The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

“Honestly, what was I expecting?” Whitney muttered. The higher the expectation, the greater the disappointment. I

know that…

She sighed and glanced at the milk next to her hand. Recalling how Charles had said not to waste it, she picked it up

and drank it all as though she was downing a glass of wine.

Unlike alcohol, unfortunately, milk had no effect on dulling one’s emotions and relieving one’s sorrows.

After finishing her work and turning off her computer, she returned to the bedroom. Coincidentally, Charles had just

finished taking a shower. He had his bathrobe wrapped tightly around him, his short hair still wet and dripping with

water.

Their eyes met as they bumped into each other by the bathroom door, and she stared at his face in stunned

silence.

Having just emerged from the steamy bathroom, Charles appeared significantly gentler and refreshed.

The combination of the water droplets on his face from the shower and his damp hair added a particularly devilish

and charming look to his exquisitely handsome face.

A blush crept over her cheeks as she gazed at him. He’s truly… too attractive and sexy… Who could possibly resist

a gorgeous man like that… might I add, who just stepped out of the shower?

She dropped her gaze and lowered her head to stare at her feet, stopping herself from having dirty thoughts about

his naked body underneath the bathrobe.

“That… I’ve already typed up the contract as you instructed and saved it on the computer’s desktop. You can check

it whenever you have the time. I did go through it before turning off the computer, so there shouldn’t be any

typos,” she said, desperately trying to think of something to say to alleviate the feeling of embarrassment and

awkwardness in her heart.

Charles murmured an acknowledgment, his expression unbelievably calm. He showed zero intention of actually

going to review her work or praising her for knowing to check her work before turning off the computer to reduce

the chances of error.

“Go get a blanket and some pillows to make up the couch. I want to rest after drying my hair.”

“O-Okay.”

She walked past him to the closet, took out a blanket and pillows from the wardrobe, then made up the couch

quickly and skillfully.

She debated whether to call him to come over and rest or take preemptive measures and sleep on the couch

herself, worrying that he would wake up in a foul mood the following morning from having to curl up his legs on the

couch all night and being unable to sleep comfortably.

However, no sooner had she lifted a corner of the blanket when a well-built figure walked over and pushed her

gently out of the way.

Before she realized what was happening, Charles had settled onto the couch in an elegantly languid pose.

Her expression froze, and she stared at him wordlessly. That was… fast.

Acting oblivious, he scrolled through his phone before looking at her after a few seconds. “Why are you just

standing there in front of me? Do you want to sleep with me?”

Does he have to say it so bluntly? After a brief silence, she replied, “You’re reading too much into it.”

“Then why are you still standing there? Get on with what you have to do. Don’t stand there and be an eyesore.”

At a loss for words, Whitney could only turn around and go to wash her face.

Early the following morning, the sound of a child giggling filled Harrick Villa.

Zendaya had woken up full of energy and was gamboling all over the bed. She even pretended to be a puppy and

howled loudly.

Gwendolyn sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to help her put on a pair of pants. However, she could not catch the

energetic little girl even after a few tries.

After preparing breakfast, Cedrick went upstairs and was greeted immediately by the sight of Zendaya

misbehaving.

His expression darkened, and he said sternly, “Stop that, Zendaya. You’ll make my wife tired if you continue running

around like that.”

The little girl was afraid of him, so she pouted and stopped running. Then, she corrected him in a small voice,

saying, “She’s my mommy first before she’s your wife.”

“If I didn’t have a wife first, you’d still be a little ‘tadpole’ wandering around somewhere,” he responded, glancing at

her.

Zendaya did not understand what he meant. She merely thought he was trying to pull a fast one on her. “I’m not a

tadpole. I’m way bigger than a tadpole. You’re telling lies, Daddy. You’re bullying me.”

Ignoring her, Cedrick took a trench coat from the coat stand and personally helped Gwendolyn into it. “The weather

is cooler today. Be careful not to catch a cold when you go out.”

Basking in his care and attentiveness, she stifled a laugh and said teasingly, “You’re a grown man. Why are you still

competing with your own children?”

“You’re my wife. No one can take you away from me,” came his reply. Not even my children.

He was obstinate.

“Does it make you unhappy that our whole family sleeps together every night?” she asked, caressing his face.

He nodded solemnly. “They’re five years old already. It’s time we sent them to sleep in their own rooms. Don’t help

them with things like getting dressed. Let them do it themselves. We must let them do the things within their

capabilities so that they learn to be independent.”

Whatever it is, they’re not allowed to hog my wife, especially at night.

When Zendaya heard that, she pulled up her pants herself in dissatisfaction, snorted angrily, and said in an

accusing tone, “You’re a meanie, Daddy! You don’t even allow Mommy to be nice to us!”

Cedrick did not respond. Instead, he carelessly tossed Zendaya’s cream-colored coat at her, which happened to

drape over her head. “Hurry up and put that on by yourself. Your mother spoils you. If it were up to me, you’d be

going down to breakfast with a red bottom if you dared to continue racing around wildly like that.”

“Ugh! Daddy is so evil! He’s the absolute worst!” Even though Zendaya continued grumbling softly, she still put on

her coat obediently.

While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particularly well-behaved and sensible.

While she dawdled, Benedict quietly dressed himself. That made him appear particularly well-behaved and sensible.

Throughout the entire process, not once did he ask his mother for help. He slowly put on each article of clothing,

one after another, and even exuded a faint air of elegance.

After getting dressed, he left the room and went downstairs for breakfast. He was quiet the entire time and did not

utter a single word.

As Cedrick and Gwendolyn watched him closely, the latter sighed worriedly. She could not help thinking that the fact

her son was so mature beyond his years was even more heartbreaking for her.

Cedrick, on the other hand, said to Zendaya, “You must take your brother as a role model and get dressed by

yourself. Do you understand?”

“Benny is a role model, of course. He’s the best. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have been born a few minutes earlier than

me. He’s nothing like somebody who’s a hypocrite and bullies little kids,” she retorted, pouting her lips in

dissatisfaction.

“What did you say?” His brows drew together sharply, and his expression hardened slightly. He looked utterly

intimidating as he rose to his feet.

Zendaya promptly jumped off the bed and dashed off, shouting, “Save me! My evil daddy wants to hit me!”

However, how could she outrun Cedrick with her short legs?

Before she could even get downstairs, he caught her in the corridor by the back of her collar and picked her up.

“Ahhh! He’s going to gobble me up!” She flailed her arms wildly, attempting to escape his grip.

A spark of anger flickered within Cedrick. He picked her up in his arms and swiftly flipped her over. Then, two dull

smacks rang out as he spanked her.

They were only two light taps, but he radiated an incredibly terrifying aura.

“Ouch! Ouch!” Zendaya cried out loudly in an exaggerated manner. Bawling, she turned to Gwendolyn. “Mommy,

save me!”

“Even if you call out for help, it’s useless. Didn’t I tell you before that children must hold onto the banister and walk

slowly while descending the stairs? You were running so fast. What if you were to slip and fall?” Cedrick chided in a

deep voice.

Although he had smacked her twice on her behind to emphasize the seriousness of the matter, it broke his heart,

and he could not help but rub where he had hit her soothingly.

Zendaya sobbed while wiping away her tears. Having gotten lectured, she pouted and put on a pitiful expression.

Nevertheless, she was finally willing to behave and settle down in Cedrick’s arms, letting him carry her downstairs.

Meanwhile, Benedict had already been sitting at the dining table for quite some time. Having a clear grasp of dining

etiquette, however, he had not taken even a sip of his milk and merely sat there quietly, waiting for his parents to

come downstairs.