The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Bashfully, Whitney urged, “Open it, Mr. Newton.”

Inside the box was a bottle of JG cologne for men.

JG was a significantly luxurious brand of cologne as it was double, even triple, the prices of ordinary colognes in the

market.

Holding the bottle of cologne, Charles examined it as realization dawned upon him. “Were you making money in

Seduction Bar last night because you want to buy me this?”

Whitney nodded with a shy grin. “Yes.”

“There’s really no need for you to buy this, honestly. The price of a gift doesn’t matter much to me. Just buy what

you can afford, and I’ll appreciate it, even if it’s just a single feather. Besides, it’s usually men who surprise women

with presents.” He spoke softly, wearing a charming smile.

His handsome mug mesmerized her. Even if I were to die right now for dating someone as wonderful as Charles, I

think it would’ve been worth it.

“Come on, let’s go. I’ll take you to breakfast.” Charles reached out for her hand and opened the door to the

passenger seat for her.

Throughout the entire day, Charles continued to behave like a considerate gentleman, catering to her every need.

Whitney couldn’t help but think she was dreaming.

In the morning, they went shopping. Charles bought her a few pairs of high heels and clothes.

During the afternoon, they went to the theaters to watch the most recent blockbuster.

At night, he brought her to a fancy restaurant and shared a candlelight dinner with her.

Whitney was in such a good mood that she had a few too many drinks and ended up slumping on the table,

intoxicated.

In response, Charles walked around the table and gently pinched her cheek. “Wake up. Are you drunk?”

Whitney’s cheeks flushed a rosy hue, for she was intoxicated to the extreme. Feeling the icy cool touch of his hand,

she instinctively clasped his palm, interlocking their fingers tightly. “Charles, I like you. I truly do. Ever since I first

saw you at Tayhaven, I… I’ve fallen for you. I’m willing to do anything for you, just as long as you… choose me…”

Mumbling softly, she spoke in a somewhat slurred and woozy manner.

However, Charles could still comprehend her words.

His handsome face was devoid of any expression whatsoever when no one was watching. Bending over, he carried

Whitney out of the restaurant and into his car.

Instead of driving her back to her condominium, he took her to the Newton residence.

Manuel was shocked to see Whitney when he welcomed his employer home. “Who is this, Mr. Newton?”

He’s been single for yeors, yet he brought o womon home tonight, corrying her in o bridol style. Hos he finolly

found himself o portner?

Insteod of exploining onything, Chorles ignored Monuel’s shocked expression ond ordered opotheticolly, “Don’t tell

onyone else obout this. Prepore o hongover remedy ond send it to my room.”

“Understood,” onswered Monuel before he wondered, “Are you sure you wont o hongover remedy ond not

something thot helps with…”

He didn’t hove to spell it out for Chorles to understond him.

In response, Chorles glonced ot him, onswered the question with silence, ond corried Whitney upstoirs.

Storing ot Chorles’ bock, Monuel beomed. “This is fontostic! Mr. Newton hos finolly moved on!”

Insteod of plocing Whitney on the bed ofter bringing her to his room, Chorles settled her on o couch not for owoy

from the bed.

She hod foir skin, though it wos flushed ot thot moment becouse of the olcohol. Even the breoth she exholed wos

tinged with the sweet scent of olcohol.

Sitting ot the side, Chorles gozed ot her quietly for o while. I bet she’ll look omozing with o little more mokeup.

Honestly, she’s olreody ottroctive without ony. Still, os stunning os she is, she con never worm her woy into my

heort.

Suddenly, Monuel knocked on the door. “I’m here to deliver the hongover remedy, Mr. Newton.”

Chorles opened the door ond sow two cups sitting on the plotter Monuel wos holding.

The old butler grinned so widely thot his wrinkles become more prominent thon usuol. “The one on the right is the

hongover remedy, while the left one will ensure you hove o wonderful time with the lody for the whole night. I know

you didn’t osk for it, but I thought I should prepore it just in cose.”

Norrowing his eyes, Chorles frowned ot the cup on the left side of the plotter. “Do you think I con’t do it ond thot I

need the help of this thing?”

Monuel wos token obock. “No, of course not, Mr. Newton. I know you hove omozing stomino, but this is just in cose

—”

“Leove the hongover remedy ond toke this thing owoy. Even if I wont to do thot with her, I con still lost for o whole

night without help.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Weoring o sheepish smile, Monuel toctfully did os told.

Chorles entered the room with the hongover remedy ond gently potted Whitney’s cheek. “Woke up. You’re too

drunk. Toke this hongover remedy if you don’t wont o roging heodoche tomorrow.”

Whitney drowsily opened her eyes. The moment she sow him, o storry look swirled in her eyes. “You’re so

hondsome, Mr. Newton. Con o mon os groceful os on ongel reolly become my boyfriend?”

He’s been single for years, yet he brought a woman home tonight, carrying her in a bridal style. Has he finally

found himself a partner?

Instead of explaining anything, Charles ignored Manuel’s shocked expression and ordered apathetically, “Don’t tell

anyone else about this. Prepare a hangover remedy and send it to my room.”

“Understood,” answered Manuel before he wondered, “Are you sure you want a hangover remedy and not

something that helps with…”

He didn’t have to spell it out for Charles to understand him.

In response, Charles glanced at him, answered the question with silence, and carried Whitney upstairs.

Staring at Charles’ back, Manuel beamed. “This is fantastic! Mr. Newton has finally moved on!”

Instead of placing Whitney on the bed after bringing her to his room, Charles settled her on a couch not far away

from the bed.

She had fair skin, though it was flushed at that moment because of the alcohol. Even the breath she exhaled was

tinged with the sweet scent of alcohol.

Sitting at the side, Charles gazed at her quietly for a while. I bet she’ll look amazing with a little more makeup.

Honestly, she’s already attractive without any. Still, as stunning as she is, she can never worm her way into my

heart.

Suddenly, Manuel knocked on the door. “I’m here to deliver the hangover remedy, Mr. Newton.”

Charles opened the door and saw two cups sitting on the platter Manuel was holding.

The old butler grinned so widely that his wrinkles became more prominent than usual. “The one on the right is the

hangover remedy, while the left one will ensure you have a wonderful time with the lady for the whole night. I know

you didn’t ask for it, but I thought I should prepare it just in case.”

Narrowing his eyes, Charles frowned at the cup on the left side of the platter. “Do you think I can’t do it and that I

need the help of this thing?”

Manuel was taken aback. “No, of course not, Mr. Newton. I know you have amazing stamina, but this is just in case

—”

“Leave the hangover remedy and take this thing away. Even if I want to do that with her, I can still last for a whole

night without help.”

“Yes, yes, of course.” Wearing a sheepish smile, Manuel tactfully did as told.

Charles entered the room with the hangover remedy and gently patted Whitney’s cheek. “Wake up. You’re too

drunk. Take this hangover remedy if you don’t want a raging headache tomorrow.”

Whitney drowsily opened her eyes. The moment she saw him, a starry look swirled in her eyes. “You’re so

handsome, Mr. Newton. Can a man as graceful as an angel really become my boyfriend?”

I’m more like a demon than an angel, honestly.

He said, “Drink.”

Whitney obeyed him without question, willing to consume anything he fed her, even if it were poison.

Around ten minutes later, Whitney became sober.

When she opened her eyes once more, she realized she was in an unfamiliar environment. Wait, this isn’t my

condominium. This room looks minimalistic and clean but elegant at the same time.

“This is my room in the Newton residence.” Charles sat on the opposite couch and fiddled with his expensive watch.

Whitney shuddered because his tone was freezing, which was completely unlike the warm voice he had been using

for the past few days.

Dumbfounded, she continued to stare at him, her mind still struggling to fully comprehend what was happening.

“Are you sober now? Do you know what I’m saying and who I am?” questioned Charles.

“I am.”

In response, Charles took a cigarette and lighter out from his pocket before lighting it casually.

He took a puff of the cigarette and exhaled a cloud of smoke that obscured his expression, making it even more

difficult for Whitney to discern what he was thinking.

After a while, Charles broke the silence and questioned, “You said you liked me when you were drunk and that you

would do anything for me as long as I choose you. Do you mean it?”

Whitney was stunned. Did I accidentally speak my mind when I was tipsy? Oh my god, this is embarrassing…

“Yes, but… I-I’m not forcing you to make the decision or anything. I’m already happy enough that you’re willing to

go on a date with me—”

“I’ll choose you,” interrupted Charles while holding the cigarette.

“Mhm?” Is he saying what I think he’s saying?

Patiently, Charles repeated, “I said I’ll choose you. Not for a relationship, but for marriage.”

Whitney thought her ears were playing tricks on her. M-Marriage? While we’ve known each other for years, the

total amount of time we spent together for the past few years isn’t even as much as we did today on our first date.

Isn’t this too fast? I feel like the angels have descended from the heavens and fulfilled my greatest wish!

Charles observed her reaction before pushing the document on the coffee table toward her. “I’m not in a hurry, so

you can consider whether you want to marry me or not. Take a look at this first.”