The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Chapter 649 Tell Me The Truth

The cemetery?

Gwendolyn’s brows furrowed in skepticism as she stared intently at Cedrick’s handsome face.

Naturally, she knew exactly who was buried in Fairlake Cemetery. Back when she was unaware of Cedrick’s staged

death, she had even lingered in Fairlake for six months, all for the sake of that tombstone.

Just when she was deep in thought, the man caressed her soft cheek with his large palm. With a slight smile on his

face, he asked, “What’s on your mind, Darling?”

“I was just wondering… Are you planning to visit Maverick? And is there something about the Wright family that

you’ve been keeping from me? Something that might be related to me?” Her voice carried a mix of intrigue and

apprehension as she voiced her thoughts.

Cedrick gently traced the contours of her check with his slender fingers, his deep gaze obscuring any glimpse of his

true thoughts, making it difficult for Gwendolyn to decipher his intentions.

With his usual soft and caring tone, he replied, “I noticed you didn’t eat much breakfast at the Wright residence,

and your expression reveals a hint of melancholy. Turns out you’re thinking about this, huh, Gwenny? I suppose I

can’t keep anything from my beloved wife. I must apologize for causing you distress and ruining your morning. It’s

my fault for not considering how it would affect you,”

Gwendolyn gave his hand a light pat and playfully scolded, “Well, it’s good that you realized that. Honesty is

essential in a marriage, you know. Now, be a good husband and confess everything to me.”

Cedrick took her hand and lowered his head with reverence before pressing a tender kiss on her palm.

“I intend to go to Fairlake Cemetery to reveal everything to you, but I hope you won’t be angry with me, Darling,”

he said earnestly.

Gwendolyn chuckled, exuding a charming and forgiving demeanor. “It’s been so many years, so there’s no need to

dwell on it. Besides, we have our children now, How could I ever abandon you and our little ones” over a petty

disagreement?”

Cedrick nodded in agreement. “You’re right, Darling. It seems that I’ve let my thoughts get the better of

me.”

Twenty minutes later, a luxury car came to a stop outside Fairlake Cemetery.

Gwendolyn and Cedrick stepped out of the car and entered the nearby funeral shop, where they purchased two

bouquets of white flowers separately.

The road leading to Mavericks’ resting place was a path Gwendolyn had trodden countless times before.

Every time she made this journey, a weight of sorrow would settle upon her heart.

However, now that she knew her loved one wasn’t resting beneath the tombstone, but standing beside her, her

heart was filled with a serene calmness. Holding the bouquet of flowers in one hand, she reached out and clasped

Cedrick’s hand with her other, their fingers intertwining tightly.

As they entered the cemetery, Gwendolyn’s instincts guided her directly to Maverick’s tombstone. It was almost as

if she could find it with her eyes closed.

To her surprise, she noticed that the black and white photograph on the tombstone had been replaced

Gone was the face of Cedrick, with his solemn and aloof expression. Instead, the photograph was of a handsome

and unfamiliar young man that Gwendolyn had never seen before.

Intrigued, she leaned in for a closer look. “During the six months I spent in Fairlake, I used to come here every two

or three days, and the photo was of you. When was this changed?” She couldn’t help but feel perplexed. “If the

photo had been replaced with Maverick’s image a long time ago, how could Sheralyn remain completely oblivious

and not pay her respects at her own brother’s grave for a year and a half?”

Cedrick gently placed the bouquet of white flowers in front of the gravestone, offering a slight bow as a gesture of

respect to the departed.

“Just last night, before going to sleep, I sent a message to Fairlake Police Station, asking them to change the photo

on the gravestone.”

“You certainly wasted no time, huh?”

Cedrick’s gaze carried a hint of amusement. “Are you saying that you would prefer my photograph to remain on

display here?”

Gwendolyn looked into his eyes, her tone turning serious when she said, “Don’t speak of such ominous things.”

Cedrick tactfully changed the subject. “Maverick was fifteen years old when a tragic accident took his life. He was

my most trusted subordinate, and I have always carried a deep sense of guilt and remorse ever since…”

Gwendolyn listened attentively. Even though she had heard this story before when she learned about Cedrick’s

staged death, she still patiently allowed him to recount his story again.

“Even though Maverick was sent to study at the Juvenile Training Academy that was affiliated with Salinsburgh’s

Federal Bureau of Investigation at a young age, and the fact that there had been no contact between him and Frida

and Sheralyn for over a decade, Old Mr. Wright was still aware of the situation. That’s why when I assumed

Maverick’s identity, Old Mr. Wright began to grow suspicious. However, he chose to keep his doubts to himself

until… he asked me to marry you.”

Gwendolyn’s expression became more solemn as she listened on.

I was right that his recent unusual behavior was connected to the secret involving the Wright family and myself.

Cedrick let out a sigh. “Gwenny, do you recall how I used to treat you so kindly, like a sister, before we got married?

But once I learned that I had to marry you, my attitude changed drastically. I began to mock and belittle you.

“Of course I remember.”

Although she no longer cared about the past events in the Wright residence, she still remembered them clearly,

especially every moment she had spent with Cedrick.

Cedrick’s eyes dimmed as he cast his gaze downward. He hesitated for a moment before he continued, “Well, Old

Mr. Wright approached me and revealed the truth about my identity before urging me to…”

Gwendolyn pressed for more details, asking, “What did he want you to do?”

“He wanted to take your life in secret and perform a ritual to unite you with Maverick, ensuring a better

reincarnation for him and sparing him from the tragedy of his untimely death.”

He’s talking about a posthumous marriage…

Shocked by the revelation, all Gwendolyn could think of was Declan’s loving and peaceful countenance.

She had never expected that the sweet old man would harbor such malicious intentions all along while allowing her

to stay in the Wright residence.

She uttered, “It’s truly absurd that he held onto such superstitious beliefs and actually put trust in something like

that, especially considering the person in question has been dead for several years.”

“It is ridiculous, indeed,” Cedrick agreed. He gently caressed her face. “At that time, I was still relying on the

protection of the Wright family. Old Mr. Wright couldn’t fully entrust me with the family’s authority, and I didn’t have

enough evidence to expose his absurd plan to the police station. So, I chose to distance myself from you, treating

you coldly and using harsh words to try to push you away. It was all part of my plan to deceive Old Mr. Wright.”

He continued, “I’ve told him more than once that your personality wasn’t compatible with Maverick. After we got

married, we moved out of the Wright residence and into the seaside villa. This was all so that I could keep you away

from Old Mr. Wright’s schemes. During those years, he never found an opportunity to harm you. I’m sure you’re

aware of some of the details, such as the frequent arguments I had with Old

kyou, I Mr. Wright in the study. It was all because of you. I thought that by showing my clear dislike towardy was

protecting your life. However, I failed to realize that I neglected your emotional well-being. Moreover, my evident

disapproval indirectly contributed to the mistreatment and manipulation you faced from other members of the

Wright family. It was my mistake, and I apologize for it.”

As Gwendolyn listened, she started analyzing the situation. “I can still recall the moment when Old Mr. Wright held

my hand before his death, urging me not to get a divorce and showering you with endless praise. Turns out it was

all a facade, a ploy to keep me bound to the Wright family and to plot against me.”

Cedrick nodded. “So, he told you all of this before he passed away, huh?”

He locked his gaze on Gwendolyn, his grip on her hand growing slightly clammy, his eyes welling up with

tears.

He murmured, “I’ve always been afraid to tell you the whole truth because… I feared it would bring back the pain

of those three years and make you want to leave me.”

Having experienced so much together, he realized he couldn’t bear the pain of losing her anymore.

Brushing her fingers against his face, Gwendolyn tried to reassure his unease. “How could you ever think that-”

Before she could finish her sentence, a realization dawned upon her. “Wait… Something doesn’t add up here. If you

never truly loved me and wanted to divorce me because of Old Mr. Wright’s scheme, then why did you get engaged

to Natasha afterward? I remember you being incredibly protective of her, fulfilling her every request out of

gratitude for saving your life. Why weren’t you afraid of her becoming the Wright family’s daughter-in-law?”

Cedrick instantly stiffened at that.

He felt a chill in his heart whenever the old memories of their time in Fairlake were brought up, especially when it

involved Natasha. He regretted ever crossing paths with that woman, as it only reignited a host of unresolved issues

and grievances.

Just when he was simmering with inner turmoil, Gwendolyn grabbed hold of his earlobe, her expression a blend of

mischief and fierceness. “Tell me the truth. Are you hiding something else?”