The Ex and Her Riches novel (Gwendolyn and Maverick)

After breakfast, Gwendolyn and Cedrick again went their separate ways as the kindergarten and laboratory were in

different directions.

The former drove Zendaya to the kindergarten, while the latter brought Benedict to the laboratory for an IV

infusion.

On the way to the laboratory, Benedict gazed out the car window at the scenery that flashed past incessantly. His

ebony eyes glimmered with wit and intelligence.

“Are you really going to keep me company throughout my IV infusion today, Daddy?” he ventured.

Cedrick, who was driving in front, did not bother answering that. He merely lifted his eyes and glanced at his son in

the car seat at the back through the rearview mirror.

Benedict resembled his childhood self greatly, appearing incredibly docile before his elders yet actually having

many tricks up his sleeve.

Sure enough, upon receiving no response from his father, Benedict thoughtfully lamented, “Apart from the work

matters at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Daddy, you still have to handle things at Jenson Group. I know

you’re exceedingly busy, and it distresses me—”

Without waiting for the little boy to prattle at length, Benedict cut him off. “If your plan is to trick me and do

something bad, you don’t need to bother wasting your efforts.”

Benedict promptly paled and giggled. “Of course not. I merely don’t want you to neglect your work because of my

matters, Daddy. I’ll feel very guilty.”

Cedrick’s expression remained calm and unruffled. His ebony eyes were fixed right ahead as he concentrated on

driving.

“I was also once your age, Benny. I know more or less what you’re thinking. But I’m not going to give you a chance.

If you want to do something wicked to sabotage someone, you should tell me in advance instead. Who knows, I

might support you.”

Pursing his lips, Benedict lowered his eyes and went silent for a moment.

The word “might” indicated the high possibility of being turned down and lectured.

After all, Benedict was not blind to how his father usually minded Zendaya. Thus, he was determined to conceal his

mischief so it would never come to light.

If it were an incident like yesterday whereby Eugene was exposed, he would take the initiative to seek Cedrick out

for punishment, knowing that pulling a pitiful act by saying nothing would appease the latter’s fury faster.

Having mulled the matter over inwardly, Benedict beamed so widely that his eyes became mere slits. “I naturally

have no objections if you really want to keep me company, Daddy. I’m glad to enjoy your care.”

Every so often, Cedrick cast a look at him via the rearview mirror, noting all his subtle expressions.

“Charles has been relegated to cleaning the toilets at the lab lately. Have you thought of some other way to torture

him? If you want to teach him a lesson, you can tell me. I’ll agree to it.”

Surprisingly, Benedict shook his head. “There has to be an order in things. He’s currently cleaning the toilet after

losing the bet, so let him work quietly for a month lest he keeps visiting me at the sick bay. I don’t want to see him.”

“I remember he gifted you a massive oceanarium for your one-year-old birthday. Because you’ve never gone for a

visit, he hired someone to manage it for you. It has never been opened to the public, with you and Zendy being the

only ones allowed in these past few years. It has been operating at a loss for four years,” Cedrick commented.

At that, Benedict snorted coldly and arrogantly before turning his face away to stare at the scenery outside the car

window.

“I didn’t ask him for the oceanarium, and he only has himself to blame for running up losses.”

In a leisurely voice, Cedrick added, “The oceanarium he gifted you is presently the biggest of its kind in Chanaea,

housing all sorts of unique marine life. The operational and management costs each month are an astronomical

sum.”

Crossing his arms, Benedict stared at his father with a frown, “What do you mean by that, Daddy? You want me to

feel sorry that Charles is spending so much?”

Cedrick chuckled at Benedict’s question. “The Newton family is a family that comes from old money, having been

established in Chanaea for more than a century. An oceanarium won’t break him. I mean, that oceanarium belongs

to you, Benny. You’ve been cooped up in the sick bay ever since you were young, so you’ve never seen many

adorable and rare animals, right? After your IV infusion tonight, I’ll bring you there to have fun. How about that?”

Benedict jerked his chin up in disdain.

“Only Zendaya likes such childish things. I don’t like to see animals, jellyfish, and the like.”

Following that, Cedrick feigned regret. “It’s too bad, then. I initially planned to pick Zendy, you, and your mommy up

in the evening after work today to visit the oceanarium. I even bought a small SLR camera for each of you so you

can snap pictures of any animals you like. If you don’t want to go, I can only go with Zendy and your mommy.”

At once, Benedict’s expression stiffened.

He suddenly wavered in his initial plan to remain firm in his stance that the oceanarium was childish.

The entire family is going… but I’m going to be left all alone?

Cedrick continued, “If you’re not going, I’ll drive you back to Harrick Villa beforehand, and you can have the

leftovers at home after heating them up at that time. What do you think?”

Benedict pouted, dejection swamping him.

So, Daddy and Mommy are bringing Zendaya out for some delicious food? Isn’t it too pathetic for me to eat cold

leftovers?

Noticing Benedict’s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. “That oceanarium belongs to you, so it’s

all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the place for some fun. It’s a pity that you’ve never even

seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium’s owner. I heard that Zendy’s dolphin is already playing ball

with her.”

Noticing Benedict’s conflicted expression, Cedrick pressed his advantage. “That oceanarium belongs to you, so it’s

all thanks to you that your mommy, Zendy, and I can visit the place for some fun. It’s a pity that you’ve never even

seen marine life before despite being the oceanarium’s owner. I heard that Zendy’s dolphin is already playing ball

with her.”

Zendaya and her dolphin are playing ball?

Tempted, Benedict lowered his head and pondered upon it without saying anything further.

Cedrick then proposed, “Actually, I think you should seize the opportunity to have Charles spend more since he’s

managing the oceanarium for you. Isn’t it far better to import some expensive animals you like and turn the place

into your personal marine park? This is all for free, so it’ll be a waste not to seize the opportunity!”

Hmm… that makes sense. The oceanarium is mine now. I can do whatever I want to it and even raise any fish I like.

I’ve never visited the place all these years, so Charles had gotten to use it to ingratiate himself with Zendaya

instead!

Having seen the light, Benedict cleared his throat. His juvenile voice was beyond solemn.

“I’ve decided, Daddy. I want to go to the oceanarium, too. That’s my territory, and I want to revamp it!”

Anyway, I’ll be using Charles’ money, so there’s absolutely nothing to feel bad about!

He made up his mind and sharpened his knife, contemplating the kinds of peculiar animals he wanted to add.

I think I want to build a glacier in the shark area and have penguins and polar bears there. With those three kinds of

animals living in a confined space, they’d definitely fight each other to the death. That’d certainly be intriguing!

While Benedict was plotting in silence, Cedrick observed him through the rearview mirror. When Cedrick

ascertained that his son’s thoughts had been riveted by the oceanarium for real, his lips inexorably turned up.

It’ll be good for him to look at animals more. It can cultivate love and cheer him up so he’s not as lonely and he

won’t concoct his little evil schemes in secret.

“Daddy!” Benedict leaned forward excitedly, his ebony eyes sparkling brightly. Tugging at the back of his father’s

seat, he asked curiously, “Is there a blue whale in my oceanarium?”

Suppressing his laughter, Cedrick shook his head. “I don’t think so. The blue whale is too big to be exhibited in an

oceanarium.”

“Uh…” Benedict plunged into silent contemplation briefly. “But I just want to have a gigantic blue whale. What

should I do about it?”

“In that case, tell Charles and have him figure out a way to get you a blue whale.”

The father and son chatted happily, both targeting Charles at the same time.