The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Chapter 270 Cedrick Teased

“My heart goes out to you, so I’ll stay by your side. I’ll also learn how to love and protect you.”

Her soothingly lilting voice drifted into Cedrick’s ears and echoed in his mind.

The most dazzling smile bloomed before him.

His heart that ached inexplicably felt as if it were engulfed by warm light which melted all its frost.

Cedrick felt a lump in his throat as he instinctively reached for her soft face.

However, he still wore his leather gloves that had just touched Evelyn.

He discreetly withdrew his hand at the thought while his other palm, which hung on the other side of his thigh,

curled into a fist subconsciously.

Charles was right.

Gwendolyn’s fiery personality made her a force to behold with her enemies. They could never get close to her

without being burnt.

Yet when it came to the people she loved, she was as docile as a cat, irresistibly drawing others to her.

She embodied vitality, charisma, and resilience.

He had assumed the virus within him could be suppressed well enough so that they could look forward to a life

together.

Little did he expect it to become wishful thinking with how rapidly the virus spread.

He was nothing more than a broken man with half a foot in the grave. Gwendolyn deserved better than him.

I’m the one holding her back.

“Ceddy?” Gwendolyn murmured when she noticed Cedrick being lost in his thoughts.

Cedrick regained his senses and stretched out his arms slightly, resuming his aloof expression. “I’m not injured. Feel

free to inspect me if you have any doubts.”

“I don’t believe you. You can’t trick me when you look worse for wear. I need you to explain what exactly happened.

What were you and Evelyn doing when I came in? Why do I sense that you were trying to pique me-”

“I think I like her quite a bit.”

Cedrick interrupted before she could finish her sentence.

“Excuse me?”

Gwendolyn was stunned. She withdrew her hands from his thighs and took several steps back, staring at him as if

he were a stranger.

Cedrick directed his gaze out of the floor-to–ceiling win “gh

and uttered unfeelingly, “She’s gorgeous

with a gentle personality that pulls on one’s heartstrings. No man can reject the advances of such a lady.

So, what do you think I was doing with her just now?”

Gwendolyn’s expression fell as she continued backing away from him.

“Are you disgusted with me?”

Cedrick scoffed in disdain. “You’re prideful, dominant, and cruel compared to her. Perhaps a change of taste is due

after pursuing you for so many years. I’m tired.”

Gwendolyn’s shapely eyes narrowed on his chiseled profile. “You’ve changed, Cedrick.”

“Men always seek excitement and the thrill of a chase. I did not change, Gwendolyn. You’ve merely seen my true

colors. Now you know I’m no good, scram.”

His ruthless words hung in the air for several minutes, undisturbed by the silence.

‘Gwendolyn remained rooted to the spot.

Cedrick continued gazing out the window. His inky eyes were devoid of any hint of sentiment and filled only with

cold detachedness.

Despite that, an unexpected sound of soft laughter broke the grim atmosphere.

Cedrick turned around dubiously. How can Gwendolyn laugh and not be enraged?

Her starry eyes were free from any trace of anger.

His heart dropped as he struggled to keep up his frosty veneer and glared. “Is something hilarious?”

Gwendolyn walked toward him and grabbed the arms of his office chair before bending down to plant a kiss on his

forehead.

The cherry–red lipstick stain that left its mark was blatantly obvious.

“You!”

Cedrick raised his eyes to give her a death stare. “Didn’t you understand a word I said?”

Gwendolyn continued laughing recklessly as if she’d seen through the act he was putting up.

“Cedrick, you looked so convincing that I almost fell for it, but…”

She let her sentence hang mid–air while her gaze traveled to his hands on his thighs. Your acting skills still have

room for improvement. Perhaps try not clenching your fists so tightly next time?”

Cedrick was caught off guard and instinctively hid his hands behind his back.

His act of pretense had been exposed!

There was nothing else he could do besides pretending to remain broodingly calm.

Yet the feisty Gwendolyn was intent on tearing down his defenses.

She gently hooked his chin and drew circles on it teasingly.

“Cedrick, I’m offended that

you’d think I would fall for such paltry tricks. I was too overcome with fury

last night to have seen through your disguise, but not today. I can see the cracks in your every word and gesture.

You’ve almost sacrificed your life several times for my sake and can barely hide your love for me. I would be a fool

to believe you’d fall for Evelyn so quickly. Are you pretending to get together with her to infuriate me? Still planning

to deny everything at this point, are you?”

The petulance in her lyrical voice seemed to have a hypnotic effect on Cedrick.

Cedrick evaded her hand and her gaze. “What I said was the truth. You think too highly of me. That’s why

Gwendolyn lowered her face and kissed his left cheek, successfully cutting him off.

She was staking her claim by marking him with her carmine lipstick stain.

“Why you!”

‘Cedrick glared at her prickly.

“Are you mad at me?” Gwendolyn resumed tracing circles on his chain and smirked at him slyly like the cat that got

the cream.

“You must be upset that I saw through your facade. But what can you do? I so enjoy seeing how you seethe yet still

can’t seem to get rid of me!”

Cedrick pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes dangerously. “Gwendolyn, I warn you not to force hand!”

“Are you going to strike me? How terrifying!” She taunted peskily.

my

The smile had never left Gwendolyn’s face despite her claims of being afraid. “This is nothing new to me, anyway.

Let’s see who will win this round with the state that you’re in.”

Cedrick felt slightly remorseful at that.

He had depleted all his energy last night when enduring chest pains compounded with his body’s degradation. As a

result, he slept poorly.

It was a given that he’d lose miserably to Gwendolyn in a fight.

“Any decent man wouldn’t lay a hand on a woman!” His baritone voice was lofty and dismissive.

Gwendolyn burst out laughing as she reached for the lipstick in her purse to reapply it on her lips.

“It would be amusing to see how many lipstick stains I can leave on your face to go with each lie you insist on

weaving.”

“Gwendolyn, behave!”

He’d barely finished speaking when Gwendolyn speedily smooched his cheeks and chin.

His entire face was covered in garish lipstick stains.

Gwendolyn’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she uttered in a singsong voice, “I’ll behave only when you decide to

be forthright with me.”

Cedrick was rendered speechless. He’d underestimated how sharp Gwendolyn could be.

She was now making fun of him after exposing his act of deceit.

The tragedy was that he was absolutely helpless against her.

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