Was the woman trying to teach him some manners? “Don’t push your luck. Let me make one thing clear. Sure, we’re not divorcing, but don’t interfere with my freedom, and try to play your mind games with me. I only backed down today for the kids. I don’t want them to be without a mother, but it doesn’t mean you can threaten me with your life. I won’t be so kind next time.” The haughtiness and sternness returned to his complexion as he curtly warned her. Mona quit while she was ahead. “There won’t be a second time, provided that I am with my kids. The children are where I draw the line, and don’t you forget that.” He pulled a menacing look, but Mona was ready to take off after saying her piece. He was not the only one who could make up the rules. She could play that game too!…Mona walked out of the study, feeling the exhilaration from winning the battle. She admitted that she was putting her eggs in one basket and was ready to plunge the knife into her throat. It was a good t
It did not matter anyway. There was no need for Mona to take things personally when they came from people who could not stand her. “It’s fine, Maria. I’m heading out today anyway. I’ll dine out today.” Mona took the stairs down and saw Jennifer ordering the maids downstairs to do some spring cleaning and redecoration. The smile on her face was brighter than during New Year’s. “Hey, get some holy water and sprinkle it around the house to get rid of the bad juju. I don’t want the bad energy in my home.” The maids buzzed around, wondering what had gotten into Jennifer to demand a clean sweep. Mona crossed her arms and watched the whole thing while sneering to herself. This was probably the farewell Jennifer had prepared for her. Sensing Mona standing behind her, Jennifer fanned herself and worked her hips over to Mona. “Did you have a talk last night?” Mona callously answered, “Yeah.” Jennifer’s face lit up. Her son did not disappoint her this time. “How much did my so
“Jesus Christ! The man has lost it!” With her hands over her throbbing heart, Jennifer furiously called the Lord’s name in vain! Thaddeus leisurely sat on the sofa and crossed his life, offhanded about the whole thing. “Thaddeus, why do you keep taking me for a fool? What spell does the woman have you under?” With Jennifer hot with emotions, Thaddeus frowned and soothed her. “I have a say in my marriage with Mona, and I don’t want to divorce her. Besides, it’s only a marriage of convenience. Why do you care so much?” Jennifer was confused. “A marriage of convenience? Why did you give her money just now?” The way she saw it, her son was paying for solicitation. “It’s because you rubbed her the wrong way.” Thaddeus nonchalantly scrolled his mobile screen. His attention was on his phone. “What? You gave her money because I gave her hell? Don’t tell me that’s what you two discussed last night. Not only did you not get a divorce, but she has now become untouchable in the h
The result took Mona by surprise, and Eleanor sank into a panic. “Mona, I had the dream again last night. I woke up this morning with a pair of hands strangling me. I grabbed the cup and smashed him with it. He then let me go.” Eleanor ranted as she grabbed Mona’s hand to play out the strangulation. “It was like this. The person put his hands around my neck. I couldn’t breathe. He was trying to kill me.” “Take it easy, Eleanor. Let me take a look at you.” Mona let go and took Eleanor’s hand to check her pulse. Her pulse was all over the place. Moreover, it was worse than before. Yet, the medical report indicated that Eleanor was healthy. The conflicting information left Mona scratching her head. Mona inspected the scratch marks around Eleanor’s neck. The scratches were fresh, so it did happen this morning. Eleanor was thrown into fear and panic. In the midst of deranged confusion, she grabbed Mona’s arm and lost focus in her eyes. “Mona, do you think I’m possessed?” “I’m
Mona had nothing more to say since Eleanor refused to run tests on the pills. This was Eleanor’s body, so it was not anyone else’s place to say anything if she did not want to do anything about it. “Mona, can you give me some remedies to keep the illness under control?” Eleanor pulled on Mona’s arm and asked pleadingly. Mona could not say no since she felt bad for the woman. However, Mona was stumped. She had no idea what Eleanor’s diagnosis was. “Eleanor, I can only give you something to sleep better at night. Just take it three times a day.” Mona pulled out a pen and paper from her bag and wrote down a few items. She then read the remedy one more time to be sure. “Alright. Thank you, Mona.” Eleanor put away the paper. Mona was struck by a thought. “Eleanor, do you have a prescription for your previous illness? I want to take a look.” Eleanor was dumbstruck. With nervousness fleeting across her face, she changed the topic. “I’ve suffered a lot from the illness, but I took
“I’m not playing any games. I’m serious. Do I need to bare my soul for you to believe me?” Behind the man’s cynicism was earnestness. Only Victor knew that he was not kidding when he said he would die for Mona. Yet, no one would believe him. Everybody believed he was a playboy, but who made him this way? It was none other than the woman before his eyes. Mona glanced at Eleanor from afar before stepping back to keep an appropriate distance from Victor. “Victor, I have a question. You gave me a box of biscuits that night when you asked me out to the café. Was it a deliberate act?” Victor gave it a thought and smirked. “What?” With Victor acting like he did not care, Mona sternly warned, “Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to? You’re using me to do damage so that you can cause Thaddeus trouble and losses. I’m warning you. Stop the little sneaky and dirty tricks. You better play fair if you want to beat your uncle and gain a footing in the Fontaine Group.” Victor c
Time passed, and soon it was midnight. Lightning streaked across the dark blue sky amidst the roars of thunder. Heavy rain poured thereafter. There was a noise from the door. Mona opened the front door, completely drenched from the rain, lending her a disheveled appearance. Mona brushed off the rain that had gotten all over her and took off her shoes before trudging her heavy footsteps past the hallway into the living room. “Are you done frolicking around? The sudden voice in the room startled Mona. She turned to the sofa where the man was sitting. Following a strike of lightning, she got a good look at his grimacing side profile. By the sound of the man’s voice, he appeared furious. Mona pursed her lips and explained, “My phone ran out of battery while I was out.” Thaddeus rose to his feet and strode over to Mona. He stood before her and pinched her chin. He frowned at the sight of her swollen eyes. “Were you crying?” Mona slapped the man’s hand away and turned her h
Weariness was written all over Mona’s dark eyes, and she was about to collapse under the weight of her emotions. It suddenly felt exhausting to live. She was human, and there were moments when she just wanted to have a breakdown and be done with it. Mona spun on her heel and put her shoes on in the hallway. “Where are you going?” Thaddeus drew close and watched Mona get ready to leave. The way he saw it, the woman was sulking. She was throwing a tantrum because he said something he did not mean. The man stood there and watched her with a straight face. Still, he carried himself with haughtiness. “That’s enough, Mona. Get upstairs and go to bed!” “No!” With emotions running high, the only thing on Mona’s mind was to go against the man. She had so much fury pent up inside her with no outlet to blow off steam. She was better off taking a walk than fighting with the man here. She put on her shoes and walked out of the residence, closing the door with a bang. Mona advance