The day after Thaddeus left on a business trip, the woman who tried to commit suicide was discharged from the hospital. The driver took her directly to Fontaine Residence. Since Thaddeus had given everyone the heads-up, the maids had made preparations in advance by tidying up the guest room. The woman sat by the bed with a pale face. Layers of white gauze were wrapped around her wrist as she looked down to fold paper stars. “You shouldn’t fold them with your hand injured like that.” Mona stopped her and kept all the folded stars on the table in a glass jar. When the woman’s hands were suddenly empty, her gaze became empty as well. She looked up at Mona in a daze. “Who are you? Why are you in Thaddeus’ house?” Mona pursed her lips and answered, “I’m a maid here to look after you.” The woman seemed to believe what she said and relaxed. She stopped looking at Mona with enmity. “My name is Mona. What’s yours?” Mona looked at the woman’s eyes and saw herself through her pu
Mona was a little worried when she heard that. She raised her head and looked at the woman, asking, “What if you’re not?”The woman’s face suddenly became ferocious. Her eyes were ruthless and murderous as she gritted her teeth and said, “Then I’ll die! I’ll take him and that other woman with me, and we’ll all die together!”Mona’s heart thumped. This woman was crazy and too extreme.“Calm down.”Mona soothed the woman, placing a hand on the latter’s uninjured wrist. She felt the woman’s pulse and quickly figured out her physical condition.The woman was extremely agitated. If she continued on like that, her condition would only get worse and even devolve into severe bipolar disorder.“You’re ill.”Mona sighed and hugged the woman in front of her, gently patting her back and saying softly, “Sweetheart, you can’t carry on like this. You need to learn to control your desires.”The woman leaned into Mona’s embrace and smelled her hair, feeling her whole body relax and become comfo
When Jennifer saw that her words could not irritate Mona, she became even more angry and annoyed.“I’m right, aren’t I? You’re just after his money.”Jennifer sneered. “You sold your body and gave birth to children, but in the end, you’re just an abandoned wife. A woman like you can only end up like your filthy mother. You’ll live in the gutters forever!”Mona stopped and turned back to look at Jennifer. She narrowed her eyes and gazed at the latter’s elegant and luxurious dress.What a shame. Under that gorgeous appearance hid a vicious and scathing heart. Even the words she spoke were vulgar.“So what if I’m after his money?” Mona crossed her arms and raised her chin. Her calm eyes rested on Jennifer’s face. “If your son is willing to spend money on me, that’s thanks to my ability. It’s a skill that I know how to rely on men. We’re both women. As someone who has been through it all, you know better than me that mutual attraction between a man and woman doesn’t last long with jus
“I’ll handle it, then. You guys can go and do other work.”Mona did not bicker with them. She pretended not to know anything and focused on brewing the medicine.One of the maids came over and asked her, “Madam, what is this medicine for?”“To calm the mind.”“Oh, I see. We’ll get back to work now.”“Mm.”The maids exchanged glances, gave each other a look, and ran away.Once Mona finished brewing the medicine, she went to the woman’s room with a bowl.The woman was still sitting on the bed, hunched over with her head lowered. Her hands had not stopped folding paper stars.Mona walked over and put down the medicine bowl. She took the stack of paper from the woman’s hand and folded the unfinished stars.“Drink the medicine first, and I’ll help you to fold them. Are you trying to fill this bottle with paper stars?”The woman raised her head. Her gloomy face turned slightly more radiant at Mona’s words as she felt that Mona understood her.Mona touched her face as if she were
Mona soothed the woman to sleep and came out of the guest room with the medicine bowl.She looked at the two paper stars in her hand. The woman had forced her to take them and told her to keep them as a keepsake.Mona smiled and decided to take them to let her children play with them.For the next few days, Mona stayed at home to care for the children while accompanying the woman. Meanwhile, she also prepared for the divorce.According to Thaddeus, he was going on a business trip for a week and would be back tomorrow. The divorce was now on the agenda.Mona secretly clenched her fists at the thought of the next battle to come....The next day, Sophie came to Fontaine Residence with the studio team and brought a set of the most advanced live-streaming equipment.The staff placed the camera facing the artificial lake in the garden. The picture that appeared on the lens was beautiful. The artificial lake shimmered from the sun, and under the hanging willow was an easel. Mona was
[Our live stream is really quiet. There’s no sound at all.][My brothers, what are we waiting for? Let’s blow up the screen with donations!]The colorful gifts on the screen were endless that even the people watching were confused.There were genuine die-hard fans who praised Mona to the high heavens, but Sophie was more concerned about the number of new fans.The team had not started trying to boost the live stream traffic, but the rise in new fans was exceptional![What’s going on? Why is no one talking?][Is my phone broken?]At first, the new fans who joined were confused and wanted to leave, but they were attracted when they saw Mona’s back and profile.[That woman must be CGI, right? She’s so pretty.][Look at the account name. She’s the heroine of that recent hit TV series.][Oh my god! She’s so beautiful. She’s the Athena of my heart. It’s a shame she’s not in costume.][Shh. Everyone, be quiet. Don’t bother me. I’m trying to watch the beauty paint.]If not for the
Before his assistant told him about the broadcast, he had no idea the woman was so popular. From the time he got off the plane, went to his car, and arrived at the entrance of Fontaine Residence, her fans had increased by tens of thousands.Thaddeus maintained an expressionless face and watched the live stream with a wait-and-see attitude. It was only when Mona stood up and stretched, did the man’s eyes instantly turn gloomy and harsh.Without even thinking, he gave an order. “Cut off the power and signal at the Fontaine residential area.”His assistant hurriedly did as he was told and called the Fontaine Residence butler, immediately cutting off the signal and power in the area.It took only three minutes from when Thaddeus gave the order to the sudden interruption of the live stream.“Sophie, the live stream was cut off!” The staff working in front of the equipment was the first to notice the problem. He turned around to look at Sophie, somewhat panicked.Another staff speciali
Mona was helpless and jumped down, falling into Thaddeus’ hands. The man firmly embraced her as if he were disciplining a child.“Why is an adult like you climbing trees?”Mona bit her lip and retorted, “I was trying to save a cat.”Thaddeus snorted coldly and looked down at the woman in his arms. When he thought of how she twisted her waist and stretched her back during the live stream, he stared at her red lips and felt his throat become dry and thirsty.The man’s gaze made Mona feel very uncomfortable. She twisted her body and struggled to jump down from his arms.Thaddeus’s expression was cold, but his deep eyes tinged with a teasing smile.It had only been a few days without her, but this woman was suddenly interesting to him. She usually bared her teeth and claws at him, but now she was acting shy.Mona saw the crooked smile on the man’s face and flushed in anger. She stepped on his foot fiercely and yelled, “You hoodlum!”After scolding him, she turned and ran toward the
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