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
Thaddeus left the ward in silence. Mona looked at the man’s back, pretending not to know anything. Then, she called her two children to her side and asked them how their day at preschool went.Victor, who was left out, walked over, trying to get their attention.“How did you get hurt? How were you in a car accident all of a sudden?” He asked with concern.Mona smiled. “I’m fine. I was on my phone and didn’t notice the car behind me.”“It’s only been a few days since I saw you, and you’ve already gotten yourself into an accident. It looks like I’ll have to keep you under my nose at all times so that nothing happens to you.”“Yeah, it would be nice if we had another man in the house. That way, Mommy wouldn’t have to work so hard,” Bobby echoed.“Do you want to stay in our house, Daddy Victor? Be our real Daddy?” The curious Millie blinked her large eyes and asked her brother, “Are they going to get married?”Bobby did not say anything and looked at the two adults.He also wanted
On the contrary, the special medicine Victor’s mother could not live without caused suspicions to arise in Mona’s heart.“What do you mean she’s not sick?” Victor could not believe what Mona had said. “Besides, pulse reading isn’t exactly accurate. Maybe you’re overthinking it. My mother’s condition has always been looked at by our family doctor. If there really is no problem, why didn’t the doctor say anything?”Mona sighed. Perhaps she was overthinking it. After all, she only knew a bit about medicine. It was likely that she could be wrong.“By the way, how did you run into my mom? What did she say to you?”Victor suddenly remembered that his mother disproved of him and Mona dating. He was afraid his mother would say nonsense to Mona.“We didn’t talk much, but I have a feeling she doesn’t like me.”“My mom has been trying to get me to go on blind dates, wanting me to get married as soon as possible. It’s not that she doesn’t like you. She just hasn’t come around yet. After all,
Mona was stunned when she heard Victor’s question, then suddenly laughed.“What made you think I had feelings for Thaddeus?”Thaddeus and she were like two straight lines that had intersected once. There was no future after that.She believed Thaddeus thought the same way. It was ridiculous to talk about feelings.Victor’s eyes gazed over her smiling face and finally landed in the direction of the door. When he saw a figure flash past, he asked, “You mean you’ve never liked Thaddeus and were only with him because you were forced to?”Mona thought about it.That was not exactly true.She was still grateful to Thaddeus. If it were not for him, she and her children would not be where they were now.“I guess so.”Mona nodded in agreement.Thaddeus stood at the door, listening to Mona’s answer. He said nothing after, turned around, and left.The car stopped at the entrance of the hospital building. When Marcus saw Thaddeus walk out with an unpleasant expression, he hurriedly got
When Thaddeus heard it was Bobby, he opened the car door and stepped out with his slender legs.The man took off his sunglasses and looked at the little boy, who did not even reach his waist. He raised his brows and asked, “Do you need something?”Thaddeus guessed that the boy would tell him to stay away from his mother or something. After all, the boy did not like him. He liked his Daddy Victor more.Bobby was tiny in front of Thaddeus’s 190 cm stature and had to crane his neck to look at the man.“Can we find a place to sit down and talk? My neck is a little sore.”Thaddeus’s lips could not help but curl up as he let out a snicker.Bobby seemed annoyed. “You’re an adult, and I’m a kid. I haven’t grown up yet, so I’m not as tall as you. It’s very impolite to laugh at others, Mr. Fontaine.”Thaddeus’s snickers grew.Bobby gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, enduring it.He would not have talked to such a disrespectful person if not for the fact that he wanted to know thi
Thaddeus listened to Bobby, staying silent. Then, Bobby asked, “Mr. Fontaine, what exactly is your relationship with Mommy? Are you pursuing her?”The man raised his brows. “What makes you say that?”“Because you’re really nice to her. When she got into a car accident, you immediately appeared in the hospital to take care of her. Also, you went to our house and bought many gifts for Millie and me.”Bobby stared at Thaddeus intently. His face looked nervous as if he was expecting something.“Does that mean I like her? Kid, your understanding is a little too superficial.”“I think that’s what it means to like someone. Daddy Victor likes Mommy, so he always rushes to her side whenever something happens to her. He’s worried about her because he likes her.”At the mention of Victor, Thaddeus’s expression darkened, and he put Bobby down.“Your mom and I aren’t superior and subordinate. I’m your Daddy Victor’s uncle. If your mom and Victor were to get married, I would be her uncle-in-l
In the evening, Raymond came to visit Mona in the hospital ward.Bobby and Millie had gone out to eat with Victor, so Mona was the only one there. She was not sleeping soundly and woke up as soon as Raymond came in.“What are you doing here?”As she propped herself up, Raymond hurried over and took a pillow to cushion her back.“Don’t move around. Just lie down.”“It’s not that serious. I just got a couple more scars. Hopefully, it won’t affect how I look on camera.”“You worry too much. It doesn’t matter. No matter how you look on camera, I’ll still be able to make you a sensation.”It was just a matter of money. Any problem that could be solved with money was nothing to be concerned about.“Thank you for being so accommodating. I feel so ashamed of myself.”Mona flashed him a gentle smile, feeling overwhelmed by favor from her superior. Her expression was calm and unfettered.“By the way, about our phone call before my accident. Can you help me? I still want to know everyth
“It’s nothing. I just saw you by coincidence on the road. Why are you out and about so late instead of resting in your ward?”“It’s too stuffy in the hospital, so I went out for some air.” Mona stroked her hair blown by the wind and laughed. “Mr. Fontaine, you should focus on getting your wedding photos with Ms. Mayers done. Don’t make her angry.”There was no trace of displeasure in Mona’s voice. She was very calm when they got married, and she was still as calm after the divorce.However, what she could not see was the man’s lips curling coldly on the other side of the phone.He had always thought she was understanding and sensible, but it seemed he was wrong. She just did not care.“Samantha’s like you. She won’t get angry over something like this.”“No, no. How could I be the same as Ms. Mayers?” Mona laughed.“What do you mean?”“When a woman likes a man, she feels possessive of him. How can she not be angry? Mr. Fontaine, I think you’d better go and accompany her right no
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