Well, it made sense. Thaddeus was known to be generous, and he was the top bidder in a few renowned auctions. He even broke his own record. No one could beat him when it came to his benevolence at charitable events. “He doesn’t have a heart. It’s hard enough for him to commit wholeheartedly to one woman. Even if he does have a heart, all the women around him get a spot in his heart. No wonder he can blatantly tell anybody that they have his heart.” Mona hugged a cushion, put her index finger between her teeth, and faintly commented while watching the live broadcast. She was stupid to believe the man last night. “Stop watching the program. Just turn off the TV before our evening gets ruined any further.” Linda found the remote control to shut down the TV when Mona stopped her. “What are you doing? Doesn’t it upset you?” “What? What are you talking about?” Folding her legs, Mona grabbed the watermelon from the table and relished in delight. She was enjoying the program.
“Has Thaddeus lost his mind? Who is the necklace for?” Linda looked at the TV with wide eyes. The bid usually started off quite low in auctions, and the bidders would name their prices, adding to the number incrementally. The item would then go to the highest bidder. Since Thaddeus bade two hundred thousand dollars right from the start, it was clear that he must have the necklace. The other bidders, who observed in the dark and were itching to bid, had to give up on bidding and move on to the next item. It was a waste of energy to fight Thaddeus over an item. As if they could beat him... “Two hundred thousand dollars going once, two hundred thousand dollars going twice…” The auctioneer was about to hammer his gravel to seal the deal when a voice came from a corner. “Five hundred thousand.” The crowd turned their heads to the source of the voice, curious as to who would go up against Thaddeus. The spotlight moved there and shone on a young and charming face. However, the p
Samantha was filled with anticipation. If only the necklace would end up around her neck… “Ten million dollars going once, ten million dollars going twice…” This time, Victor did not raise his bidding card. Ten million dollars was not a price tag he could afford. “Sold for ten million dollars!” The auctioneer hammered his gavel with thrill. “Congratulations to Mr. Thaddeus Fontaine for acquiring the True Love’s Teardrop. Please make yourself known to the staff after the auction to collect the item.” “What is Thaddeus thinking? It’s a bit much to buy a gemstone necklace for ten million dollars.” Linda gasped in awe as she tried to wrap around what had happened. The world of the rich was beyond her, but Mona should get it. With a shrug, Mona picked up the remote control and turned off the TV. “Who knows what’s going on in that mind of Thaddeus’? Maybe he’s in a good mood to splurge on his fiancée.” Without putting much thought, Mona rose to her feet and went upstairs to
Thaddeus could not stand women’s tears the most, especially when they were people he could not care less about. Why would he waste time on them? “I’m sorry, Thaddeus. It hurt me so much that you won’t be in my life anymore.” Samantha put her hand over her mouth and wailed endlessly. Contempt grew within Thaddeus. “You’re an individual. Will you die if I left you? Your life isn’t worth much if you live for someone else.” Samantha was dumbstruck. Nothing seemed to get through to the guy, and he even mocked her with cutthroat remarks. There was no predicting with him. “Thaddeus, I’m a woman. That’s a hurtful and demeaning thing to say.” “Honestly, your antics are getting old. I’m sick of it.” Thaddeus curtly remarked before sauntering past her to head to the parking lot. Refusing to back down, Samantha went in hot pursuit and hugged the man from behind. “Let go!” It was taxing on Thaddeus’ patience, but if it was not for his respect for women, he would have shoved Samant
Samantha curled her lips and smiled. “Do you think Thaddeus would make a bad business call? If my guess is right, the necklace should be for Mona. You, poor man. You waited for more than a decade only for your first love to be taken by your uncle. You’re no better than I am.” Envy and resentment flickered across Victor’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, he said, “They aren’t married, and even if they are, divorce is highly possible. There’s no telling who will be the last one laughing.” Samantha clicked her tongue and shook her head. “It sounds like someone is not planning to give up. They have children together. Do you think you still stand a chance?” “What about you? You cooked up an elaborate scheme, only to be on the losing end. Do you think you can ever call it quits?”The expression on Samantha’s face stiffened, making her look guilty of something. “What do you mean by an elaborate scheme?” Raising a brow, Victor smiled in disdain. “Susan’s fall into the sea wasn’t an acc
“Why are you giving me the necklace?” The jewelry box suddenly felt heavy in Mona’s hand. “What do you mean? It’s a gift for you.” Thaddeus took a glance inside the house and noticed the signs of someone else living there. “Did another man come here after I left?” Mona rolled her eyes at him. “You’re crazy.” Thaddeus held the door so that Mona could not lock him out again. “I don’t want the necklace. Give it to someone else.” A ten-million-dollar necklace was too rich for her neck. The man answered, “Alright. I’ll get your name engraved on it tomorrow.” Mona furrowed her brows. “Have you gone mad, Thaddeus? Why are you so wasteful?” The ring lost its value the moment her name was inscribed on the inner band. No pawn shop would even accept it. A certain somebody answered unabashedly, “Well, it’s your fault for not accepting the gift.” Peeved, Mona gave him the brush. She lowered her gaze to the sapphire necklace and rubbed the stone between her fingers. The gemston
It was a good example right now. Thaddeus got Mona the most expensive gift to show his feelings to her since no woman could resist jewelry. It was a romantic gesture to reflect that she was the only one for him. However, it backfired on him. He seemed to have gone about it the wrong way. Thaddeus stood at the door for a while, only turning around and leaving when he was sure that Mona would not open the door for him. On his way back, Thaddeus got a call from his employee that the woman Samantha mentioned had been located. She was Susan’s mother, and the employee needed Thaddeus to make a trip over to confirm if this was the case. After much thought, the man turned around and took the highway to the destination. …It was late into the night when Mona lay in bed. Thaddeus’ visit swept away her drowsiness, and now she tossed and turned in bed. The phone on her bedside table beeped. She took her phone and saw a notification of a mail. The sender was none other than the myster
Since Mona had her doubts, she could not put full confidence in the man’s story. She could not possibly take a stranger’s words at face value. Besides, the whole thing sounded far-fetched. Thaddeus gave her a ten-million-dollar necklace last night, and it, at least, showed that he cared enough to give the relationship something. Why would he harm her mother? Things were not as simple as they seemed. Mona drew a deep breath and asked, “You must know where my mother is. Give me the address, so I can save her from danger.” The man rattled off. “She’s in Neuffield. The rescue mission won’t be easy. Thaddeus has her under lock and key. I doubt you can pin her location down.” Mona remained unfazed. “I can call the cops.” The man smiled broadly but not for a good reason. “You are naïve, Ms. Susan Mayers. Your mother has been issued a death certificate years ago. The police will just think you’re a lunatic for sending them on a wild goose chase. Save your breath.” Mona fell sil
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