“Oh, Mr. Fontaine. What a coincidence. Why are you in the hospital? Are you ill?” Thaddeus threw a callous look of contempt. Without a word, he turned his attention to Mona. “What brings you here?” Although Mona had something on her mind, there was no way she could say it out loud. She was not here for him for sure. Before she could answer though, the woman jumped in. “Mr. Fontaine, I saw this woman standing outside the ward and eavesdropping on your conversation.” “I didn’t ask you.” Thaddeus did not give Mrs. Yale the time of the day as the woman often threw her weight around. He would not have known that the chamber of commerce committee had a bully for a family member if Marcus did not investigate the hospital incident whereby Millie was kicked out. Mrs. Yale awkwardly chuckled before saying goodbye and taking off with her tail between her legs. “Not so fast, Mrs. Yale.” Thaddeus offhandedly looked askance at the woman. “I believe there’s something you have with thi
The nurses that were named revealed expressions of shock and disbelief. They were guessing the relationship between Thaddeus and Millie.“Mr. Fontaine, it’s like this. Mrs. Yale booked Millie’s room first. It was Millie’s attending doctor who helped her jump the line from the general ward to the VIP ward. We’re just following the protocol...”When Mrs. Yale heard that Mona jumped the queue, she found a reason on her side and raised her chest to speak.“See, Mr. Fontaine? The nurses can testify for me. If you really investigate this matter, you’ll find that I’m not to blame. I booked that room in advance, so it should be mine.”Thaddeus’ cold and sharp eyes narrowed. His gaze was frigid. “You’re right, Mrs. Yale. In that case, take your child out of the hospital now.”“Why? Mr. Fontaine, you’re being unreasonable.” Mrs. Yale suddenly raised her voice. She took out her phone and threatened to make a call.“Mr. Fontaine, I know that you’re the CEO of the chamber of commerce and that
Mrs. Yale summoned up her courage and said to Thaddeus, “I refuse. This hospital doesn’t belong to you. Why should I listen to you?”Thaddeus’ smile deepened. He took out his wallet, fished out his bank card, and flicked it toward Mrs. Yale’s.“As of one minute ago, I bought this hospital.”Mrs. Yale was shocked when she heard this. Her mouth fell open, but no words escaped.Thaddeus glanced at the bank card on the ground and said indifferently, “That’s your compensation. Think of it as Mona’s repayment to you. Now, pick it up and get out of my sight.”Mrs. Yale still stood in place like a statue. Thaddeus became impatient at her lack of reaction.“I said, pick it up.”Mrs. Yale was pale. She was unable to say a word when she looked at the cold demon-like man in front of her. She knew that Thaddeus did not really want to give her the money. He wanted her to bend down and admit her mistake in front of Mona, trampling her dignity to the ground.However, she refused to stand such
“Forget it. If you don’t want them, then I’ll leave with them.”Mona left with her things. Thaddeus looked at her back, his gaze deep and distant. It was not what she thought. He just wanted to keep that secret...The next time Mona saw Samantha was two days later.This time, it was Samantha who took the initiative to call her to meet at a cafe near the hospital.Mona waited for a long time before Samantha showed up late.“I’m sorry, Thaddeus was accompanying me at the ward. I had to think of an excuse to throw him off.” Samantha’s tone sounded like she was complaining. “Geez, he keeps a really strict eye on me. He doesn’t let me go out casually.”“It means that he cares about you. That’s a good thing.” Mona smiled peacefully. “You two are about to marry soon. Don’t forget to inform me so I can give you a wedding gift. After all, Mr. Fontaine treated me well before.”At the mention of marriage, the smile slipped off Samantha’s face and gave way to a hint of embarrassment. She pi
Samantha’s every word was like a knife stabbing into Mona’s chest, making her feel very uncomfortable.However, the exasperating thing was that she knew nothing of the past and could not find a single word to refute it.“You said that my mother was a homewrecker, but what about you?” Mona curled her lips and sneered.“I’m a homewrecker?” Samantha snorted coldly. “What are you talking about? Thaddeus and I belong together. Who are you supposed to be? You’re just a tool used by men to vent their frustrations.”Mona was not annoyed but smiled instead although her smile was very cold. “No matter what reason Thaddeus married me for, since we got our marriage license, our relationship is protected by the law. However, you appeared during our marriage which led to our divorce. Ms. Mayers, what are you if not a homewrecker?”“Don’t be ridiculous. I never wanted to ruin your relationship. It was Thaddeus who wanted to divorce you. What has that got to do with me?”“Oh?” Mona tucked a lock
Raymond rushed to the hospital and saw Thaddeus standing outside the operating room with an unusually solemn face.“How did you know that Mona got into an accident? You even arrived before me.”“I was saved as ‘Husband’ under her contacts, so the medical staff called me first to inform me.” Thaddeus leaned against the wall, his tall body slack and lazy.“She saved your number as ‘Husband’?” Raymond was surprised.Did Mona really like Thaddeus? Raymond thought she knew her place well.Thaddeus gave him a sidelong glance. “Why? Is there a problem?”“No, but didn’t you two get divorced?”Thaddeus said coldly, “Stop making a fuss.”The door of the operating room opened, and Mona was wheeled out on a bed.Thaddeus immediately went over, pushed the nurse aside, and bent down to hold her hand.“Mr. Fontaine, the operation was very successful, but the wound she suffered was deep. She got a few stitches, and there’s a possibility of scarring.”Thaddeus looked at the unconscious woman
Although Mona had her back to Thaddeus, she could smell his pleasant scent. She felt groggy and could not be bothered to talk to him. As the anesthetic had not worn off, she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.Thaddeus stayed by her side quietly, looking at her peaceful face while she slept, and went into a daze.After a long time, the vibrating sound of an incoming phone call broke the quiet in the room.It was Mona’s phone. As Thaddeus did not want to wake her up, he picked up the phone and walked out of the ward.“Mommy.”Bobby’s childish voice sounded from the other end of the line. Thaddeus froze for a moment before speaking.“It’s Thaddeus. Your mommy is in the hospital and can’t come to the phone right now.”Bobby frowned and asked worriedly, “What happened to Mommy this time? Why’s she in the hospital?”The words ‘this time’ revealed that Mona often got into situations.It was indeed hard for a single woman to raise two children. Bobby was really worried about his
Thaddeus lifted his eyes and looked at Mona indifferently.“Oh, there’s no need for that, Mr. Fontaine. I can bear with it until I leave the hospital.”Mona pulled the quilt up and covered her body.Although the two had been naked under the same sheets countless times, this was a hospital. Since they were divorced, it was not very appropriate as well.“What are you embarrassed about? It’s not like we haven’t showered together before,” Thaddeus said carelessly, unbuttoning his cufflinks and rolling up his sleeves to reveal an attractive arm.He wrung out the towel in the warm water and pulled Mona’s quilt down, but she gripped it tightly.“Let go. Don’t make me use force.”Mona grew more and more embarrassed. What was he doing? They were in a hospital!“It’s better to call a nurse. I’m caked in dirt right now. I can’t let you clean me.”“Cut the crap.”Thaddeus forcefully ripped away the quilt and reached out to untie the sleeves of Mona’s hospital gown.When the beautiful vi
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