“You can have me arrested, too, if you want to call the cops. I told Mona to poison the food, so I should take responsibility for it. I will turn myself in now.” Thaddeus pulled a menacing look. With Thaddeus getting up to leave, Jennifer panicked and took strides forward to pull him back. “Don’t do anything foolish, son. This has nothing to do with you. Why are you turning yourself in?” Thaddeus gave Jennifer a chilling look. All he saw from her face was two-faced, selfish, and snarky behavior. Since the day his father betrayed his marriage and abandoned his wife and son, Thaddeus lost his kind and gentle mother. The person Jennifer was now occupied two-thirds of Thaddeus’ childhood and left a lingering psychological trauma to Thaddeus. He understood the awful feeling of being suppressed and could relate to Mona. Due to their shared understanding, Thaddeus would not let her down. “Mom, how can you say it has nothing to do with me? What if I insist that I instructed Mona to p
Thaddeus read out his social security number, and the attending officer keyed into the system for a look. It was Thaddeus Fontaine. A well-known name in the city, Thaddeus was the heir of the Fontaine Group. The man, who had the potential to rock the economy of Neuffield in the future, had laced food with poison.“Let’s take your statement.” The attending officer led Thaddeus to the interrogation room. However, before the line of questioning could happen, Jennifer rushed to the police station together with a team of security. Jennifer looked like she was here for a fight. “My son is in his thirties, but it’s like he hasn’t grown up. He throws a fit every time we have an argument. I’m sorry you had to see that, officer.” Jennifer courteously smiled at the attending officer and made up an excuse that would not harm the Fontaine family’s reputation. She then turned to the security team behind. “Hurry and take him away.” The few bodyguards gathered around Thaddeus and carried
It was late by the time Jennifer and Thaddeus returned to the family residence, and all the fuss had drained everybody. Thaddeus proceeded upstairs while Jennifer stood downstairs, calling out to Thaddeus. “Thaddeus, I need to talk to you.” The man stood there and drew a deep breath. His slender back spoke of something forlorn and helpless.It was exhausting to have an aggressive and self-centered mother. Jennifer approached Thaddeus, and with no regard for his feelings, she commanded, “Tell your precious wife to see me first thing in the morning.” Thaddeus stared at Jennifer with furrowed brows. Behind his silence was anger. “Don’t hurt her, Mom.” Jennifer snapped back, “What? Can’t I have a word with my daughter-in-law? I must be doing a horrible job as a mother for my son to think of me as atrocious. It’s not like I’m going to eat my daughter-in-law up.” The mention of Mona always seemed to trigger Jennifer to build walls around her and get into battle mode. It was
After going through her bedtime routine, Mona lay next to the man and quietly closed her eyes. Amid the darkness, only faint breathing could be heard. Tired from a busy day, Mona soon fell asleep. The man beside her opened his eyes and turned around to look at her beautiful face. The moonlight through the sheer fabric shone on Mona’s face, painting an ethereal picture of her in the man’s eyes. Thaddeus wished time could stop now so tomorrow would never come as he quietly stared at her. It was bright outside when Mona woke up. Finding herself alone in bed, Mona got up and rubbed her eyes. By the trickling sound from the bathroom, Mona picked up that Thaddeus was showering. It did not take long for Thaddeus to emerge barechested from the bathroom. His hair dripped with water and covered his face, adding an unapproachable air to his prominent facial features. Sitting in bed, Mona looked at the man from afar. She got the feeling that the man had become aloof. The tenderness and
Thump, thump, thump.Standing outside Jennifer’s bedroom door, Mona knocked. However, no one answered. She cleared her throat and said, “It’s me, Mona.” It took a while before Jennifer came to the door. Seeing that it was Mona, Jennifer opened the door wide and let her in. Mona had never entered Jennifer’s room before, and the smell of unscented candles overwhelmed Mona’s senses the moment she stepped foot into the room. She picked her head up and saw a monochrome picture of a man. The drawn curtains shielded away the light and paired with the black-and-white theme décor, the room appeared rather stifling and oppressive. Standing in the midst, Mona felt uncomfortable with the pungent smell of an open flame and heaviness in her chest. “That’s Thaddeus’ father and your mother’s lover.” Jennifer stared at the photo hanging on the wall with gnashed teeth and a menacing look as if it were the enemy. Mona’s gaze fell on Andrew Fontaine’s picture. The man’s handsome face sugges
“I didn’t poison any food. That was all your doing.” Mona rose to her feet in pain while her chilling gaze brushed past Jennifer. Her piercing eyes drew a crawling sensation under Jennifer’s skin. Jennifer got a grip of herself and righteously claimed, “I have proof. The proof, the witness, and my status as Old Mrs. Fontaine should be enough to lock you up for a few years.” Mona was trembling at the tip of her fingers. It was only now that she could see it all. Jennifer was wicked and shrewd. The old woman was the queen of patience, using Ginny as a pawn to get rid of everybody she hated. Jennifer had her ways to force Mona into the game despite the latter’s disinterest. Moreover, Jennifer had always been the manipulator of the game and rules. She even kept Thaddeus on a tight leash. Ha… The sad thing was that Mona lost herself in the supposed love when her husband and mother-in-law turned against her. She was left out in the cold with nothing to fend for herself. Mona’s he
Mona’s head was buzzing. So, all of that was over a room? Mona said, “Ms. Kimball is free to stay in any room she wants at Fontaine Residence. I have no issues so long as she likes it.” Rising to her feet, Jennifer patted Mona. At least, the woman was wise in that respect. “You wouldn’t have to suffer if you had been cooperative from the start.” “What are you after by doing so, ma’am?” It was hard to believe that a mother could be so cold-blooded and selfish as to ruin her son’s marriage because of the hatred she had. Mona could not wrap her head around it. “It’s so I can feel better.”Jennifer smiled victoriously. She enjoyed Mona’s suffering. As long as Mona had an unhappy marriage and a rough life, Jennifer would get what she wanted. “You’re paying for your adoptive mother’s sins. Of course, you will be gaining resources for your children in return. Don’t you want them to get a head start in life and climb socially higher than their aunt? I don’t suppose you wa
Mona endured the bursts of pain coming from her knees, sucked in a cold breath, and said what she wanted.“I agreed with everything, but Thaddeus, no matter what happens in the future or what dilemmas you encounter, the last thing you should give up is Bobby and Millie when weighing the pros and cons. Even if we break off relations, you can’t separate me from the children. You have to give them the best conditions and life. If you can’t do that, I’ll die with you!”Mona vented all the anger in her heart.Her greatest regret was trusting this man. She should not have been moved by him. She was simply a fool to have thought she could change such a cold-blooded and rational man.Thaddeus looked at Mona silently. There was no expression on his face.Mona curled her lips in a mocking smile.Coward!Step by step, she limped and went back to her room. How could she turn around the battle and win with her damaged body? She had to take good care of her heart and body and strive to become
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