Mona blinked and said, “Have fun with Millie. She sweats a lot when she goes all out playing. Let her get dressed well and cool down before going outside.”The man nodded. “Gotcha.”Mona glanced at his face and saw that there was a hint of playfulness in his usually cold and indiscernible expression. Lowering her head, she looked at the man’s shoes, and a dim light flashed in her eyes. “Were you very busy today?”“It wasn’t that bad.”“Your shoes are dirty.”“It’s fine.” Thaddeus remained secretive. “We’re off now.”Mona looked at the man’s back as he left, and a strange feeling arose in her heart.Thaddeus was a clean freak who ensured that even his shoes were spotless. If not for the fact that he was on a long journey and was anxious to rush over, he would not have neglected how dirty his shoes were.Mona watched as the man’s figure walked into the elevator and disappeared from sight. Her heart sank.She hoped that nothing would happen according to what the mysterious man sa
Mona knew that the truth could not be concealed, so she confessed and reported on her battle proudly.Bobby shook his head in exasperation. “Bend down. I’ll apply the medicine for you. Otherwise, your face will swell up like a pig.”He took out the ointment, squeezed it on his fingertips, and stood on tiptoe. Mona obediently turned her face to him.“This medicine was sent by Victor, right?”“Yeah.”“Sigh.”“What are you sighing about?”“He’s actually quite concerned about you.”“So?”“It’s not bad to keep a backup plan. Why did you chase him away?”At those words, Mona knocked her son’s head.“That’s not a good thing to think about. Victor is getting married soon. Aren’t you afraid that his fiancee will kill me?”Bobby finished applying the ointment, screwed on the cap, and sat back in his seat. “Well, fine. It seems he doesn’t like you that much. Otherwise, he wouldn’t get married to someone else.”Mona pursed her lips. “Oh, you get it.”It had become a daily occurrence
“Mommy... Daddy is hurt...”Millie sobbed on the other end of the line. She squeezed tears out of her eyes in a place where Mona could not see her.“How did he get hurt? Where is Daddy now? Pass the phone to him.” Mona was no longer calm and fell into the trap that the father and daughter had set for her.“Hey.” The man’s deep and magnetic voice sounded. It was Thaddeus.“Millie said that you’re hurt. Is it serious?”“It’s fine.” The man paused. “We’re in the hospital now. Millie is fine, but I broke a bone and need a wheelchair.”Mona was shocked. How was being in the hospital in a wheelchair ‘fine’?“Which hospital? I’ll go there now.”“The People’s Hospital.”“Okay, I’m coming over now.”Mona stood up, briefly told Linda the situation, and took a cab to the hospital Thaddeus told her about.When she arrived at the hospital, she saw Thaddeus sitting in a wheelchair and Millie obediently standing on her tiptoes to feed him water. He looked like... an old man who could not t
Just like that, the trio returned home from the hospital.Because of Thaddeus’ arrival, Linda returned to her home that night.Now, the family of four lived under the same roof. The difference was that Thaddeus returned as a disabled patient. If he did not want to be driven out again, he had to perform hard to disguise himself. Even if his long legs went numb from sitting in the wheelchair, his expression was light and happy.“I’ve hired a nanny using your money. She’ll come tomorrow to take care of you.”Before going to bed, Mona came to Thaddeus’ room and leaned sideways against the doorframe, crossing her arms and informing him.The man frowned in dissatisfaction. “What nanny? Didn’t you quit your job? Don’t you have time to take care of me at home?”“I’m very busy with the hospital and my own matters. I did resign, but that doesn’t mean I have nothing to do. Isn’t it more professional to hire a nanny to take care of you?”Looking back on the years when she was Mrs. Fontaine,
“It’s selling like hot cakes?” Mona did not understand what that saying meant.Ben smiled and explained, “Yes, the part-time university students we found went to the dorms to sell the jewelry you designed. They all said that the sales this time were great, and they managed to sell the goods to almost every customer. The demand is catching up with our supply.”“That’s great. How much did we earn?”“I haven’t checked the books yet, but it’s definitely a lot.”“Great!”Mona felt surprised. She did not expect her designs to be best sellers. Her heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment.“The money was intended to be used as Grandpa Gray’s treatment fee. In the end, your husband, as the honorary director of this hospital, exempted all the fees at once. Thus, we plan to set up a studio with the sales profit.”“Wow, that’s great news.”“Ms. Ortega, you should come up with a name for the studio. You’ll be the boss of the studio. In the future, Tim and I will listen to you.”“Me?
Tim narrowed his eyes, glanced at Mona coldly, and said with a straight face, “You’re imagining things.”“Well, I hope so. No matter what happened, cheer up.”Mona stood up and did not say anything more. Tim was obviously in a bad mood and was deliberately distancing himself from her. Furthermore, it seemed he was somewhat angry. She did not know what he was angry about. Nonetheless, it was not her who angered him anyway.Just as she stepped forward to go to the doctor’s office, Tim suddenly spoke up and called out to her.“Wait.”Mona stopped, turned around, and looked at Tim in confusion. “What’s wrong?”“Are you and Thaddeus Fontaine really husband and wife?”Mona sensed something strange. Was that the reason why Tim was in a bad mood?Could it be...“He’s the biological father of my two children.”“I’m asking you if you’re husband and wife.” Tim’s tone was domineering and forceful, stunning Mona for a moment.“Wait, why do I have to answer that question? Why are you rais
The window of the passenger seat slowly lowered, revealing a sunny and handsome face.Mona looked over and saw Tim.“Where are you going? I’ll give you a ride.”Tim looked normal as if nothing had happened.Mona figured that since she told him to act as if nothing happened, she should not appear embarrassed. Otherwise, it would make her seem petty.She smiled graciously at Tim and said, “Is this car yours?”“Yeah.”Tim got down from the driver’s seat and went around the car to open the passenger side door for her.“This is the most ordinary one of the many cars I have.”Mona was startled, feeling that Tim was acting strangely. He had always been very low-key. Why was he suddenly showing off his wealth in front of her?“You seem to have a lot of cars. Do you like them?”“Yeah, it’s just for fun.”“Oh, you’re pretty rich.”Mona glanced over casually and got into the car without continuing the topic.Tim leaned forward into the car, shortening the distance between them. Mona
The man got out of the car, holding a black umbrella in his hand and another umbrella in his other hand. He walked over to the security booth.“I knew you didn’t bring an umbrella. Let’s go, I’ll take you back home. Children will get a cold easily if they’re caught in the rain.”For her children’s sake, Mona did not refuse. She took the umbrella from Tim’s hand and opened it.“We’ll take one of the children each.”The two adults got into the car while carrying the children. The rain grew more and more intense with no signs of stopping.“Give me your address. I’ll set the GPS.”Mona told him her address, and Tim drove toward the district she mentioned while driving with one hand on the steering wheel.“The neighborhood you live in isn’t cheap.” Tim glanced at Mona and asked, “Did the children’s father buy it for you?”Mona replied, “He helped me find a new home, but I can afford to buy it myself.”“I know you’re great, but don’t work too hard and do everything so seriously. You
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