Thaddeus arrived before Mona. When Mona finally got to her place, she saw a Bentley parked in front of her entrance. The wound-down rear window had a hand holding a cigarette hanging over it. The man inside came down when he saw the woman strolling over. Mona was slightly surprised by the man’s sudden appearance. “What are you doing here?” “Let’s talk in the car.” Thaddeus held her hand, wanting to drag her into the car. “Let go of me!” Mona shook his hand off. “I have nothing to talk to you about!” Thaddeus turned around and stared at her with an eagle gaze. The possessiveness in his heart rumbled, making him restless. The more she tried to fight back, the more he wanted to see her submit. He gritted his teeth and bellowed, “Get in. I don’t want to repeat myself.” Mona tidied her sleeves and disregarded Thaddeus’s words. She continued forward to the apartment entrance. Before she could go in, a strong hand caught her wrist. She got irritated. She turned aro
When Mona reached home, her kids were still awake, waiting for her. Millie wore fluffy pajamas and carried a bunny plushie in her arms as she flickered her crystal clear eyes, snuggling into Mona’s arms. “Mommy, I want a hug.” Mona carried Millie into her arms and kissed the girl on the forehead. “Baby, what are you doing with your brother?” “There’s an art competition tomorrow at school. Bobby and I are preparing for it.” Millie pointed at Bobby, who was studying the drone in the living room. “Bobby is really good. He took a lot of pictures with the drone. I think we’re going to win the big prize tomorrow!” Mona carried the girl to the living room and sat down beside Bobby. She mimicked Millie’s infatuated look and praised, “Wow. Look at our little man. Bobby, you are so good. We love you so much!” Bobby looked up with an embarrassed smile, blushing. Mona pinched her adorable son on the cheek. She ridiculed, “Oh my, look who’s blushing. I never thought Bobby would ev
“Mhmm.” Mona hummed a reply as she got herself a bowl of soup. Due to what happened earlier, the man left a terrible impression on her. The man always made moves based on his hidden agendas and never once treated her with sincerity. What happened tonight made her feel unsafe. “Did you do a DNA test on the kids?” Linda asked. Mona nodded. Linda wanted to say something but did not, so Mona asked, “What’s wrong?” Linda hesitated for a moment before she decided to be honest. “Susan, let me ask you something.” “What is it?” “Did you only have sex with one man? I’m talking about before your kids. Based on my understanding of your personality, you always rejected premarital sex, so how did you get pregnant while you were still in college?” Mona pursed her lips. “What are you trying to tell me? Maybe it was an accident. My past is a total blank. I can’t remember anything.” Linda leaned on the table. She rubbed her chin and tried to recall that particular incident. “I re
Thaddeus was invited to the broadcast station for an interview. Coincidentally, the judge for the art competition could not show up due to unforeseen circumstances, so the show producer asked Thaddeus to fill in. Thaddeus had no interest in judging, but when he saw Bobby’s name on the list, his eyes gleamed, and he agreed to fill in as a judge. If Bobby entered the competition, his mother would be here as well. “Mommy, look! It’s that handsome uncle! He’s the judge!” Millie spotted the tall and handsome man at the judging table and pointed it out to Mona. Her loud voice immediately attracted the attention of the other audience. Mona quickly covered Millie’s voice and said softly, “Shhh! Millie, don’t speak so loud in public!” Millie covered her mouth and nodded. She then looked in Thaddeus’s direction and saw him turning around to the audience seats, looking at her and her mother. The girl captured Thaddeus’s gaze and smiled brightly at him. Thaddeus smiled back and
“I’m at the lobby.” “Okay. I’m coming.” Hanging up the phone, Mona told Millie to sit tight before she headed out of the broadcast hall. Thaddeus captured her movement. His gaze followed her out of the hall before he narrowed his eyes. A while later, Mona returned with Victor. Thaddeus instantly looked disheartened. He even had the urge to get up and storm over. Had the woman lost her memories again? Had she forgotten what happened last night? He reminded her to stay away from Victor, yet she ignored his advice. Thaddeus loosened his tie to ease the frustration, but it did not make him feel any better. When Mona returned to her seat, she carried Millie onto her lap and gave Victor Millie’s original seat. “Susan, about yesterday…” “Don’t talk to me about that. Concentrate on the competition.” Mona smiled at Victor. Even though Millie was around, the man wanted to talk about the unhappy incident yesterday night. How selfish of him! Mona was a rational and open
Victor was rendered speechless by Mona’s question. He pursed his lips and said, “Believe me. I really want to tell my mother about the kids, Susan, but it’s not the right time yet. You haven’t agreed to marry me either. When are you going to say yes?” “That will depend on your performance.” Mona subtly kept away the strand of hair she got from Victor. She wanted to use it for the DNA test. Linda was right. What if the man was a liar? Mona could no longer trust the man wholeheartedly. Victor did not notice the thoughtfulness that flashed on her face. He simply took her as an ignorant woman that he would soon conquer. The kids were not his, so how could he tell his mother about them? His priority was to get Mona to agree to his proposal and impregnate her with his own child. Only then would he have the confidence to bring this matter up to his mother. Victor put on a flattering smile and said, “I’ll do my best. Come on. Let’s take a picture with the kids.” Mona instinct
The woman noticed Thaddeus’s silence. She nudged her friend and signaled her for assistance. So the other woman stepped in and said, “I’m sorry about my friend, Mister. She’s been going through a lot lately. That’s why she got careless. Why don’t you give us your jacket, and we will clean it for you. Maybe you can leave us your number so we can bring it to you once it’s cleaned?” “Get the hell out of my face!” Thaddeus ran out of patience and yelled at the women. The two were stunned and startled. “Mr. Fontaine, what happened to your hand?” Someone noticed the rashes on the back of Thaddeus's hand and was shocked. A crowd started to gather around him, and it was causing a commotion within the broadcast hall. Mona also noticed the commotion from backstage. She looked toward the noises and saw Thaddeus surrounded by a group of people. She curiously went over to have a look. Thaddeus had a gloomy look on his face. When she saw the coffee stain on his shirt, she immedia
Thaddeus looked slightly disheartened. Knowing that the once obedient Mona had left him and treated him with a drastic change of attitude made him feel terrible. Especially when his heart was slowly being filled by her presence. The man then twisted the tube open and applied the cream to his hand. His brows furrowed tightly as he pondered about something. When he exited the washroom, Mona and the kids had left. Disheartened, the man grabbed his jacket and left the broadcast hall. His towering figure and handsome looks turned heads as he shuttled across the crowd. Even the broadcast station’s female staff, who had seen numerous handsome men at work, could not help but be captivated by his looks. His handsome features with a hint of depression made women’s hearts race. Any woman who laid eyes on him had the urge to hug and save him from his depression. Thaddeus was no stranger to other women’s admiration. The more attention he received, the emptier his heart was. For
The couple was tired after a time of bonding, and they lay on the wicker chair, closing their eyes before slipping into dreamland. Sometime later, Thaddeus felt a chill and opened his eyes. His T-shirt was wet, and Bobby and Millie were spraying water at him with water guns. The youngest child was nearby too in her stroller. She suckled on a pacifier and watched the bustle. “Where’s your mommy?” Thaddeus shuffled his hair and looked around, searching for Mona. “Freeze, Daddy. We have held Mommy captive. Surrender yourself to us.” Acting like the boss, Millie pointed her massive water gun at her daddy. Thaddeus had indulged his eldest daughter so much that the girl would only have things her way. Nevertheless, Thaddeus played along since it was only a game. He knew his children well. Millie took after Mona and was shrewd. Still, Millie would be on her best behavior when in public. “Hurry up and surrender, Daddy. Put your hands up, and we will release Mommy.” Millie poked
It was a cooling breeze for the Summer as flowers bloomed in the garden of Fontaine Residence. Mona rested on a wicker chair under the wine arbor, holding in hand the latest issue of the weekly design magazine, with her face on the cover. In the photo, she held a trophy up on the stage of a design competition, standing out amidst the radiant background. Since the birth of her youngest, Mona took a month off for rest before picking up her passion again and returning to the world of design. Recently, she won first place in an international design competition and found fame. Mona was happy with her life and enjoyed the rich and peaceful state of things. She had time to herself for once during the weekend, so she found a quiet spot to enjoy time alone while the kids had a nap. The sunlight shone over Mona through the leaves, basking her in warmth. She let out a yawn and closed her eyes for a nap. Thaddeus walked out of the house and saw the woman enjoying the moment of bliss. The t
“Mommy, did the baby kick you today?” Millie wobbled her way over and placed her hand on Mona’s belly. She could feel the baby stirring inside her mommy’s stomach. Millie was pleasantly surprised. “The baby kicked me! Mommy, is the baby swimming inside your belly?” “Yeah. The baby is kicking.” Mona affectionately caressed her belly. The fetus had been kicking and rolling a lot more lately, so she could not get much sleep. The tall and strong man drew near and looked tenderly at Mona. His husky voice lingered in Mona’s ear. “Weren’t you craving strawberries? I placed an order, and the fruit is being airlifted here as we speak. It’ll arrive tonight.” “Yay.” Mona was gleeful. Since the beginning of her pregnancy, she had become quite fussy and craved the strangest food. She wanted caviar from Japan, cookies from France, and strawberries from the highlands. Anything she asked for would be transported fresh to the house the next day.The man had taken good care of her during her en
“No. I won’t let myself go.” The man huffed heavily after finishing his sit-ups. Then, he rolled out of bed and got changed in the walk-in closet. Mona stared at the man’s well-toned back, gasping at his body upkeep. People would probably have a hard time believing he was a father of three. With that in mind, Mona became aware of a potential threat. She got up and drew close to the man. “You’re responsible for taking care of the baby once the child is born.” Thaddeus straightened his tie. “Alright. I can do that. I want to be present in the baby’s life and your pregnancy. You should rest at home once your belly gets bigger. I’ll handle Bobby and Millie’s school run, okay?” The man pinched Mona’s face dotingly. “Now you’re talking. Are you heading out?” Mona got up on her tiptoes to brush off the dust from his shoulders. “Yeah. I need to sort out a lot of paperwork.” “I wrote down notes of the meeting I attended on your behalf a few days ago.” Mona walked out to retrieve a
Thaddeus was in the hospital for a week before he was discharged. The election day for the successor of the Fontaine Group was two weeks later, but Thaddeus had not made a full recovery in his legs. He remained in a wheelchair and persisted in his daily physiotherapy. Mona had a room freed up in Fontaine Residence for Thaddeus’ rehabilitation. A specialized doctor would come around the house every day to help Thaddeus with his recovery. Thaddeus was a strong man to fight through the pain in his physiotherapy sessions. That day, Mona watched as the workers hung a decorative painting on the wall in the hallway. She ordered paintings of her preference and had them shipped from abroad. Mona instructed the workers to put it up, not paying attention to the wobbly painting that had been hung behind her. The painting was about to hit her from the back. Thaddeus was exiting the rehabilitation room when he caught sight of the danger. Getting up from his wheelchair, Thaddeus took large stri
The few pictures of Mona and Victor at the height of a tussle gave the impression that they were having an intimate moment. Thaddeus went through the photos with a look of disdain. “So you stood there and pretended to take pictures of me to show me these? You set my wife up with another man to tell me she was cheating on me?” It was not hard to guess the game the paparazzi were playing, but who was he trying to fool? The man was dumbstruck, as it never occurred to him that Thaddeus could see through him. It had taken the three of them to come up with the idea. However, it had not taken much for Thaddeus to foil their plan. Mona let out a relieved smile. She thought that Thaddeus would be furious at the look of the pictures and had prepared herself to give a long explanation. She was surprised that Thaddeus quickly saw through the attempt to drive them apart. Their relationship was solid, and no one could come between them. Mona thought to herself with glee when she took
Mona stood in front of Thaddeus, blocking his face as she confronted the paparazzi who took their picture. “Hand over the camera!” “There’s nothing in the camera. Besides, it’s my personal property. Why should I give it to you?” “You clearly took a picture of my husband. You have some nerve to say there’s nothing.” Mona grabbed the man by the wrist and lifted her foot to kick. Thaddeus grabbed her wrist to stop her. “You’re pregnant. Think about the child.” Thaddeus pulled Mona back, leaving himself exposed to the paparazzi. “Why do you want to photograph me? Do you want to see me in a wheelchair? Take a picture then.” Thaddeus pulled a straight face. His nonchalant gaze spoke of intimidation. Dumbstruck, the paparazzi looked at Thaddeus’ legs and smiled dryly. “What happened to your legs, Mr. Fontaine?” Thaddeus did not answer. However, his dark eyes flicked chillingly as he looked murderously at the paparazzi. Even in a wheelchair, Thaddeus did not have to say anythi
With the help of the two caretakers, Thaddeus sat in the wheelchair. He had overcome his emotions and pulled himself together. His mind was clear as he sorted out what he should do next. Thaddeus called the assistant into the room and laid out the following plan. “I won’t attend any media interviews before the election, but I won’t disappear from the public eye either. I don’t want to give the press something to talk about. My wife will represent me. Going forward, whatever she says or does will be considered my own. She has the authority to attend all corporate conferences, big or small.” Mona dropped her jaw in shock. She was to attend company meetings and speak on his behalf. It was trying to make the impossible happen. On second thought, Thaddeus must have his reasons to do so. She had the confidence to do a good job anyway. The assistant took note of everything Thaddeus said. The Fontaine Group was about to choose its next leader, and with Thaddeus still in recovery, the
“It’s okay. That’s normal after surgery. The doctor gave me a heads-up. Since it’s a brain operation, you might have damage to the motor nerve. With the help of physiotherapy, you’ll be back to running in no time.” Mona consoled Thaddeus. Thaddeus lifted his hands and gave Mona a gentle push. “Leave.” Mona froze. She looked at the man who was fine a second ago, not knowing what to do. “Can you leave? I need some time alone,” Fixing his gaze on Mona, Thaddeus spoke callously. “Okay. I’ll be right outside if you need me.” It dawned on Mona why the man was persistent in driving her away. He did not want her to see him at his worst. In a way, he was trying to protect his pride and dignity as a man. However, they were a married couple. Mona would never turn her back on him. Mona could understand the man’s vulnerability and his feelings at the moment. Hence, she said nothing and quietly left the ward to give Thaddeus the time and space to sort his emotions. Instead of doing n