Thaddeus said, โThen, when are you free? I can wait.โ โAfter 9 oโclock tonight. I have time after I put my daughter to sleep.โ โGreat. Iโll go to your room at 9 oโclock sharp.โ 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, โNelly, this is Uncle Thaddeusโ son, Bobby. Youโve 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.โ The girl named Nelly responded arrogantly. She glanced at Bobby and said, โHe is so tiny and heโs going to teach me swimming? Why doesn't he go back to his Mommy?โ โNelly!โ the woman bellowed at her daughter. โWhere are your manners? Apologize to Bobby right now!โ Nelly refused. She slammed the fork and knife on the plate and started to throw a tantrum. โIf you think Iโm being rude, then donโt bring me out. Itโs annoying!โ The w
โLetโs sit down. I believe you have a lot of things to tell me.โ The woman tidied her dress and sat back down elegantly. Thaddeus nodded and smiled. โYeah. 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. Iโll give you a satisfactory result tonight.โ 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, โAre they doing something tonight?โ 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. โBobby brought the girl out. He doesnโt want me anymore. Iโm not happy. I want to call him.โ 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.โWas the food delicious?โ 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. โAre you going out?โโNo.โโThen, why are you putting on makeup?โ 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.โWhy canโt I put on makeup without going out?โ Mona looked at Thaddeus coldly. โIโm just playing in your hotel. Canโt I do that?โโPlaying?โ Thaddeus realized that the words Mona was using were strange. โWhat can you play in the hotel?โโThereโs a private beach in the back. Iโm going sunbathing,โ Mona spoke casually, pursed her plu
โHey there, Miss. Sunbathing?โ Sophie picked up a bottle of cola on the table, opened it, rolled up her sleeves, and took two gulps. โHow did it go with Stella?โโDonโt get me started.โ Sophie hiccupped. โShe was very angry, but Mr. Fontaineโs 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, sheโs looking for another lead actress, and she didnโt mention anything about you breaking the contract. Money is really amazing.โSophie sighed emotionally while looking at the men passing by who could not keep their eyes off Mona. She also stared at Monaโs body.โArenโt you worried what your man will say if you come out like this?โโHe wonโt. He has his own things to deal with.โโNo matter how busy he is, he still has to take care of you.โ Sophie shook her robe off and covered Monaโs body. โCover yourself up. Donโt let others see you like this.โMona folded her arms behind her head and turned to
Mona went back to the room with Millie, but Thaddeus was not around. She called him, but no one picked up. She felt very puzzled. He was here just a short while ago. Where could he have gone?With no other choice, Mona called Bobby instead. However, he also could not be contacted.Monaโs already frazzled nerves became afraid and scared. Now that the family she was looking for was not by her side, it further aggravated her panic.โSophie, did you find anything?โโNot yet. Iโm going to the studio now to see if thereโs any surveillance footage. If we really canโt track Lindaโs whereabouts, then we can only call the police.โโOkay, thatโs what weโll do. I canโt contact Thaddeus or Bobby on my side either, but I hope itโs just a coincidence.โSophie was silent on the other end of the phone for a long time. She also recognized the feeling that danger was lurking around and approaching them.โSophie, you continue to ask about Linda. I have to find Bobby first. Iโve never not been able
Before he could finish, Mona interrupted Thaddeus, โOkay, you donโt have to say anymore. I have something important to tell you.โMona pulled Thaddeus to the side and said seriously, โI canโt find Bobby.โโBobby went out with Mrs. Greeneโs daughter. Donโt worry, theyโre safe. Nothing will happen.โโWhat makes you say theyโre safe?โ Mona was anxious and pushed Thaddeusโ hand away. โI canโt get through his phone. This has never happened before.โThaddeus frowned slightly, and Mona was very agitated.โAre you even taking this seriously? I canโt contact Linda either, and now I canโt find Bobby. Donโt you think itโs too much to be a coincidence? I hope that you can take this seriously, Thaddeus. This is New Astrid, not Neuffield. This isnโt your territory.โMona almost burst into tears as she spoke. She did not dare to imagine what if something happened to Bobby and Linda. She could not bear to let anything happen.โWeโll go find Bobby now. Donโt worry. If I say theyโre safe, then no
Mona took the tablet and looked at it. She exited the screen and tapped on Millieโs name. The positioning showed that she was in the hotel and even what room number she was in.It was Monaโs first time seeing such an advanced tracking system.โIโve never heard of this software before.โ Mona felt like it was something new. She did not know there was something like this when she was at home.โOf course, you havenโt.โ Thaddeus curled his lips. The smile hanging at the corners of his lips carried the power to soothe peopleโs hearts. โThis tracking system was researched and developed by me, especially for the two children. It uses the most advanced satellite system in the world. Even if theyโre in no manโs land where thereโs no signal, itโll be able to locate them accurately. I planted the tracking chip in their bodies. The various health data will compile a monitoring report and sound an alarm if they suffer any physical injury. Thatโs why I told you not to worry. He will definitely be
The two of them sat on the shore, their expressions dismayed. Nelly had most likely cried. Her eyes were red as she hugged her knees on the shore. Bobby comforted her from the side. When Thaddeus saw this, he immediately knew what was going on.Bobby was very good at swimming. Most likely, Nelly jumped into the water because of something that made her sad, and Bobby dove in to save her.โBobby!โ Mona followed and finally sighed in relief when she saw her son safe and sound.Bobby turned around and saw that Thaddeus and Mona had come. He immediately got up and ran to them.โMommy, Daddy.โThe moment Mona heard Bobby call her, the tears in her eyes gushed out uncontrollably. Only God knew how anxious she was during the drive here. She almost wanted to die.โCome here.โ Mona waved to Bobby. โCome quickly and let me see if youโre hurt.โBobby walked to Mona and raised his head to look at her. โDonโt worry, Mommy. I can take care of myself.โMona pulled her sonโs shoulders and turne
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. โWhereโs your mommy?โ Thaddeus shuffled his hair and looked around, searching for Mona. โFreeze, Daddy. We have held Mommy captive. Surrender yourself to us.โ 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. โHurry up and surrender, Daddy. Put your hands up, and we will release Mommy.โ 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
โMommy, did the baby kick you today?โ Millie wobbled her way over and placed her hand on Monaโs belly. She could feel the baby stirring inside her mommyโs stomach. Millie was pleasantly surprised. โThe baby kicked me! Mommy, is the baby swimming inside your belly?โ โYeah. The baby is kicking.โ 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 Monaโs ear. โWerenโt you craving strawberries? I placed an order, and the fruit is being airlifted here as we speak. Itโll arrive tonight.โ โYay.โ 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
โNo. I wonโt let myself go.โ 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 manโs 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. โYouโre responsible for taking care of the baby once the child is born.โ Thaddeus straightened his tie. โAlright. I can do that. I want to be present in the babyโs life and your pregnancy. You should rest at home once your belly gets bigger. Iโll handle Bobby and Millieโs school run, okay?โ The man pinched Monaโs face dotingly. โNow youโre talking. Are you heading out?โ Mona got up on her tiptoes to brush off the dust from his shoulders. โYeah. I need to sort out a lot of paperwork.โ โI wrote down notes of the meeting I attended on your behalf a few days ago.โ 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 Thaddeusโ 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. โSo 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?โ 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. โHand over the camera!โ โThereโs nothing in the camera. Besides, itโs my personal property. Why should I give it to you?โ โYou clearly took a picture of my husband. You have some nerve to say thereโs nothing.โ Mona grabbed the man by the wrist and lifted her foot to kick. Thaddeus grabbed her wrist to stop her. โYouโre pregnant. Think about the child.โ Thaddeus pulled Mona back, leaving himself exposed to the paparazzi. โWhy do you want to photograph me? Do you want to see me in a wheelchair? Take a picture then.โ Thaddeus pulled a straight face. His nonchalant gaze spoke of intimidation. Dumbstruck, the paparazzi looked at Thaddeusโ legs and smiled dryly. โWhat happened to your legs, Mr. Fontaine?โ 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. โI wonโt attend any media interviews before the election, but I wonโt disappear from the public eye either. I donโt 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.โ 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
โItโs okay. Thatโs normal after surgery. The doctor gave me a heads-up. Since itโs a brain operation, you might have damage to the motor nerve. With the help of physiotherapy, youโll be back to running in no time.โ Mona consoled Thaddeus. Thaddeus lifted his hands and gave Mona a gentle push. โLeave.โ Mona froze. She looked at the man who was fine a second ago, not knowing what to do. โCan you leave? I need some time alone,โ Fixing his gaze on Mona, Thaddeus spoke callously. โOkay. Iโll be right outside if you need me.โ 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 manโs 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