A sharp cry broke the steamy atmosphere. Thaddeus turned around and saw a woman in the living room. Linda came in with bags of clothes and necessities. She had promised Mona that she would move in with her for a while last night, and when she arrived, the door was unlocked and opened. She walked into a steamy scene. “What are you doing?!” Linda grabbed the knife on the table and swung it in a flurry at Thaddeus. “I’m warning you! Let go of her, or I will call the cops!” Linda related the man to the mysterious neighbor that Mona mentioned last night, hence her hostility and caution. “You handsome bastard! You are dressed nicely, but you are a piece of shit!” Thaddeus turned around and looked at Linda who was freaking out outside the door. “Shut up!” he bellowed. Linda finally had a good look at the man’s handsome face and was stunned. The knife in her hands fell on the floor with a clang. Thaddeus Fontaine!? Mona’s ex-husband? Thaddeus knew Linda had mistaken him f
“My uncle? How did he know about Susan’s fever?” Victor frowned. “Why are you asking me that?” Linda replied with a ridiculing tone. “All I can say is your uncle loves Susan more than you do. Do you think you are a reliable boyfriend, Victor? Can you even give her the happiness that she wants?” Linda continued to taunt him with words that had hidden meanings. Victor got angry. “Stop talking nonsense. Stop poking your nose into our relationship.” “Victor, I’m just giving you a piece of advice here. She’s no longer Susan. She’s Mona. If you really like her, stop disturbing her with the past.” Victor’s fists were tightly clenched. He ignored Linda and stormed out of the apartment. Linda sighed as the door slammed shut. What did Susan do to deserve all this from the two men? Men with power and wealth usually were never serious about relationships. They all tackled problems mostly from their own selfish perspective. Susan had nothing now, no leverage and right to be on the
“The fever must have burned my brain. I didn’t get to wear my clothes properly, and I bet you must have put your jacket on me when you brought me here.” Mona leaned back against the pillow as her beautiful eyes flickered. She ridiculed, “Don’t tell me it’s you who unbuttoned me, Mr. Fontaine.” It was a joke, but it sounded pleasant to the man’s ears. A hint of mischief mixed with the sweetest tone to become a harmonious melody that soothed his heart. She was in her most relaxed state. She no longer had to comply with his every request or take care of his emotions like when they were still married. She could reveal her truest emotions before him without any scruples. It was sarcastic, but he liked it and he could no longer pull himself away. “What if it’s me? What are you going to do?” “Nothing. It’s not like we haven’t made love before,” Mona said as she crossed her arms, tapping her fingers on her elbow. “You’re rather generous. Aren’t you afraid that the one in your hou
Thaddeus was not mad at all. He was in a casual mood. He leaned back on the couch and crossed his legs. He glanced at Linda and asked, “Why are you everywhere?” Seeing Thaddeus’ relaxed state, Linda got the confidence to continue the conversation. “Mr. Fontaine, don’t worry. I didn’t see anything back at Susan’s house.” Thaddeus raised a brow. He glanced at Mona and asked, “So what if you saw us? Is there any problem with us being intimate?” Mona choked on her water. She covered her mouth and coughed. What was he referring to? Had they done something while she was barely conscious? Thaddeus got up from the couch, sat by the bed, and patted Mona’s back to ease the cough. “Be careful. Drink slowly.” Mona was speechless. What was he doing? They were divorced, so who was the show for? “Wait. Mr. Fontaine, I thought you and Susan were already divorced. That means you are just some stranger to her. Are you trying to take advantage of her?” Linda’s imagination went wild when
Linda mustered her confidence and seized the opportunity to voice out all the questions that troubled her mind. “Mr. Fontaine, I think you are trying to take advantage of Susan and don’t want to take the responsibility. You can’t do that.” Linda suddenly sounded stern. She continued to feign ignorance and blurted her mind out. “Susan is a good woman. She’s been with you for so many years without a respectable title, yet you fell for another younger and more beautiful lady and you ditched her? You come back to her when you’re bored just to flirt and toy with her, treating her as a tool that you can use to kill time. Aren’t you being a jerk? “I want to make this clear. Please do not disturb Susan anymore and let her live her life. Can you do that?” Linda felt relieved after voicing her concerns. She used to be isolated by her schoolmates, and it was Susan who had stood up for her. Now, she wanted to do something for the kind and strong girl that she called her friend. Thaddeu
After Linda left, Mona was left alone with Thaddeus in the room. Mona held the cup of water in her hands, sneaking glances at Thaddeus subtly and trying to capture the expression on his face. Thaddeus captured all her little actions. The man sat comfortably with his forehead propped on his hand, looking at the woman’s beautiful face. Mona clearly sensed his powerful gaze and it gave her goosebumps. If she was not scared of the man would go after Linda, she would have asked the man to leave already. She bit the bullet and looked into the man’s eyes. She calmed herself down and said, “Linda is a straightforward person. She’s not mindful of her words. Don’t take her the wrong way.” “Oh? What would that be? How far have you progressed with Victor? Staying together already?” Thaddeus asked with a raised brow and a ridiculing tone. Mona felt chills down her spine. She even tightened her collar as a sign of caution. “No.” “I don’t believe you.” “I don’t care if you believe
“No. I only had sex with you and you alone,” the man answered with a serious look. Mona was skeptical. Her alone? Thaddeus was going to marry Samantha yet they had never had sex before? Could that explain why he was so eager and dry? Was it because he had not touched a woman since they divorced? Mona nodded and scoffed. “I read a book saying that men have a lesser desire to have sex with women they love. You really like Samantha.” “What book is that? What kind of nonsense are you reading?” Thaddeus frowned. It was his ideals in life that made him go after what he loved and let go of what he could not get. If he had to suppress his feelings for the woman he loved, it could not be love. Mona pursed her lips. It was meaningless to continue the conversation. “Mr. Fontaine, how long are you planning to stay?” Thaddeus understood that she wanted him to leave. He turned around and sat back down on the couch. He picked up the magazine from the table, crossed his legs, and s
The doctor and the director chatted with Mona for quite a while and wished her a speedy recovery before they left. The two men who were still fighting refused to leave. One of them sat on the couch with his magazine and the other one handed Mona a glass of water. “Susan, what was that about? The director said you did a research paper on Millie’s condition?” Victor asked. Mona replied, “When Millie’s doctor suggested surgery with high risks, I rejected it. I tried using acupuncture and herbal medicine to treat her condition and after some time, Millie’s condition got better. I guess I’m lucky.” “Susan, you’re amazing! You are a genius!” Victor spared no effort with his praises, more or less trying to flatter her. Thaddeus glanced at the two of them as they chatted. He was displeased. Bam! The magazine was slammed on the table and the noise interrupted their chat. Seeing his uncle’s reaction, Victor curled his lips in delight as if he had won the battle. He continued, “Ou
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