The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Nico was so alarmed to hear Gwendolyn’s voice, which was deadly soft, that he nearly flung his phone aside.

For a long while, he did not dare respond or breathe.

“You’d better come clean on Cedrick’s behalf, Nico,” Gwendolyn warned him severely. “Confess while I’m still

feeling lenient, or the two of you will be in for a world of hell. Rest assured, I will send you there.”

She uttered the last few words through gritted teeth, and it sent shivers down his spine.

Nico was thoroughly frightened by this point. “Cedrick only did it with your health in mind,” he explained hastily. “He

loves you so much, you know. He…”

Amidst a deluge of ingratiating pleas, Gwendolyn finally understood the entire matter two minutes later.

“All right, I see. You were right to tell me, so I won’t be putting you in a tough spot, nor will I allow him to punish you.

Don’t you worry.”

Compared to his own fate, Nico was more worried that he had driven a wedge between her and Cedrick. “Don’t be

mad at him, Gwendolyn. He—”

The woman had had enough. “Don’t concern yourself with it,” she interrupted brusquely. “Nothing will happen to

him.” Without another word, she hung up.

Silence descended all of a sudden as the bedroom filled with a chilly aura.

Gwendolyn turned to face Cedrick. Before she managed to open her mouth to mock him, she felt something stuffed

hastily into her hand.

Looking down, she found the mahogany ruler from the drawer of the bedside table.

“Even the ruler is out. What is this?” she asked with feigned ignorance. “Do you miss the taste of it, having been

deprived of it for too long?”

Cedrick bit his lip nervously. The tips of his ears grew red, and his voice seemed to have withered in defeat. “I was

wrong for not thinking things through. Please forgive me.”

Gwendolyn studied him carefully. “The children belong to both of us, Ceddy. You have no right to decide on my

behalf.”

“I know.”

He avoided her gaze. “It was just a thought that I wanted to discuss with you as soon as I came home.”

She exposed him mercilessly while fiddling with the ruler. “If Nico did not intervene, would you have discussed it

with me?”

“I’m sorry.”

He was at a loss of arguing his way out of that. Though he did plan on bringing it up with her, he thought it would

sound defensive to reiterate the point, so he opted to simply admit it.

Steeling himself at that thought, he offered both his palms.

“If it would appease you, I will let you punish me.”

“I just want to remind you that this pertains to the both of us, Ceddy. Please talk to me next time instead of doing

everything on your own as you do with work.”

Gwendolyn gazed, displeased, at his hung head.

I do not want to hit him! Not in the slightest.

Furthermore, a light punishment like that would not make an impression on an already-recovered patient like him.

Rather, he simply wanted her to vent her anger.

Cedrick went too far today. I should prank him to teach him a lesson.

Upon arriving at that thought, Gwendolyn sniggered. Her fox-like eyes glimmered beadily. “You do deserve to be

punished, but who said anything about caning your hands?”

Cedrick looked up and felt a sense of foreboding from her wicked smile.

Gwendolyn’s smirk deepened. Crossing her legs, she sat on the bed and patted the spot before her. “Lie here.”

“Eh?”

Cedrick froze. Though he seemed to have grasped her meaning, he appeared uncertain. “Do you want to… spank

me on my buttocks?”

She nodded. “Very clever of you, Ceddy.”

“No way!”

Cedrick’s ears flushed crimson in an instant. Even his face and neck glowed red.

It was not just a punishment to him. Worse than that, it was a humiliation.

I would rather die than to obey her.

“I am the chairman of Jenson Group, Gwenny, and the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation! What would

become of my reputation?” Gnawing on his lip in vexation, he fixed her with an accusatory gaze.

Gwendolyn stifled a laugh. “I know that,” she replied seriously. “Are you telling me that you would furious if I were to

touch your buttocks?”

“That’s right!” His tone was firm.

Nevertheless, she was unfazed. “I’ve touched them, caressed them, and even spanked them. I’m already saving

you face by letting you keep your pants on, you know. Besides, what’s so embarrassing about getting spanked by

your wife?”

Cedrick could not find the words to retort, but that was something he could not bring himself to do.

“No means no.”

Gwendolyn scowled. “You don’t appear to be remorseful for your actions, Ceddy. Maybe I should return to the

Harris residence and think about whether I should forgive you. You only had one chance, after all.”

She made to get up, and Cedrick quickly grabbed her.

“Don’t go. I made a mistake!”

Gwendolyn stifled another laugh at the conviction of his response. Deciding to take the prank one notch higher, she

indicated the large expanse of the bed with a glance.

Dawdling resignedly, Cedrick spent several minutes getting into position on the bed in front of her.

The woman relished his embarrassment brazenly, then tapped the wooden ruler lightly on his buttocks, her

movements exuding a hint of deviousness. “Even if you’ve never taken a spanking, I’m sure you’ve delivered one.

Your posture isn’t quite right. Arch higher! Yes, just like that.”

Cedrick buried his face in the pit of his elbow. Gwendolyn could not see his expression, but she saw the tip of his

ears, flaming red, and sensed his emotional devastation.

Rolling up her sleeves, she announced playfully, “Here it comes, Ceddy! I won’t hold back, so brace yourself!”

After inoculating him with a warm-up, Gwendolyn grasped the ruler with both hands and brought it high above her

head.

Before she could bring it swinging down, Cedrick tackled her; he was careful not to press her belly.

“Don’t hit me, Gwenny!”

Burying his face in her neck, he implored her mournfully. His ears, burning hot, pressed against her skin which felt

as if it were about to boil.

Something this embarrassing ought to be a lesson not soon forgotten, I hope.

“Will you still keep things from me and make my decisions behind my back?”

Cedrick shook his head meekly. “Never again. There won’t be another time.”

Upon achieving her goal, Gwendolyn pinched his firm buttocks.

Just like that, the atmosphere within the bedroom became filled with sweetness.

Soon, it was nearly New Year’s Eve.

As the months passed, Gwendolyn’s belly swelled. Pregnancy was something that could not remain hidden for long,

and the pair were discussing how they were going to reveal the surprising news.

Cedrick even considered bringing the wedding forward.xo.com fast update

Before New Year’s Eve, a visitor least expected by anybody to visit turned up at Harrick Villa.

Upon entering the villa, Kieran scowled as if coming to collect a debt.

“Are you pregnant? Twins?” he asked as soon as Gwendolyn appeared down the stairs.

“Um…” Gwendolyn froze, looking slightly abashed.

She almost forgot how her brother was a majority shareholder in all of the major hospitals in Chanaea—he would

find out no matter where she went for a check-up.

“You’re the first person in the family to find out, Kieran. Are you surprised?”

Kieran ignored her and her tone of feigned nonchalance. His cold, haughty features did not change.

Cedrick pulled Gwendolyn behind him. “It was my fault. Gwenny had nothing to do with it.”

Kieran glared at the other man. “You’re damned right it was your fault,” he snapped. “Not only were you unable to

control yourself, you didn’t even bother using a condom. You will take full responsibility!”