In her opinion, men were realistic. While he was a bit regretful at first, after weighing the pros and cons, he must have felt there was something of value in her that was worthy of his continued understanding.“I won’t waste your time, Mr. Johnson. I’ll tell you the truth about my situation. Not only do I have two children, but I’m also divorced, and the father of my children isn’t my ex-husband. Furthermore, my daughter was born prematurely, so she has poor health and often goes to the hospital. I have no car or house, and I currently live in a rented apartment in an old district.”The more Finn listened, the more cold sweat accumulated on his forehead. In the end, he simply listened quietly.Mona only had one motive. Good looks might indeed help in this cruel society, but it was cheap. If there were no other chips that one could use to add value to themselves, then she felt that the person was not even qualified to negotiate.Finn took a napkin and wiped the sweat on his forehea
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Mona hurriedly denied her relationship with Thaddeus. She forcibly wrenched away his large palm that was clasped around her waist. “My children have nothing to do with you.”Thaddeus narrowed his eyes. His sharp eyes carried a dangerous light.He squeezed his palm and tightened his grip, speaking in a warning tone.“What? Are you anxious to find your next home after knowing there’s no chance with Victor anymore? If you really want to find someone, choose someone better. How could you lower your standard in men after being with me?”Mona felt ridiculous and sneered. “Why do you care what kind of man I find? How can you, someone who effortlessly had an affair during marriage, have the right to speak?”Thaddeus gritted his teeth. “Mona Ortega, you’ve grown bold.”Mona scoffed. She did not care why the man was acting crazy and broke away from him to sit down again.She was acting in a fit of anger. She just wanted to go against Thaddeus.Finn’s eyes watched t
“Stop guessing wildly.” Thaddeus’s gaze flickered slightly, hiding the emotions in his eyes very well.Mona blinked, stood tiptoed to close the distance between the man and her, and looked him in the eye.She asked half-jokingly and half-seriously, “Hey, don’t tell me you’re worried about me.”He showed up when she was sick, insulted at the mall, and on a blind date. How could there be so many coincidences?Thaddeus pursed his lips and lowered his eyes to look at her rosy lips. The fragrance of her body lingered on the tip of his nose.He felt his throat dry up. His throat bobbed as he restrained the restlessness inside.“Think however you want.” The man glanced away coldly.Mona took a step back. “Fine. I guess I was just overthinking. In that case, I hope you won’t show up for my next blind date.”Thaddeus’s expression instantly darkened.Next blind date? This woman’s fishpond really was big.Mona waved at the man and smiled at him. “Goodbye, Mr. Fontaine.”“Stop.”“Is th
When the man cruelly and coldly said the words ‘break up’, Samantha’s tears fell swiftly. She looked at the man in front of her as if he was the most cold-blooded person in the world.No matter how hard she tried, there was no way to change his mind. He was so rational that it was frightening. It was because he did not love her.They had never really been together in the first place, but now, they were breaking up. She could not accept it.“Why are you breaking up with me?” Samantha got emotional and grabbed Thaddeus’s hand. “Thaddeus, please think about it again. Have you forgotten all the things you promised me?”Thaddeus shook her hand off. His expression was cold.“The things I hate most in my life are betrayal and deceit. You crossed the line, so I can’t continue to get along with you. Samantha, I’m stopping this here instead of exposing the truth because I want to leave you with some dignity.”She had deceived him for so long and used his guilt and self-doubt to get what sh
“Where did you go?” Thaddeus asked.“Mr. Fontaine, you seem to be concerned about the wrong person.” Mona smiled. “Your woman is standing right there. Aren’t you going to coax her?”Thaddeus narrowed his eyes and questioned, “What’s in the envelope?”“Nothing important. I have something to do, so I’ll be taking my leave now.”Mona brushed past Thaddeus and went to the playground to find her children.Linda saw her hurrying over and pulled her to sit in the rest area for parents.“Over so soon? How was it? Do you have someone in mind?”“No. I only met one. He didn’t like that I was a divorcee with two children.”“What about the second one?”“I didn’t meet him. I went to the test center to get the report.” Mona looked at her children who were having fun in the playground and took out the envelope from her bag.“You really got a DNA test done?” Linda leaned over curiously. “So? Are they Victor’s?”“See for yourself.”Mona sighed and handed the envelope to Linda. Then, she pick
[How’s the blind date going?]Mona was bored, so she texted him while talking to Linda.[It was as you said. Unsatisfactory.][Don’t go on blind dates again in the future. It’s a waste of your time.][Haha. You sound very experienced.][No, I just think a girl like you shouldn’t put herself in the dating scene to be picked and chosen. You deserve a more precious position.]Mona raised her brows. This man was quite glib. Was he a master flirt, experienced in romance?[You think you know me so well, don’t you?][My intuition tells me you’re a very special woman.]The corners of Mona’s lips curled up into a pleasant arc.Everyone liked listening to praise. Whether or not he was sincere, it felt nice to hear the words.She casually smiled. Her slender fingers tapped on the phone screen, replying, [My intuition tells me you’re not a good person.]The other party paused for a minute before replying, [Your intuition is correct.]Mona laughed and stopped responding. Linda saw her
“You’re imagining things.” Linda walked over. Mona smiled silently and deliberately left the seat opposite the man to Linda.As they ate and chatted, Mona learned about the man’s situation.His name was Caleb Zimmer. He bought a house in an old district as he thought the area was most likely to be demolished, and he could relocate if it happened. Furthermore, he also introduced his line of work.His frankness and sincerity made it impossible for people to hate him.After dinner, he actively cleaned the dishes and did some housework, then walked out with the garbage bag.All in all, he left a good impression on the two ladies.After leaving Mona’s house, he went back to his apartment next door and took out his phone to call Thaddeus, who was working at the company.“Everything went well, Mr. Fontaine. The two ladies didn’t suspect a thing.”“Good job. Wait a little longer before leaving.”“Yes, sir.”Thaddeus hung up the phone and gazed at the stock trend chart on his computer
“Sir, I think this plushie is good. My girlfriend loves large soft toys very much. Ms. Ortega should like them as well.”Marcus pointed to a row of big furry plush toys and spoke as if he was a strategist.“Who said I was buying it for her?”Thaddeus lifted his eyes and asked Marcus in a cold voice. Then, his gaze swept over the row of colorful plushies.At that moment, the man, who had always been swift and decisive, was having difficulty choosing.It was not that he had never sent gifts before. In the past, to save time, he would tell his secretary to buy luxury goods at the end of his business trips. He always thought the woman liked money, so the more expensive the gift was, the happier she would be. In exchange, she would be more obedient in bed.Now, it seemed like the woman’s acting skills had been too good. She had only given him the illusion that she was greedy for money.Thaddeus frowned as he looked at the dazzling plush toys in front of him. He wondered why he wanted
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