Mona was speechless.She rarely argued with the man. In fact, they never argued before. It was not because she was generous, but because Thaddeus did not care about anything. Almost nothing could affect his mood.Mona could not understand what was going on this time. All she did was not come home in his car. Did he have to get so angry?“So, that’s why you’re angry tonight?”“Who said I’m angry?” Thaddeus snorted coldly. He flipped through the book and asked casually, “Has Tim been pursuing you recently?”Mona paused for a moment, remembering Tim’s confession to her today.Was this man an esper? How did he know everything?Mona was vague and did not answer the question directly.“Why? Do you want him to pursue me?”“Do as you like. It has nothing to do with me.”The man slapped the book on the desk and pushed the wheelchair to the window, turning his cold and mysterious back to Mona.Mona pursed her lips, more or less guessing the reason why Thaddeus was angry.It was the m
Due to the urgency of the matter, Marcus immediately informed Thaddeus about it. When they arrived at the warehouse in the suburbs, the workers had already put out the fire and were carrying the goods inside.Thaddeus’s cold face was calm and serious. When he stepped into the warehouse, his presence gave the workers a sense of intimidation and distance, and everyone worked hard to do their jobs.“Chins up, everyone. It’s time to earn your salary.”Thaddeus glanced at the workers and spoke in an imposing voice.The ground was flooded, and the goods piled up inside had to be carried out as soon as possible to reduce losses.While giving out commands, Thaddeus rolled up his trouser legs, took off his suit jacket, and threw it at Marcus. Then, he joined the team of workers in carrying the goods. His tall body bent down and worked together with them.Marcus had long been accustomed to this part of Thaddeus’s behavior. While outsiders saw Thaddeus for how bright and dazzling he was, th
Marcus heard the helplessness in Thaddeus’s tone and sighed.On one hand, was his hatred for Yvonne, and on the other hand, was his love for her daughter. He must be feeling very conflicted.The complicated family feud was not something that Marcus, a mere assistant, could interfere with. So Marcus simply continued to drive.When they arrived at Bits and Bites, the sky was slightly brighter. However, it was still too early, and they had to wait a while before the breakfast store opened.After buying all of Mona’s favorites, Marcus looked at the time and urged Marcus to drive back to Galaxy Bay as quickly as possible.Marcus sped all the way to the destination. It was only when he looked back did he realize that Thaddeus had fallen asleep in the backseat.“Sir?”He called out, but Thaddeus did not respond and continued sleeping like a log.Thaddeus had stayed up all night last night doing physical work. A normal person would have collapsed from the effort.Marcus looked at the
Mona shook her head and looked at the breakfast from Bits and Bites on the table.Bits and Bites was a famous breakfast store. When she and Thaddeus lived in his big villa, she used to love eating the food there and would buy it after every morning run.Back then, Thaddeus had steak and coffee for breakfast and did not care about her favorite breakfast foods.It was strange. Why did he buy breakfast from Bits and Bites today?Furthermore, the diner was very far from here. It was almost at the other end of the city.Mona took out the food inside. They were still warm. She served the food on plates and called the children down to eat.After taking care of the children’s breakfast, Linda drove over to pick up the children and send them to school.Mona saw them off and took the medicine box upstairs to check on Thaddeus.Opening the bedroom door, she went to the bedside and looked at the man lying on the bed without even changing his clothes.She saw the sludge on his clothes and
Tim stood at the door carrying a bag. He had a pair of frameless glasses on the bridge of his tall nose, and his attire was extremely handsome. His black knitted shirt coupled with his khaki pants make him look like a refined yet roguish high school student who walked out of a comic book.“I’m here for Mona. I’m her friend.”When Mona heard the conversation at the door, she put down her book, and walked over.“Tim, what are you doing here?”“Didn’t you call the hospital and ask for sick leave?” Tim scanned Mona up and down worriedly. “What’s wrong with you? Why didn’t you go to the hospital?”“You’ve misunderstood. I’m not the one who’s sick.”Mona looked at the bag he was carrying in his hand. “You brought something?”“Yeah, I went to Bits and Bites to get you breakfast. You like the food there, right?”Mona was puzzled. “When did I say that?”She did not remember telling Tim about that.“It was that time when you had a meal with your colleague. I was sitting at the table ne
“Yes, he’s very generous and kind. For charity, he even bought a sloppy necklace for ten million. It already would have been amazing if the necklace fetched a price of ten thousand, but he said he bought it for ten million because it had a beautiful love story behind it. I gave him a scolding when he brought it home.”The corner of Tim’s lips stiffened and became slightly unnatural as he listened quietlyHe really did not like to hear Mona praise his love rival.The two of them were living under the same roof. Could their old love have been rekindled?Mona also caught the fleeting twitches on Tim’s face. She had achieved her purpose.She wanted to make Tim misunderstand. It was also another way of politely rejecting him.Tim picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said with some disdain, “It’s just a necklace worth ten million. It’s not worthy of you.”Mona shook her head. “No. To me, it was full of sincerity.”Tim’s hand froze. The rim of the cup touched his lips, but he was una
When Thaddeus spoke, his burning breath sprayed on the side of Mona’s ear. She shuddered and flinched, pushing the man away in rejection.“Back off!”Thaddeus was not angry at being pushed away.He had known the woman was just using him as a shield to reject Tim, but it at least showed that she still could not accept displays of love from the opposite sex.“Is this funny to you, Thaddeus?”Mona was a little angry. What good would it do for both of them to have such an unclear and ambiguous relationship?“I told you. I want to get back together with you.”“But I don’t.”“I’ll give you time.”“It’s not a matter of time.” Mona’s attitude was cold and firm. “We won’t end well together.”Thaddeus stared into Mona’s eyes, and a dim look flashed across his face.After a moment, he asked, “Don’t you have any feelings for me?”“No. If I did, I’d have them already in the few years we were married.”Mona was telling the truth. She knew her heart very well and what she wanted.Thadde
The woman said she did not want anything to do with him, so why was he still here?Thaddeus pursed his lips and walked back to his room. Ten minutes later, he changed into his suit and came downstairs.Without a word to Mona or even looking at her, he pushed the door open and left.The nanny, who witnessed the whole argument from the side, walked over to Mona, and comforted her carefully.“Madam, did you have a fight with him?”Mona slumped onto the sofa and took a long breath.“No.”“Then why did he leave? He’s still sick. Do you want me to call him back?” The nanny did not know the situation and thought the two were a normal couple. “The most important thing when a husband and wife argues is communication. The weather is cold today, and your husband still has a fever. He shouldn’t be out and about.”Mona waved her hand. “Don’t bother. You don’t have to worry about him having nowhere to go. Besides, we’re divorced.”“Huh?”The nanny was surprised and connected some dots. It
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