The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

Someone in the comment section wrote: The guy on the left is so handsome! His facial features are incredibly

striking, and he looks perfect even without makeup. I bet he looks dashing when he dresses up in men’s clothing!

Nico couldn’t help but let out a smug little huff when he saw that.

That’s for sure! Although I might not possess the same level of attractiveness as Charles or Cedrick, I still hold my

own among other men.

Another comment sprung up: Wow, you guys, take a look! That maid outfit seems a bit loose on him, but that

slender yet strong-looking waist is so captivating. I’m totally smitten!

Nico’s ears turned a little pink. Of course, my strong waist is not to be underestimated. Anyone who’s lucky enough

to have me is truly blessed!

Another commenter wrote: He seems so innocent and pure, with a perfect submissive look.

Nico’s eyes widened. What the h*ll? What in the world do you mean by “submissive”? There’s something wrong

with your eyesight! I’m a domineering man through and through, all right!

The rest of the comments were all filled with whimsical descriptions and romantic fantasies about his physique.

However, among those ten thousand comments, the majority of them were actually focused on discussing Charles.

After all, Charles indeed looked stunning in women’s attire, with his natural beauty shining through despite wearing

no makeup. Accepting the reality, Nico conceded that he was no match for Charles and had no desire to challenge

the latter in that aspect.

Having composed himself, Nico continued to clean the laboratory restroom, all while suppressing his frustrations

and grievances. With a heavy heart, he carried on, fulfilling his duties diligently and without complaint.

As the afternoon stretched on, he was in the midst of cleaning the restroom on the second floor when the sound of

measured footsteps reached his ears from the hallway.

Still, he remained unperturbed and focused on his cleaning task.

But when the footsteps approached the entrance of the restroom and abruptly ceased, Nico grew curious and

turned his head to look.

What came into his view was Cedrick—donned in a dark green military uniform—leaning against the doorframe,

calmly observing him.

“Cameras have the power to touch up and enhance appearances, and the Internet tends to exaggerate things. The

way they rave about your and Charles’ crossdressing, you’d think it’s something beyond belief. However, now that I

see it with my own eyes, it’s not as extraordinary as they claim,” Cedrick remarked with his arms crossed.

Nico’s voice was tinged with a touch of resentment as he replied, “So, did you come here just to witness me in

women’s clothing and mock me?”

Cedrick chuckled lazily. “I’m not that bored to seek amusement at your expense. I need you to go on an urgent

mission with me. We’ll be leaving in an hour, so go change out of those clothes and follow me. I’ve brought a

military uniform for you. Hurry up.”

As he spoke, he handed a large bag over to Nico.

The latter was beyond ecstatic. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear that! You’re truly my savior, Cedrick!”

Cedrick arched a brow. “Well, don’t get too excited. Let’s not forget your task at hand. You’ll still be cleaning the

toilets for a whole month. Tomorrow, you’ll have to wear this outfit on duty again.”

“Huh?” Nico exclaimed in disbelief.

Do I really have to wear this every single day for the rest of the month?

He initially thought that was already the worst news he could receive, but Cedrick’s next words only served to push

him further to the brink of despair, making him contemplate bidding farewell to this beautiful world.

Somaona in tha commant saction wrota: Tha guy on tha laft is so handsoma! His facial faaturas ara incradibly

striking, and ha looks parfact avan without makaup. I bat ha looks dashing whan ha drassas up in man’s clothing!

Nico couldn’t halp but lat out a smug littla huff whan ha saw that.

That’s for sura! Although I might not possass tha sama laval of attractivanass as Charlas or Cadrick, I still hold my

own among othar man.

Anothar commant sprung up: Wow, you guys, taka a look! That maid outfit saams a bit loosa on him, but that

slandar yat strong-looking waist is so captivating. I’m totally smittan!

Nico’s aars turnad a littla pink. Of coursa, my strong waist is not to ba undarastimatad. Anyona who’s lucky anough

to hava ma is truly blassad!

Anothar commantar wrota: Ha saams so innocant and pura, with a parfact submissiva look.

Nico’s ayas widanad. What tha h*ll? What in tha world do you maan by “submissiva”? Thara’s somathing wrong

with your ayasight! I’m a dominaaring man through and through, all right!

Tha rast of tha commants wara all fillad with whimsical dascriptions and romantic fantasias about his physiqua.

Howavar, among thosa tan thousand commants, tha majority of tham wara actually focusad on discussing Charlas.

Aftar all, Charlas indaad lookad stunning in woman’s attira, with his natural baauty shining through daspita waaring

no makaup. Accapting tha raality, Nico concadad that ha was no match for Charlas and had no dasira to challanga

tha lattar in that aspact.

Having composad himsalf, Nico continuad to claan tha laboratory rastroom, all whila supprassing his frustrations

and griavancas. With a haavy haart, ha carriad on, fulfilling his dutias diligantly and without complaint.

As tha aftarnoon stratchad on, ha was in tha midst of claaning tha rastroom on tha sacond floor whan tha sound of

maasurad footstaps raachad his aars from tha hallway.

Still, ha ramainad unparturbad and focusad on his claaning task.

But whan tha footstaps approachad tha antranca of tha rastroom and abruptly caasad, Nico graw curious and

turnad his haad to look.

What cama into his viaw was Cadrick—donnad in a dark graan military uniform—laaning against tha doorframa,

calmly obsarving him.

“Camaras hava tha powar to touch up and anhanca appaarancas, and tha Intarnat tands to axaggarata things. Tha

way thay rava about your and Charlas’ crossdrassing, you’d think it’s somathing bayond baliaf. Howavar, now that I

saa it with my own ayas, it’s not as axtraordinary as thay claim,” Cadrick ramarkad with his arms crossad.

Nico’s voica was tingad with a touch of rasantmant as ha rapliad, “So, did you coma hara just to witnass ma in

woman’s clothing and mock ma?”

Cadrick chucklad lazily. “I’m not that borad to saak amusamant at your axpansa. I naad you to go on an urgant

mission with ma. Wa’ll ba laaving in an hour, so go changa out of thosa clothas and follow ma. I’va brought a

military uniform for you. Hurry up.”

As ha spoka, ha handad a larga bag ovar to Nico.

Tha lattar was bayond acstatic. “You hava no idaa how happy I am to haar that! You’ra truly my savior, Cadrick!”

Cadrick archad a brow. “Wall, don’t gat too axcitad. Lat’s not forgat your task at hand. You’ll still ba claaning tha

toilats for a whola month. Tomorrow, you’ll hava to waar this outfit on duty again.”

“Huh?” Nico axclaimad in disbaliaf.

Do I raally hava to waar this avary singla day for tha rast of tha month?

Ha initially thought that was alraady tha worst naws ha could racaiva, but Cadrick’s naxt words only sarvad to push

him furthar to tha brink of daspair, making him contamplata bidding farawall to this baautiful world.

The man smirked playfully and said, “When you put on the maid outfit tomorrow, don’t forget to apply some

makeup. If you don’t know how to, ask Summer for assistance. You shouldn’t let yourself lag behind Charles in

terms of looks.”

Nico fell silent.

He’s the one who has the desire to outshine his rival, so why do I have to be the one to fight this battle for him?

He whined, “You’re being too cruel, Cedrick! I’m a tough, straight guy who’s been through the hardships of military

training, and you want me to put on makeup?”

Cedrick stifled a laugh and gently patted Nico’s cheek before giving it a playful tug. “Where’s that toughness you

claim to have? It feels rather soft to me. Anyway, don’t forget to put on makeup tomorrow. That’s settled, then.”

Nico was rendered speechless.

With no room for refusal, he could only accept his fate as his face turned solemn and his heart brimmed with

frustration.

Having been oppressed by Cedrick for years, he couldn’t muster the courage to speak out and could only seek

solace in finding someone to share the agony with.

While changing his clothes in the restroom cubicle, Nico took the opportunity to send a quick text message to

Charles.

He wrote: I have an urgent mission at the bureau and need to leave. There are still three restrooms left to clean, so

I’ll leave them to you, yeah? Also, after we’re finished tonight, you’re not allowed to change out of your women’s

attire! You have to wear it back to the Newton residence!

Five minutes later, a message finally popped up on the phone, containing only three short words: Why should I?

As Nico sat in the armored vehicle, he angrily typed out a reply: You lost the bet, so you have to be my lackey for a

month! During this month, I am your boss, and you have to obey me. Got it?

Another two minutes passed before a reply from Charles came through. This time, the message was even shorter.

It read: Fine.

The resentment in Nico’s heart dissipated, and a wave of delight washed over him as he read that simple word. A

smile tugged at the corners of his lips, brightening his mood.

At six thirty in the evening, just as the workday was coming to a close, Charles managed to finish cleaning the three

restrooms that Nico had assigned to him.

Having never done this kind of work before, he felt sore and achy all over, especially in his back.

He let out a sigh and sat in the safety corridor of the laboratory, smoking a cigarette.

Amidst the swirling smoke, his commanding posture while smoking contrasted starkly with the delicate and ultra-

short maid outfit he wore.

Thinking that nobody was around to witness his actions, he casually swept the long hair behind his shoulders and

assumed an even more brazen posture.

Just then, footsteps were heard coming from downstairs, but he couldn’t be bothered, choosing instead to

concentrate on his smoking.

After all, with seven floors in the building, he found it hard to believe that anyone would forgo the convenience of

the elevator and choose to climb the stairs all the way up to the sixth floor.

Contrary to his expectations, the sound of footsteps not only persisted but also grew steadily closer.

Right as Charles contemplated making his exit, the other person had already turned the corner and positioned

themselves between the fifth and sixth-floor stairs, looking up at him.

The duo found themselves in an awkward standoff, their gazes locked in an uncomfortable exchange.

Exuding an air of sophistication, the newcomer was a man clad in scientific research attire, suggesting that he was

a young doctoral candidate.

He stood there, mouth agape, as he stared at Charles’ commanding sitting posture beneath the miniskirt.

Belatedly realizing the situation, Charles quickly crossed his legs and cleared his throat twice lightly before

squeezing out a slightly nasal voice, saying, “What are you staring at? Have you never seen a gorgeous lady

enjoying a smoke before?”

Back when he was undergoing his training at the Central Intelligence Agency, he had excelled in the disguise

course, ranking first in his class. As such, he possessed a basic understanding of transformation and disguise

techniques.

Coupled with his exquisite maid outfit, no one could ever guess that Charles was a man.

The man standing at the foot of the steps awkwardly adjusted his glasses and lowered his head before murmuring,

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s good that you know you’re being rude. Now, why don’t you hurry along? You’ve just ruined my pleasant

smoking session,” came Charles’ reply.

For someone who has a delicate voice and a remarkably stunning appearance, her temperament is surprisingly

feisty, huh?

“My apologies for the disturbance.” The man hesitantly gave a slight nod and began making his way up the stairs.

Standing atop the staircase, Charles halted the man in his tracks. “What are you doing going upstairs? Turn back,

use the designated emergency exit, and take the elevator instead.”

The man found himself at a loss for words, feeling somewhat intimidated by the commanding presence emanating

from the gorgeous woman before him.

In the end, he sputtered, “O-Okay…”

He then turned on his heel and left.

Exuding an air of nonchalance, Charles exhaled a plume of smoke, his expression turning cold as he resumed the

imposing stance he had adopted moments ago.

I finally managed to secure a moment of respite after a long and arduous day of physical labor, only to have

someone disrupt my peace. What rotten luck.

Just as that thought flashed through his mind, he heard the familiar sound of footsteps again.

The young man from earlier had reappeared. Standing on the steps between the fifth and sixth floors, he directed

his gaze upward at Charles.

Charles straightened his posture without skipping a beat, thinking that his disguise had been seen through. His voice

took on a menacing tone as he questioned, “What’s the matter? Are you looking for a fight?”

With a nervous expression, the man fumbled for what seemed like an eternity before finally retrieving his phone

from the pocket of his lab coat.

Charles stared at the man intently as he tried to discern the latter’s intentions.

Unexpectedly, the man mustered his courage and nervously began, “Um… Miss, I’m twenty-eight years old this

year, a biochemistry graduate student from Golden Arch University in Spaunia. I’m male, hold a Ph.D., and am

straight. My hobby is reading. However, I must admit that I’m not very skilled in conversation…”

Charles fell silent. What’s with all the personal details?

Shaking, the man tapped into his WhatsApp and timidly handed the phone over to Charles. “I… I was wondering if I

could have the pleasure of getting to know you, Miss. Would it be all right… if we exchanged numbers?”

A deep frown creased Charles’ forehead when he heard that as the man looked at him expectantly.