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
Mona had just finished treating her wounds when a knock sounded at the door.She could hear Millie babbling at the door for her, so Mona told the maid who bandaged her to quickly pack the first aid kit and leave.The maid opened the door to find the pair of twins standing at the door, holding hands and looking adorable.“Mommy, are you still asleep?”Millie peeked her head into the room. When she saw Mona, she spread her arms and pounced, burrowing into her mother’s arms and nuzzling her like a little cat.“Millie.” Mona’s wound hurt as Millie was sitting on her leg. “Millie, be a good girl. Mommy can’t carry you today, okay?”Bobby noticed something off with Mona and looked at the first aid kit the maid carried. He frowned and asked, “Mommy, are you hurt?”Mona gave the maid a look to leave quickly and beckoned toward Bobby. “Come here. Mommy has something to tell you.”Bobby walked up to Mona. His sharp eyes found a trace of blood on her knee.“What happened? Who bullied you
“Okay, Mommy has to go downstairs now. Bobby, look after your sister and stay here. Don’t go anywhere.”“Okay.” Bobby nodded obediently.Mona settled the two children before she got up and left the room.Walking downstairs, she saw the servants collectively heading outside, lining up neatly by the door to await Ginny’s arrival.Even Mona, as Mrs. Fontaine, had never received such a grand reception before.Mona could not help but feel amused. Now, Jennifer was gleeful at turning the tides against her, and Ginny could stand tall because she had Jennifer’s support. Were the two women planning to join hands to suppress her?Mona could only say that Jennifer played her hand well. She had won this round.“Why are you so slow?” Jennifer came out of the hall with a maid and looked back at the servants behind her. “Give the brazier to the madam.”Mona looked at the golden brazier in the maid’s hand. Jennifer was superstitious and liked to practice sketchy rituals at home to ward off evi
Ginny secretly felt smug when she realized how important her position in Fontaine Residence was now.In fact, this ploy was her masterpiece.Her revenge began to brew from the moment Mona kicked her out of the bedroom. She had played her cards at the right time and place by telling her father to take the initiative to approach Jennifer under the pretext of solidifying Jennifer’s status in the family and agreed to play this scene together. After all, the enemy of an enemy was a friend. They should naturally work together. The facts proved that the more ruthless a person was, the more stable their position would be. She used half her life to exchange for the favor and pursuit she was receiving now. It was worthwhile.Ginny looked at Mona, who was left out in the cold. She assumed Mona had completely fallen out of favor now, with Thaddeus not even on her side. It seemed their feelings did not amount to much after all.Ginny sneered in her heart but took Jennifer’s hand affectionately,
Mona let out a sigh and remembered the scene when Jennifer approached her earlier.Jennifer had told her to give Ginny a massage because the latter had a stiff neck.Her tone was as if she was bossing around a servant.Mona agreed without thinking. It was not her style to retreat into her shell to hide when she had been insulted and had her dignity stepped on.“My mom said you have a stiff neck.”Mona went to the bed, sat down, and raised her hands to prepare to touch Ginny’s neck.Ginny was startled by Mona’s sudden change and obedience. Just as Mona’s hands were about to land on her neck, she immediately shifted to the side to avoid it.A mocking curl emerged from the corner of Mona’s lips. “What’s wrong? Are you scared?”She thought, ‘The battle hasn’t even started, but you’re already ready to run. Ginny, you’re nothing much after all.’Ginny swallowed and put away the panic on her face. “You’re too close to me. Sit further away.”Mona shrugged, feeling genuinely helpless.