“I was just asking. You don’t have to answer.”Daddy did not love Bobby. That was what Bobby concluded.Thaddeus looked at Bobby with a heavy gaze and said nothing. His expression was so deep and complex that Bobby could not read it.Bobby hung his head and was dejected for a while. When Thaddeus carried him to the car and placed him in the children’s seat, he looked at the majestic figure sitting in the driver’s seat and had an epiphany.“Boys don’t need love. It’s enough if I love Mommy and Millie.”Thaddeus did not turn around. He was silent for a few minutes before starting the car, and simply said, “Good that you know.”Bobby pursed his beautiful lips. Joy ignited in his heart after receiving the man’s affirmation.“Bobby, I want cookies.”Bobby’s thoughts were pulled back by the packet of Koala’s March cookies in front of him. Millie waved the cookies in her hand, her large eyes sparkling as she spoke.Bobby smiled, took the packet, and tore it open for her.“Thank you,
Mona was instantly speechless, but she did not get angry. Jennifer did not like her and was used to blaming her indiscriminately. She did not expect to hear anything nice from Jennifer.“Please come in, Ms. Kimball. Thank you for bringing a gift to my mom.” Mona smiled politely. She would naturally do what the lady in charge of the Fontaine Residence should do.Ginny nodded at Mona and thanked her before pulling Jennifer’s hand. “Auntie, you’ve misunderstood. Mrs. Fontaine wasn’t making things hard for me. She welcomed me at the door and said that I shouldn’t have gone through the trouble of bringing these here. You blamed the wrong person.”Jennifer glanced at Mona disdainfully. “In that case, go in.”Ginny covered her mouth and smiled. “That’s why you shouldn’t be angry with Mrs. Fontaine, or I’ll be uneasy that I made the trip here.”“Of course not. I like you very much and want you to be here. You’re always welcome at the Fontaines’. Don’t just stand outside. Come in with me.”
Thaddeus thought that the woman was jealous. Her indifference was her trying to get his attention by throwing a temper.What a troublesome creature. If she really cared about him, then just say so. Why did she want him to guess her mind? Ugh, women.Just as Thaddeus raised his hand to knock on the door, Jennifer came.“Thaddeus, Ginny is here. Aren’t you going down to see her?”Thaddeus turned around and looked at his mother in exasperation. He knew what she was thinking and already expressed his attitude, but her forcefulness had not changed at all.“I know you don’t want to come down, but you can’t disrespect the Kimballs. After all, Ginny is their little princess. I’m afraid they’ll be unhappy if you don’t see her.”Thaddeus let out a sigh, feeling annoyed.“Enough. I’ll go, okay?” Thaddeus spoke in a sullen voice. He put his hands into his pocket and went downstairs.Ginny was sitting in the living room. When Thaddeus appeared, she stood up and nodded with a smile. “Hello,
Ginny got into an accident while riding in the Fontaine family’s car. This incident made the Fontaine and Kimball families meet in the hospital. Ginny’s father, Tony, loved his daughter more than life itself. She only went to Fontaine Residence for a visit but ended up with a dozen stitches on her head. How could he not feel heartbroken and angry?“Thaddeus, what the hell happened?”Tony sat on the high-end leather sofa in the hospital’s VIP suite and questioned Thaddeus seriously.“Ms. Kimball’s accident was caused by an elderly couple who ran the red light. The driver braked urgently, causing Ginny to bump her head. I’m sorry for this incident, Uncle Tony. I’ll take full responsibility and compensate for it.”Thaddeus’ legs were folded, and his tone was calm and relaxed. It was as if he was conducting a business negotiation.“Compensation?” Tony was dissatisfied with how Thaddeus was downplaying the situation. He originally intended to join their two families by marriage, but Th
Tony took the doctor in charge of the operation outside the ward and quickly asked, “Doctor, will there be a scar on my doctor’s face?”The doctor said regretfully, “I’m sorry, Mr. Kimball. We tried our best, but because the driver hit the brakes too sharply, the wound was stabbed by a shard of glass. It’s equivalent to being scratched by a knife. There will definitely be a scar left behind. Now, the only thing we can do now is find ways to remedy and repair it so it looks less conspicuous.”Tony’s expression was grim. In his view, it did not matter whether or not his little princess had a scar. However, his daughter loved beauty so much that it was not an exaggeration to say it was her life. She could not even handle being bitten by a mosquito, let alone have a scar.“You have to think of a way. You must heal her at all costs.”Tony looked into the ward, his face full of sorrow and heartache. He took out his phone and used his contacts both local and abroad to help treat his daugh
Mona thought she came at a bad time, especially when she saw Tony firmly supporting his daughter. She was afraid she would become his punching bag.After all, there was no one to support her. So it was better not to get involved.She turned to leave, but Thaddeus chased after her.“What are you doing here?” The man glanced at the cup filled with medicine in her hand and frowned slightly.“Your mother told me to see Ms. Kimball and give her medicine.” Mona handed the cup to the man. “It was your mother who asked me to prepare this for Ms. Kimball too.”“Did you come up with the formula yourself?” Thaddeus did not take the cup. “Don’t take it to the ward. Throw it away.”Mona froze. Then, she withdrew her hand and looked at the cup, smiling wryly.“Why? Are you afraid I’ll poison Ms. Kimball?” Mona said coldly, “It was your mother who asked me to make this medicine. She was fine with it, but you’re suspicious of me?”Thaddeus’ attitude was very firm. “Take it back and go home.”
Ginny smiled ruefully. It was a smile filled with self-deprecation and disappointment, and its coldness pierced Thaddeus’ eyes.“I admit I have favorable feelings for you, Mr. Fontaine. However, right now, my image of you has greatly worsened. I’m really disappointed in you. My family and I are sensible people. In the conversation between you and my father earlier, what I saw was not your sincerity but your evasion and impatience. Since I pressured you, then please go. Leave and never disturb my life again.”Thaddeus frowned. “Do you agree with your father’s point of view?”Did she also want him to divorce his wife at home, abandon his children, and marry her all for compensation?That was too absurd.“No matter my father’s viewpoint, it doesn’t change the fact that you don’t want to be responsible for me.”Ginny pointed to her head. “Do you know what a scar means to a woman? This is tantamount to disfigurement. Noble families always pay attention to people’s appearances. If I’m
Faced with Ginny’s forcefulness, Thaddeus finally compromised.It was a fact that he owed this woman, so he could not decisively refuse and stay away. His morals did not allow him to do so.However, there were still boundaries that had to be maintained.“Fine. Since you only want three requests, that’s what we’ll do.” Thaddeus put his hands into his pockets and took two steps back to distance himself from Ginny.“Remember, you have to fulfill the requests anytime and anywhere,” Ginny stressed.“Yes.” Thaddeus’s attitude was very dull. “Do you need it in black and white?”“No. I know your character very well. You’re a man who keeps his word.”Ginny’s eyes were determined. She looked at Thaddeus with admiration.After calming down, she felt she was lucky. She was glad this car accident forged a deeper link between her and this man.Thaddeus saw the light and heat in Ginny’s eyes and looked away, avoiding the woman’s gaze.He naturally knew Ginny’s affection for him. That was wh
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