Thaddeus looked at the bright red apple on the fruit plate. It was Mona’s favorite.He sat down and rolled up his sleeves, revealing a beautiful arm.Pulling out a wet paper towel, he wiped his hands, picked up the fruit knife and the red apple, and began to peel it.Mona and Linda were both surprised when they saw how familiar the man’s action of peeling the fruit was. It was unexpected that someone like Thaddeus, who always had people serving him, would do something like this.Thaddeus’ long and good-looking fingers held the fruit knife and peeled off the skin of the apple. Then, he cut the apple into several pieces, put it on the fruit plate, skewered it, and handed it to Mona.“Eat the apple. Come home with me when you’re finished.”The man was originally angry. However, when he saw Mona looking at him pitifully and speaking in such a soft and sweet voice, he simply could not get angry anymore.Sometimes, he was that easy to coax. As long as she stayed by his side obediently
Thaddeus' expression froze, and his brows furrowed slightly. “Why do you keep asking that question?”“Because you haven't given me a definite answer.”“I'll explain it to you some other time, but not now.”Mona curled her lips up in a playful smile. “If you won't tell me, I won't go back with you. You should leave.”Thaddeus' expression changed. “What can't you understand, Mona?”When Mona saw him getting angry, a fire rose in her.She was angry too. In fact, she was even angrier than him.“How am I supposed to understand? I can't understand!”She could not understand. He stayed out late for two nights, and both times he was staying with the same woman. The important point was not that Mona saw it with her own eyes. It was that he was being evasive!Thaddeus was so furious that his chest heaved in anger. If not for the fact that this was someone else's home, he would have pinned this woman on the bed and spanked her hard.“Fine. If that's what you want, you can stay here with
Mona had figured it out. Earlier, Sophie said that the light had gone from her eyes, and she had lost herself. It was true. She always devoted her energy and time to her family instead of caring about what she wanted. It would be stranger if she were not unhappy living like that.“I'm just worried that the children miss you. What if Thaddeus brings Ginny home while you're not around? Would you be able to stand it if he tells your children to call her mom?”“I'm focusing on myself right now. So let's put those things aside for the time being.”Mona lay comfortably on the bed. Sometimes, it was better not to worry so much. She would be much happier if she only cared about herself.“Sure. Let's sleep, then.”Linda hummed happily and went to the cupboard to get a pillow. “By the way, how long are you planning to stay?”Mona raised her hands behind her head and tapped her finger on her head. “Until that man begs me to come home.”“Awesome!” Linda threw the pillow next to Mona and lay
The driver teased Mona while driving. A woman would not be so calculative if she did not care about her man.The previous Mona would not care at all even if Thaddeus hugged another woman in front of her, much less privately ask if there were any other women at home.Mona looked out of the window and did not deny the driver's words.Yes, she was beginning to care.The car drove all the way to Fontaine Residence. The children were not at home. After asking Maria, Mona learned that Thaddeus brought them to the company because he did not feel comfortable leaving them at home.Mona thought, 'Even when I'm not at home, that man will take care of the children. He took them with him because he was worried about their safety.'She went back to her room, packed her luggage, and took a script with her.Moving out to live with Linda this time was like giving herself a vacation. Now, she could look over the script while thinking carefully over whether or not to keep the child in her belly.
Mona held the tablet in front of Linda. “Here. Choose one.”“Choose what? You were so focused.”Linda looked at the tablet. It was the official sales website of her favorite skiing products.“This brand is like the Hermes of the ski industry. A set can cost up to six figures. I can't afford it. Why are you showing this to me?”“What do you mean you can't afford it?” Mona forbade her best friend to say such unambitious words. “Which one do you like? I'll pay for it.”“Oh My God. Really? Really?!” Linda squealed in surprise. “Suzy, where did you get the money to buy me such expensive things?”Mona took out a supplementary card from her bag and waved it ostentatiously in front of Linda. “See? I didn't just come here by myself. I brought a small vault with me. Just think of it as me paying the rent. Buy whatever you want!”Linda clasped her hands and took the card in Mona's hand with a starry-eyed look. She took a closer look at the words on the card. It was a supplementary card. Th
The man paced back and forth in the office, annoyed by the thought of Mona moving out. The sound of two children giggling and laughing came from outside.Thaddeus walked outside and opened the office door to Millie throwing herself into his arms.“Daddy, this place is huge. Does the whole building belong to you?”“Not yet, but it will be in the future.”He was bound to obtain the position of the head of Fontaine Group. For the sake of his two children and his woman’s future, he had to do whatever it took to get that position.“Wow. Then, I can come here often to play.”“Yes, but you can’t be too noisy. This is an office where adults go to work. You’ll disturb others if you’re too noisy.”“Shh.”Millie covered her mouth with her finger and made a hush gesture. “Be good, and don’t disturb others.”Thaddeus looked at the adorable girl and bent down to pick her up, holding her in his arms.“Millie, do you want Daddy to install a children’s playroom in the office?”His office was
Bobby rubbed his chin and analyzed, “Daddy is the strong lion and Victor...”He clicked his tongue and trailed off.Thaddeus burst out laughing. He liked what his son said.The man was instantly in a good mood. He picked Bobby up and sat him on his lap.“Bobby, I’ll leave the company to you in the future, okay?”“Of course. I’m Daddy’s son.”“That’s right. It’s good that you’re so bold. Even though you’re just a kid, you have the confidence to say such grand and ambitious words.”Bobby rubbed his nose, feeling slightly embarrassed.“Daddy, Millie still has a lot to learn from you.”“Take it slow.”“Okay.”Bobby’s eyes were sparkling. He raised his head to look at Thaddeus and suddenly thought of something, “By the way, I have good news to tell you, Daddy.”“What good news?”“There’s a baby in Mommy’s belly.”Thaddeus realized what Bobby was talking about and reached out to tap Bobby’s nose. “No matter whether your mommy is carrying a younger brother or a younger sister, y
Bobby’s expression suddenly became very serious. “Mommy is a very good-tempered woman, but she ran away from home this time. It must be because she’s sad and disappointed. Daddy, you shouldn’t make Mommy sad.”Thaddeus was exasperated and knocked his head. “I must have owed you all a debt in my past life.”He spoiled that woman endlessly. Even when he was angry, he never took it out on her and would rather suffocate than yell at her. That woman did not know how fortunate she was.Millie praised Bobby, “That’s right. Bobby is right. Daddy, you’re a man. You should give in to Mommy.”Thaddeus spanked the two children. “Don’t just talk and show your real skills to coax your mommy back.”“Yes, sir!”...In the evening, Mona and Linda were busy preparing dinner in the kitchen. They were having barbecue that night.At that moment, there was a knock at the door, and Bobby and Millie’s voices rang out. The two women looked at each other and confirmed that their ears were not playing tr
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