The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Chapter 615 Pretend To Be Sick

The couple left the Federal Bureau of Investigation hand in hand and rushed back to the Jenson residence, heading

for Valentino’s villa.

Logan was already waiting at the villa entrance. “You’re finally willing to come back, Mr. Jenson.”

Cedrick said, “Have you contacted the Jenson family’s medical corps?”

Logan nodded and led the couple inside. “I’ve made the call. The medical corps should be here in a few minutes.”

Gwendolyn asked, “Grandpa was well. Why did he pass out again out of the blue? The result of his previous medical

checkup was fine, right? Did he eat something wrong again?”

Logan looked troubled. “I don’t know the specifics either. As soon as I got back, Old Mr. Jenson was already

unconscious. He seems to be doing worse than before, so I could only ask for you to return. Mr. Jenson.

The trio entered the living room and headed toward the staircase.

Since Valentino was old and had difficulty walking, having to rely on the aid of a crutch all the time, his room wasn’t

located high up, just on the second floor.

Just as they reached the second floor, Logan suddenly turned to Gwendolyn. “Mrs. Jenson, I just heard from Mdm.

Yarde that Mr. Benedict has been crying all night, refusing to sleep. Mdm. Yarde couldn’t soothe him. Since you’re

here, why don’t you check on him?”

Benny has been crying? Taken aback, Gwendolyn shifted her gaze to Cedrick and didn’t respond at once.

Cedrick seemed to sense Logan’s intention. He said, “I’ll watch over Grandpa. If Benny has been crying all night, he

must not be feeling well, or perhaps he’s missing you. You go check on him. Don’t worry about Grandpa.

Gwendolyn could only nod. “I’ll go check on Benny, then. If there isn’t anything serious, I’ll come back down to see

Grandpa.”

“Okay.” A tender look filled Cedrick’s dark eyes as he came to a halt and watched her ascend the stairs.

“Let’s go, Mr. Jenson. Old Mr. Jenson needs you.”

Cedrick withdrew his gaze and followed Logan into Valentino’s bedroom.

The white incandescent ceiling light was on inside the bedroom.

Valentino sat at the head of the bed, half leaning against the pillow. His murky yet sharp gaze was directed at

Cedrick as the latter approached from afar.

Noticing that Valentino was full of vigor and doing fine, Cedrick didn’t seem surprised at all.

He had suspected that when Logan intentionally distracted Gwendolyn.

“If you wish to see me, you could’ve just called, Grandpa. You didn’t have to pretend to be sick.”

Valentino didn’t respond to his grandson’s slightly resentful remark and instead slowly stretched out his hand.

“Cedrick, come sit by my bed.”

Cedrick strode over and sat on Valentino’s bedside compliantly.

Valentino looked at his grandson, who he had personally raised, with a sense of accomplishment. His voice was

laced with nostalgia as he spoke. “I remember you were only two years old when you were first brought to me. You

were only so small.” He raised his wrinkled hand to gesture the height. “Very mini, very cute. You always liked to

cling to my trousers and call me from behind. I’d always been strict with you, reprimanding, beating, and making

you kneel as punishment. However, I was only so stern because I had high expectations for you.”

His eyes welled up with tears as he grew more sentimental. “Twenty years have passed in the blink of an eye.

You’ve completely replaced me and seized full control of Jenson Group while attaining great success in both military

and business worlds, becoming the man at the top of the pyramid in Salinsburgh.”

Cedrick sighed and asked calmly. “What are you trying to say, Grandpa? Did you call me here so that I can listen to

you reminisce about the past?”

“Now that you’re grown and independent, you no longer value my opinions. I had to request Logan to meet with

you in person and repeatedly urge you to come home. If I didn’t pretend to be sick, would you have come back?”

Cedrick felt resigned, listening to his grandfather’s reproach. “I respect and revere you, Grandpa, but I have my

personal boundaries. You should know that. If anyone dares to harm the people I cherish, I won’t let them off easily

no matter who they are. Xander was merely detained for two days, and he suffered minor discomforts, yet it has

caused you so much distress, Grandpa. You even resorted to using the truth about my parents’ car accident to

coerce me into submission and even pretended to be sick to make me come home. It seems you’re truly fond of

that grandson of yours.”

Stumped, Valentino chose to leverage familial love.

“Cedrick, I’m old. I only have two grandsons, you and Xander, and one granddaughter, Triss. Perhaps my karmic

retribution that the rest of my grandchildren were met with unfortunate accidents when t were young. I don’t want

to see you and Xander fighting each other over inheritance and power.”

As he spoke, he reached out, wanting to touch the most competent grandson he had raised.

However, Cedrick moved away, avoiding Valentino’s touch.

The old man’s expression stiffened. He retracted his hand in silence and got down to business. “I called you here

tonight to tell you the truth about your parents’ incident. However, that is provided that you must first promise me

to let Yael and Xander go.”

Cedrick’s eyes darkened, and he hesitated for a few seconds before agreeing to Valentino’s request. “All right. I can

let Uncle Yael and Xander go and write off this incident.”

Valentino was slightly stunned.

He had prepared himself to get into a lengthy discussion with Cedrick regarding that matter. Little did he expect the

latter to agree with such alacrity.

He felt relieved, but at the same time, a slightly apologetic look flashed across his eyes. He started recounting the

past, “Your father was my chosen successor. The culprit behind the car accident was a military friend of mine who

once saved my life, so I chose to sacrifice my eldest son and daughter-in-law, who was beyond treatment, to get

my friend off the hook.”

Cedrick frowned, unconvinced by Valentino’s speech.

“Who was this military friend of yours? Do I know him? Grandpa, you hated owing others favors when you were in

the military. How come I never heard about someone saving your life.” A life-saving favor isn’t something minor, so

how could I have never heard of it all these years?

Cedrick found his grandfather’s excuse full of loopholes and didn’t hold up to scrutiny.

Valentino looked down. “You’re asking me so many questions at once. Which one should I answer first?”

Cedrick pressed further, “Do you need me to repeat all my questions, Grandpa?”

The old man was speechless for a few moments before uttering impatiently, “It seems that you don’t believe a

word I’m saying. That military friend of mine passed away from cancer a few years ago. After 1 retired, he left the

military, too, so you wouldn’t know him. As for your lack of knowledge that I owed someone a life-saving favor, it’s

because I’ve paid it off following your father’s accident, which is why I’ve never mentioned it all these years.

Although I feel guilty toward you and about what happened, your parents couldn’t be saved. Despite how

heartbroken I was, I couldn’t stand idly by and watch as that matter spiraled out of control to the extent of affecting

Jenson Group’s stock price. I had to declare that unfortunate incident a regular traffic accident.”

Cedrick got to his feet and took a few steps back, staring at his grandfather, who he suddenly found extremely

unfamiliar, warily. “Grandpa, do you think you can deceive me with such a poorly made-up excuse to save Uncle

Yael and Xander?”

Valentino wore a determined expression. “It’s up to you to believe me. Or, you can rely on your capabilities to

investigate it.”

Cedrick snorted and probed further, “Since my parents car accident had something to do with your military friend,

why does Uncle Yael know about it?”