and asked glumly, “Daddy, is mommy really on Mars? When can I go find mummy?”

Daddy told her that Mars was too hot and she was too young. She could go to Mars to find Mummy once she grows up, but how much should she grow to be able to go to Mars?

Heaton’s eyes darkened slightly. “Little Jelly Bean, do you really want a mummy?”

Little Jelly Bean nodded her head seriously and said in a tender voice, “Today, our teacher asked us to draw ourselves with our parents. I only drew daddy holding my hands and my teacher scolded me. Daddy, can you bring mummy back from Mars?”

Heaton stared at his daughter’s large dewy eyes. He kept silent for a few moments. Suddenly, the image of Verian’s eyes slipped through his mind. It was then that he realized the woman who accosted him looked somehow similar to Little Jelly Bean's eyes.

Little Jelly Bean hugged and shook her father’s neck vigorously as she saw her father stay silent. “Daddy, can you please pick mummy up?”

Heaton, who always loved his daughter, lifted his hand and looked at the watch on his wrist. He carried Little Jelly Bean and tucked her into bed. He said in a hoarse yet soft tone, “It’s late, go to bed now. Daddy will bring you to school tomorrow morning.”

Little Jelly Bean grabbed his large hands with her tiny hands, “Daddy, promise me you will bring mummy back from Mars!”

Heaton bent down and kissed his daughter’s forehead, “Goodnight, Jelly Bean.”

Little Jelly Bean smiled sweetly at him and blinked her eyes, “Goodnight, daddy.”

…

Heaton walked out for the baby room and called his assistant, Kush Xavier.

“Check who was the surrogate three years ago.”

At the other end, Kush was slightly shocked. Three years ago, security measures were carried out rather well in order to avoid problems. Why was BOSS taking the initiative to look for that woman now?

“Alright, BOSS. I will check immediately.”