Although Mona and Thaddeus's marriage was based on a contract, it was legitimate and legal. Marianne was nothing but a mistress in their relationship. She knew Thaddeus was married, yet she somehow took pride in being his mistress and even announced her ambition to take over the wife’s position. She was shameless and took pride in her immoral acts. How could she not feel guilty of what she had done? Mona used to be confused as to why Thaddeus would choose a woman like Marianne out of everyone. It was not until she saw Samantha that she realized a woman like Marianne was the perfect candidate to attract all the media’s attention. Greedy, vain, and brainless. What a pitiful woman! “I want you to leave Mr. Fontaine right away!” Marianne yellowed furiously. Her eyes were overflowing with anger. Mona sighed and shook her head. “As a woman, I know what’s going on with you. So here’s a piece of advice: men are all realistic.“A stable and loving marriage is based on equality an
Marianne burst into tears as she clenched her teeth in pain. “Let me go! You’re ripping my hair off!” Mona noticed the flush on her face. Since she did not want to make things worse, she let go. She tucked her hair behind her ear, tapped her hands and said, “Here’s a reminder for you. I’m his expired toy now too, just like you. So get your shit together and stop causing me trouble.” Mona then looked at her scalded forearm. She had exerted excessive strength when she pulled Marianne’s hair, and it had made her burns worse. She needed to get it treated or else her kids would be worried about her. Mona walked past Marinna, who was gasping for air, and entered the hospital. Coincidentally, she ran into Thaddeus, who had just come out from the doctor’s office. With Samantha hospitalized, the man seemed to have ‘moved’ into the hospital. He must care about her a lot. Mona wanted to walk away to avoid an awkward meeting, but Thaddeus held her back. He went up to her and sa
However, the conservative treatment was not the solution. Millie’s condition would still eventually get worse in time, and dragging it out was not an option. “What’s wrong? Did something happen?” While Mona’s thoughts reached a deadend, Victor had come in with dinner. Noticing the gloomy mood on Mona, he told the kids to prepare for dinner before going over to her. “I’m fine. Maybe I’m just tired.” Mona massaged her swollen temples. She was exhausted, but if her exhaustion could be exchanged for her kids’ healthy future, it would be all worth it. Victor sighed softly and put his hand on her shoulder. He felt bad for her. As a woman in her 20s, she should be chasing dreams like other women of her age, not being dragged down by terrible problems like this. To be honest, Millie’s condition was incurable, and it would be a bottomless hole for her if she continued to contribute and devote herself into taking care of the girl. “You’ve done your best. Why don’t you try your
‘Mistress fought Marianne Colister on the street after successfully securing the attention of Thaddeus Fontaine, CEO of Timez Group. The identity of the mistress will be revealed soon. Stay tuned…’ Mona never would have thought her name would be trending like this. Someone had posted a video of her confronting Marianne in front of the hospital. It was shot from a distance, so only the actions were shown and not the conversation. The five-minute video went viral on all platforms. Netizens were already filling in the gaps with their wild imaginations on how two women fought for money and power. To the public, Marianne was the girlfriend and Mona was the arrogant mistress. The most eye-catching part was where Mona slapped Marianne and Marianne being too afraid to retaliate. It really looked like the mistress finally disqualified the girlfriend and won the man’s heart. Mona went through some articles before she explained to Luke, “It’s not like that. There was just a misunderst
Mona felt like she used to practice medicine even though Victor had told her that she used to be from a fashion design background. …Later that night, the hospital corridor quieted down, amplifying the footsteps that would step on it. A tall figure stood alone in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. Marcus walked over and said quietly, "Master Fontaine, the matter of Marianne Colister has been settled. Madam... I mean, Mrs. Ortega won't be bothered anymore. “On another note, Master Cornwell hasn’t left the hospital either. He seems to have moved into Ms. Millie’s ward with Ms. Ortega.” The man did not turn around, but the atmosphere in the room started to get frosty and pressured. A hint of anger flashed in his squinted eyes. He had arranged a VIP ward for that woman because of Millie, not because he wanted them to have a family reunion. “Does Lady Eleanor know about this?” Marcus shook his head. “Master Cornwell told Lady Eleanor that he’s participating in a golf
Thaddeus's face was hidden in the shadows, veiling his emotions. “It’s late. Get some rest, Mr. Fontaine.” Mona did not want to linger. She walked past the man and avoided his gaze. Thaddeus, however, stopped her as soon as she took her first step, causing her to bump into his chest. It hurt as though she bumped into the wall! Thaddeus grabbed her wrist expressionless and checked the scald on her forearm. “Why didn’t you tell me about Marianne?” Mona curled her lips into a frivolous smile. One of the basic rules of divorce was not to interfere with each other’s life. After all, they were no longer husband and wife.“It was nothing big, and I didn’t want to trouble you.” Thaddeus narrowed his eyes. His gloomy gaze landed on her petite and delicate face. His nose picked up her alluring fragrance, causing him to gulp nervously. When they were together, the woman behaved like a pampered girl. She would cry for a day because of the smallest cut, afraid that it would l
Thaddeus looked really handsome. “I’m not going to marry him,” Mona argued. Thaddeus nodded elegantly. His eyes scanned her from top to bottom. “Are you just having some ‘fun’ with him, then?” Mona gritted her teeth. Why did all his words eventually lead to sex? “Mr. Fontaine, please mind your words.” Thaddeus pursed his lips in silence. His narrowed eyes shimmered as if he was trying to suppress a sudden urge from within. After an awkward silence, Mona moved to the side and left. Since they were divorced, there was no need for her to consider his emotions. Be it angry, or flirtatious, all she needed to do was keep herself from crossing the line. …Since Mona rejected Luke’s suggestion of garnering attention shamelessly, she was shelved and would remain as such in the foreseeable future. In other words, she would be out of work soon. Fortunately, she did not have to worry about money for now and could concentrate on accompanying her daughter. Mona decided not
“You’re trying to extort money from me, right? I’ve seen a lot of people like you. How much do you want? I’ll pay. Just get the hell out of the ward. Don’t delay my child’s treatment.” The lady wore arrogance on her face. Before Mona could recover from her shock, the lady pulled out a stack of money from her crocodile-skinned purse and tossed it in Mona’s face. As paper bills rained down on her, everyone else in the room was stunned. It was a blatant insult and provocation to Mona. It was then that the chief nurse of the VIP ward came over and said, “Mrs. Yorkshire, we have prepared another VIP ward for you and your child. The new one faces the East, so your child will be able to enjoy warm sunlight in the morning.” The lady finally calmed after hearing the chief nurse. She grabbed her purse to leave. Before she walked out of the room, she sized Mona up from top to bottom with brazen disgust. “Keep the money. It’s too filthy for me to even take back.” Mona was left st
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