Mona’s instincts were telling her to check out the COC meeting room in the back garden. So she traversed through the garden and made it to the backyard, knowing she would find the COC meeting room there. The four major families in Worchester City would meet there and discuss the rise of any major issue. Mona continued her journey forward, but before she could get close, she took notice of a row of people sitting inside the meeting room. Her heart sank as a bad feeling overcame her. Marcus happened to walk out of the COC meeting room. Seeing that she was approaching, Marcus immediately drew close to her. He pulled Mona to the side and quietly gave her the heads-up. “You should head back, Ms. Ortega. Mr. Fontaine told me to arrange your transport home once you’re awake. Your kids are missing you, and it’s a bad time for you to be here.” “Why is it a bad time?” Mona could tell from Marcus’s face that he was hiding something from her. She looked past Marcus’s shoulder at the
“That’s not happening. I need to be in the meeting room with you. I have to set the record straight.” “Quit it.” The man raised his hand and stopped Mona by physically blocking her access to the COC meeting room. The sly foxes could be a handful. As a man, Thaddeus could not allow his woman to walk right into danger. “I’m not fooling around.” While no one was looking, Mona bent over, snuck from under Thaddeus’s arm, and bravely moved ahead. For a woman to barge into the meeting room, the room full of oldies was stunned. Their full attention was on Mona. Mona was getting cold feet as she never put herself in such a situation. Drawing a deep breath, she quickly pulled herself together. She glanced at the imposing old folks of the four influential families and calmly uttered, “I am the cause of the coastal lockdown, so I should be here. The responsibility for whatever consequences should not only fall on Thaddeus’s shoulders, but mine as well.” Dumbstruck, the group of old
Once the few elders had their chance in reading the file on the vessel, Thaddeus began to state the facts. “The vessel’s port of origin was Neuffield, and 80% of its personnel on board is local to Neuffield. According to them, the vessel belongs to Oceania Travel Management Ltd. “The travel company is owned by the richest family in Neuffield – the Fosters. “I’m sure everybody is familiar with Neuffield’s Fosters. James Foster built his empire in Neuffield from the ground up. “The vessel’s primary use is to transport passengers to holiday destinations, but on the day of my wife’s abduction, it carried cargo in the opposite direction of its usual route. Instead of setting course for the Atlantic, it headed toward Southeast Asia. “It proves that it was a last-minute change to the vessel’s route, and the motive was an abduction.“The decision-making had to be at the management level of the Foster Group. In other words, someone high up the senior ladder in the Foster Group planne
Victor turned his head to Master Fontaine and said, “Grandpa, as one of the kidnapped victims, I have something to say.” “What’s on your mind? Come and take a seat.” Master Fontaine pulled Victor over and sat him down on his seat. Victor smiled fakely as a ruthless resolution streaked across his pale face. He looked around the room and said, “My honorable elders, you might not know, but there’s more to the kidnapping. As a victim, I have a full picture of what’s going on, and it’s not as simple as my uncle put it out to be.” “Well, don’t keep us guessing, Victor. What’s the story?” Thaddeus curtly interrupted Victor, not believing for a second that the boy was not here to give his testimony. He got the feeling the boy came looking for trouble, and a big one by the looks of it. Victor curled his lips and smirked. “Why are you getting riled up, Uncle? I’m only speaking the truth. Why are you nervous when you’ve done nothing wrong?” Adopting a snippy demeanor, Thaddeus l
There was no longer a solid tenderness in Thaddeus’s eyes. Instead, cautiousness and indistinct concern hid behind those pupils. What was he afraid of? Mona looked into his eyes, getting the sense that he was hiding something from her. He was afraid that what they had would be gone when the truth came out. In other words, there was some truth to Victor’s words.Victor got up from the ground and adjusted his tie. He pointed at Thaddeus and righteously uttered, “He was bitter about his father’s affair, so he tried to get rid of Mona. I would secure holdings in the family business from my marriage alliance with the Grahams and earn a spot on the board of directors, so his concern was that I would be a threat to his standing. That’s the truth behind my uncle’s motives.”Thaddeus narrowed his eyes and scoffed. “That’s absurd. Why would I put the coast on lockdown if I were out to get you? The vessel belongs to the Fosters. I don’t have the right to decide the sailing route. How do y
Victor took the beating from Master Fontaine without protest. Master Fontaine was poor in health, and it would fall on Victor’s shoulders if anything were to happen to the old man due to Victor’s choice of words. He held his tongue and said nothing more. Standing in the middle of the meeting room, Thaddeus narrowed his dashing eyes at the nosy old folks. The tension surrounding Thaddeus seemed to intensify in the air. “Have you seen enough?”Thaddeus’s gaze fleeted across each and every one of the sly old foxes, sending chills down their spine. It was as if a sword was hanging over their heads.Filled with fear, the old folks said their goodbyes and left before Thaddeus unleashed his fury on them. With them gone, the circle was finally over. Nevertheless, Thaddeus and Victor’s relationship had moved in an opposing direction. Things would not be an easy fix. In fact, the situation could not get any more complicated with Mona’s mother now involved. The subject had always
Master Fontaine’s eyes lit up. Since it came from Mona, it must be true. So he took it seriously this time. The old man lost his head to bliss, not knowing what to say. “It’s true… It’s true… The kids will carry on the family line.”“B*stard! I want to hear it from you. Are the children Mona’s and yours?” Still doubtful, Master Fontaine turned to Thaddeus for confirmation. “Yes.” Thaddeus nodded his head. The definite answer brought Master Fontaine back to reality from the burst of joy. God knew what was going through the old man’s head as he kept switching between sitting and standing. It then struck Master Fontaine to ask where the children were. “I want to see them.” “They have been living in Worchester City. I have not brought them to meet you yet because the kids have not learned about their ancestry. I was worried you would not be able to accept them.” “Why wouldn’t I accept them? I love kids. Bring them over as soon as you can. I want to meet with them. They are
With a benevolent smile, Master Fontaine stroked Mona’s head and gleefully uttered, “Mona, since you and Thaddeus have kids together, have you given any thought to getting back together?” Mona shook her head without a second thought. “No.” How could they possibly get back together? The issue with Mona’s mother had not been sorted out yet. How could the relationship carry on when the man would not even communicate with her? Mona never trusted a relationship that had nothing to hold onto. It was the tackiest and most unreliable form of connection. Seeing that Mona had made up her mind, Master Fontaine found it a shame and glared at Thaddeus. The boy was such a letdown. Thaddeus only had himself to blame for losing a great wife like Mona. Things were going fine, but Thaddeus had to be caught up in the past and tracked down Mona’s mother. What on earth was Thaddeus up to? Most of the time, Master Fontaine could not understand what was going on in his grandson’s mind. However, T
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