Thaddeus went silent after he heard what Mona said. He could not feel her helplessness. He tried to understand it, but from an analytical perspective, it seemed like she was jealous of Ginny. “Ginny and I are not what you think.” Even though he knew explaining would only make things worse, he had to at least try. “It’s just a relationship of interest between me and her. It’s not what you think, and I didn’t betray you or the family.” Mona shook her head. She knew he would say something like this. A relationship of interest? The man weighed profits and losses using meticulous calculations, and telling him to cut off a relationship that would benefit him would be harder than asking him for a divorce, again. Mona curled her lips into a bitter smile. His explanation was useless to her. Thaddeus held her hand and said firmly, “You don’t believe me now, so you’ll suspect whatever I say.” “So what? Of course, I suspect you. Shouldn’t I be suspecting you after what you have done?
Millie got up on the bed and climbed under the blanket. She stretched her legs and hands to ease herself up. “I’m switching off the lights.” Bobby then switched off the lamp beside the bed. A while later, Millie’s eyes opened, and she stared into the darkness of the room. Bobby looked at Millie. “What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?” Millie sat up and tugged her brother’s sleeve, grumbling, “Bobby, I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy.” Bobby got up as well. He tried to calm Millie down by saying, “Millie, I’ll sleep with you tonight. I’ll read you a story.” Millie pouted. “I don’t want to. I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy.” “Then, I’ll give you some snacks, but you have to sleep after that.” Millie’s eyes widened and started to glisten. “I don’t want to! I want to sleep with Daddy and Mommy!” Bobby had no idea why Millie insisted on sleeping with their parents, but he could not bear seeing his sister cry, so he compromised. “Fine. Get your pillow and we’ll go next door
“Millie, aren’t you tired?” Millie shook her head. “I’m not tired at all. Millie is happy because I can sleep with Daddy and Mommy.” Mona’s chest tightened when she saw the silly girl’s reaction. How could she be so happy just because she could sleep with her parents? Thaddeus returned to the bed and sandwiched the kids in between Mona and himself. He looked at the two little rascals, and with the dim light from the lamp on their faces, it felt harmonious and peaceful. The sight of his family was calming. Mona put her hand on Millie’s belly and patted it softly. “Sleep, precious girl.” She was tired already and could not keep up with the girl’s energy levels. Millie pulled her hand out from the blanket and held Thaddeus and Mona’s hands tightly. She was thrilled. “Daddy and Mommy cannot be separated again,” Millie said with a happy smile. “Our family will always be together.” “Of course. No matter what happens, we won’t be separated,” Thaddeus said as he held the girl’s
Mona gave a big thumbs-up to Millie. “Baby, remember that pride and confidence are the most important qualities of a girl. That goes for our little princess.” Millie’s eyes glinted brightly and branded the words into her heart. Although she was too young to understand the meaning and had no idea what pride, an abstract concept, meant, she had grown up under Mona’s influence and education, so she also started to learn how to live a proud and colorful life. Mona and Millie waited in the yoga center for a while. Soon, the gym class was over, and the person whom Thaddeus and Bobby were waiting for came out of the classroom. Mona saw a woman with a girl, who was slightly older than Millie. The woman spotted Thaddeus and walked over to him with the girl. The woman chatted with Thaddeus. They seemed to know each other. After a brief chat, the two adults and children left the gym and headed to the restaurant. “Bobby is holding the girl’s bag! Mommy! Millie is not happy!” Bobby wa
Thaddeus said, “Then, when are you free? I can wait.” “After 9 o’clock tonight. I have time after I put my daughter to sleep.” “Great. I’ll go to your room at 9 o’clock sharp.” The woman smiled. Every action that she did spelled elegance and gentleness. She glanced at Bobby opposite her who was eating his steak. She introduced her daughter to Bobby by saying, “Nelly, this is Uncle Thaddeus’ son, Bobby. You’ve always wanted to learn how to swim, right? Bobby is good at swimming. You guys can go practice at the swimming pool in the hotel later.” The girl named Nelly responded arrogantly. She glanced at Bobby and said, “He is so tiny and he’s going to teach me swimming? Why doesn't he go back to his Mommy?” “Nelly!” the woman bellowed at her daughter. “Where are your manners? Apologize to Bobby right now!” Nelly refused. She slammed the fork and knife on the plate and started to throw a tantrum. “If you think I’m being rude, then don’t bring me out. It’s annoying!” The w
“Let’s sit down. I believe you have a lot of things to tell me.” The woman tidied her dress and sat back down elegantly. Thaddeus nodded and smiled. “Yeah. I have a lot of things to tell you, but you have what I want the most. Sometimes words don't make it, only actions can. I’ll give you a satisfactory result tonight.” The woman smiled shyly, and the expression on her face was self-explanatory. Mona saw their interaction and heard their misleading conversation. She scoffed inwardly and thought to herself, ‘Are they doing something tonight?’ She did not expect Thaddeus to be such a playboy. He had Ginny at home, and when they came back from vacation, he met another one of his mistresses in front of her! She would never forgive Thaddeus now! Thaddeus and the woman wanted to leave after having lunch, but Millie wanted to call Bobby. “Bobby brought the girl out. He doesn’t want me anymore. I’m not happy. I want to call him.” The girl grumbled and called her brother. Howe
However, Thaddeus could not think of what he did wrong. Thus, he turned around and went back into the bedroom to find Mona.“Was the food delicious?” He deliberately picked up a topic to probe Mona.Mona applied makeup on her face and picked up the sultriest shade to outline a beautiful arc on her delicate lips.Thaddeus suddenly felt a sense of crisis. “Are you going out?”“No.”“Then, why are you putting on makeup?” Thaddeus looked at Mona in the mirror, who wore exquisite and perfect makeup. She did not put on makeup like this even when she was filming. Why would she dress up so beautifully unless it was to meet someone else?The man was anxious.“Why can’t I put on makeup without going out?” Mona looked at Thaddeus coldly. “I’m just playing in your hotel. Can’t I do that?”“Playing?” Thaddeus realized that the words Mona was using were strange. “What can you play in the hotel?”“There’s a private beach in the back. I’m going sunbathing,” Mona spoke casually, pursed her plu
“Hey there, Miss. Sunbathing?” Sophie picked up a bottle of cola on the table, opened it, rolled up her sleeves, and took two gulps. “How did it go with Stella?”“Don’t get me started.” Sophie hiccupped. “She was very angry, but Mr. Fontaine’s wallet speaks volumes. He gave her three times the compensation for the breach of contract. The money is enough for her to make three films. Now, she’s looking for another lead actress, and she didn’t mention anything about you breaking the contract. Money is really amazing.”Sophie sighed emotionally while looking at the men passing by who could not keep their eyes off Mona. She also stared at Mona’s body.“Aren’t you worried what your man will say if you come out like this?”“He won’t. He has his own things to deal with.”“No matter how busy he is, he still has to take care of you.” Sophie shook her robe off and covered Mona’s body. “Cover yourself up. Don’t let others see you like this.”Mona folded her arms behind her head and turned to