The man’s scorching breath assaulted her face, and his hand continued to unbutton her shirt. Right before his ember of desire burst into flames, Mona grabbed his wrist and whispered, “Stop it. Someone might come in.” The man was like a predator who had its prey in its mouth, unwilling to let go. So he carried her up like a child and moved to the mini lounge beside his office. Mona quivered softly in his arms, unable to resist the man’s strength. The lounge’s door slammed shut. Just when he took off his shirt, knocks came from the door. Thaddeus frowned grimly, but he had no intention of stopping. The knocks grew hurried, followed by a woman’s voice saying, “Mr. Fontaine, are you in there? I have something I’d like to talk to you about.” When Mona heard the voice, she knew exactly who it was. She pushed the man’s shoulder and said, “Ms. Colister is here. If she finds out that we’re having sex in here, she’ll be pissed.” Thaddeus impatiently said, “Tsk. I’ll go have a
Mona sighed helplessly. “Ms. Colister, you are a celebrity. Could you please mind your words in public?” “You’re the one who should be mindful of yourself. What do I have to be afraid of?” Marianne lifted her chin arrogantly as if she wanted to make things worse for Mona. “Don’t you know that Mr. Fontaine is a married man? If this gets to his wife, you’ll be finished! Finished, I tell you!” Mona wanted to laugh out loud. She raised a brow and said, “Really?” She had no idea that ‘Mrs. Fontaine’ was a vengeful person who would hunt down every woman that her husband slept with outside. “I bet you don’t know that Mr. Fontaine keeps his wife away from the public’s eye. He’s only sleeping with you now because you’re his new toy. Once he’s fed up with you, he’ll throw you aside, just like he did with me. In the end, he only cares about his wife.” Mariane voiced her grievance with gritted teeth. She resented Mona.If it were not for Mona’s intervention, she would have slept wit
Thaddeus got out of the car and nodded at the director. His towering figure emanated a pressuring aura. The shoot was held in Vision Studio, a professional production studio located in the heart of the city. There was no lack of handsome and beautiful talents in the studio, but Thaddeus’s height and handsome looks stood out from the bunch. Several crew members came over and flattered him. He glanced over the crowd around him and somehow landed his attention on the twins sitting under the parasol. He was surprised. The director looked in the same direction and saw the kids. Thinking that the man might be angry, the director immediately said, “I’m so sorry about that, Mr. Fontaine. They’re one of our crew’s kids. I’ll call someone to bring them away.” “It’s okay.” Thaddeus waved his hand indifferently, showing an emotionless look on his face. While the director recovered from the anxiety, Thaddeus had already headed over to the twins. Bobby and Millie were in their own li
Mona’s shoot went on smoothly. The director even praised her for her sensibility in front of a camera, which delighted her. During break time, the director instructed her to get her makeup touched up in the changing room. So she walked out of the studio and decided to check on her kids first. As soon as she stepped out, she ran into Thaddeus, who was wearing a frosty look that veiled his emotions. Mona was startled. She sneaked a glance at her twins further away and started sweating nervously. Why would the man be here? Having him so close to the kids was giving her a heart attack! “Mona, let me introduce you to Mr. Thaddeus Fontaine, our sponsor and producer for the commercial. He’s also the CEO of Timez Group.” While Mona’s thoughts were scattered, the director stepped in and passionately introduced her to the man. “Don’t worry, Mr. Fontaine. Mona might be new in the industry, but she’s as good as those veterans. I’m sure you will be very happy with the outcome.” Thad
“It’s alright. We can stop pretending soon. Mommy will do better.” Mona consoled her kids and brought them to the car that the agency had prepared for her. “Mona, are you free tonight?” The director suddenly called her from behind. Mona had just put the kids into the car. She looked back at the director and smiled, “What’s the matter, director?” “We’re having a gathering later. Join us if you have the time. I can introduce you to more people in the industry.” Mona’s eyes gleamed. It was a golden opportunity that she could not miss. “Thank you, director. I’ll be there!” Mona brought the kids home, had lunch with them, and tucked them in for a nap. When the babysitter came, Mona went out. It was almost time for the gathering, so Mona called a ride and headed to the designated hotel. She thought it would just be a simple gathering over dinner, where guests would sit around a table and chat over drinks and food. However, when the waiter brought her into the main ban
Mona did not linger any longer at the event. She left through the side door, away from the crowd. Marcus watched her leave without any scruples. He could not help but let out a sigh in admiration— Mona was a hero among women.Almost every woman out there idolized his boss, and were willing to kill to crawl into his bed. However, Mona was different. He was unclear if Mona was a person with integrity or she simply hated his boss but could not afford to offend him. Marcus went back to Thaddeus. “Sir, Ms. Ortega declined your request. She said she’s feeling unwell tonight and wanted to leave early.” Thaddeus swirled the wine in his glass silently and drained it to the last drop. Even Marcus gulped when he saw his boss’s sexy Adam’s apple move. “Sir, do you still want to keep room 502?” After all, he still had Marianne for the night. Thaddeus glanced at Marcus coldly. “You can have it.” The cold glance gave Marcus chills. “I’m single. Why would I want the room to my
Thaddeus went silent for a while. The call plunged into an awkward silence, which fueled Mona’s anxiety. She dared not hang up on him either. After a while, the man's deep voice said, “Grandfather’s birthday is in two days. Be prepared to join me at dinner.” Mona’s heart slightly moved. Thaddeus said that he would submit the divorce papers after his grandfather’s birthday event. Now it made sense why Mariane was pregnant. It was time for her to give up the position of the secret wife. After the call, Mona felt relief more than ever. She started a countdown to the birthday event in her heart. On the auspicious day, Mona dressed up meticulously for the event. She wore a beautiful fitting dress that looked fashionable and elegant, suitable for attending formal events. Thaddeus parked the car by the road and picked her up. The man’s gaze was glued to her body. The tight dress highlighted her voluptuous body, especially her slender waist. Thaddeus gulped nervously be
Mona sat alone in the living hall. While she did not fit in with the Fontaines, she did not mind.To kill time, she grabbed a book and started reading. A while later, a loud engine rumbled from the front yard. The servant said, “Madam Eleanor and Master Victor have arrived.” Mona turned to the entrance. A woman in her mid-forties came in. Her illness painted her face pale, and the dark eye circles gave her a tired look. She was Eleanor Fontaine, Thaddeus’s half-sister. It was then that Mona noticed the young man beside Eleanor. He looked rather familiar. The man had also spotted Mona, and he was stunned. His gaze fixated on her face for quite a while. Mona blushed after being stared at so brazenly. Suddenly, she remembered. He was the man who abducted her to the club a few days ago! Eleanor noticed the blank look on her son’s face. She introduced him to Mona, “Victor, that’s Mona, your Uncle Thaddeus’s wife. You should call her Aunt Mona.” Mona got up with a polite
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